Local communities – and economies – are strongest and healthiest when all resources are recognized, valued, and utilized. Vermont has learned that over the years through the many and growing contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to the competitive workforce.
“Over the years the Vermont workforce has been stretched,” said Delaina Norton, Executive Director of Champlain Community Services (CCS), a developmental services provider based in Colchester. “However, where we do see success is in the many people with disabilities who are working and contributing in jobs throughout all sectors of the competitive economy.”
CCS is one of several developmental services provider agencies within Vermont Care Partners offering community-based employment and career development to Vermonters with I/DD. Vermont Care Partners is a 16-member network of agencies providing specialized mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities services statewide.
Norton called Vermont a “pioneer” in the community-based model of employment for workers with I/DD. She notes that in 2002, Vermont became the first state to eliminate sub-minimum wages and closed the last of its so-called “sheltered workshops.” The new approach took root and from 2002 to 2019, Vermont saw an 88 percent increase in employment for people with disabilities.
At CCS, the Way2Work program offers a unique continuum of education and individualized employment services that help Vermonters with intellectual disabilities and autism achieve long-term career success. Way2Work offers personal supports from high school through retirement: pre-vocational, job training and placement, on-the-job coaching, career development and even self-employment.
Ashley Dubois, Employment & Education Senior Manager at CCS, said Way2Work focuses on the long game of career development to increase the likelihood of long-term success. “This is our specialty; we get to know people, learn about their interests, skills, and work preferences. Then we do our best to go out and find it.”
Sometimes it takes the first step. “Sure, everyone starts somewhere, and sometimes it is helping an individual get started in an entry-level job,” Dubois said. “But we are always looking for ways an individual can learn and grow, whether that be in their current place of employment or somewhere new. When we focus on making a good job match instead of a quick job placement, individuals tend to stay in those jobs longer and report higher satisfaction.”
Talk about job satisfaction – meet Eva . . .
Sweet success!
Finding your “dream job” can take time and effort, but the reward can be a “Golden Ticket.” Eva’s success story brought her to a job with Birnn Chocolates in South Burlington. Dubois was a part of Eva’s employment journey from the beginning and sees how a person-centered approach can make all the difference.
Eva had successfully worked other jobs through Way2Work but found herself wanting more. “One day Eva told me she wanted to work in a chocolate factory.”, Dubois said. “I think this was because she had watched the new Wonka movie.” CCS staff had established connections with Birnn Chocolates, so Dubois worked with Birnn to craft an internship, which Eva served in spring 2024.
“Eva loved working at Birnn and was extremely hopeful to land a job there,” Dubois said. She achieved her goal when she became an employee in May. “She fell in love on the first day,” Dubois said. And she’s still loving it . . .
“What I like about working at Birnn is being part of a team, task flexibility, and the experience working with chocolate.” Eva said. “Co-workers are very helpful and friendly, and make you feel like your family. I also love having a very supportive, flexible, and understanding manager.”
Things are working out well for Birnn Chocolates, too, according to owner Julia Birnn Fields
“Eva has been a fantastic addition to our team through the Way2Work program. Her innovative ideas and strong focus make her a valuable asset. She embodies teamwork and collaboration, and we truly appreciate her contributions. We’re grateful for this partnership.”
Challenges remain
Nationwide, the employment picture is mixed for people with ID/D. While U.S. Department of Labor Statistics reflect a growth in employment rates, a new survey conducted by Center for Social Development and Education at the University of Massachusetts-Boston shows that unemployment among people with I/DD is more than twice as high as for the general population.
Still, Vermont’s network of developmental services providers has a model that supports the needs of workers with I/DD and employers. And while Eva’s story is remarkable, it’s not totally unique. Dubois notes that more employers in an ever-increasing range of industries – retail, food service, hospitality, healthcare, information services, manufacturing and distribution, arts and entertainment, aviation, childcare – are working with CCS to bolster their staffs and bottom lines. Workers with I/DD are getting good jobs, and they are keeping them.
Investment in programs such as Way2Work are investments in Vermont’s economy and communities.
Seeing is believing
Like any team, successful workplaces feature engagement and a shared sense of purpose among players. Sarah Ellis, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at CCS who works with Eva as a job coach gets a great view of how well things can work out.
“We often go for a walk after her Birnn shift, and Eva expresses how much she wishes everywhere in the world was as welcoming to people with disabilities,” Ellis said. “Her coworkers are so kind. They value Eva as a very capable, hardworking person who needs supports in some areas but is very capable of thriving in the workplace.”
Boris Thomas, Production Manager at Birnn, concurred. “Birnn team member Eva has been a great contributor for production! Eva is always on time and ready to help in any way possible. She brings good ideas and thoughts to help push Birnn forward.”
Ellis suggested her experiences with Eva and Birnn Chocolates have impacted how she thinks about doing good work.
“I do not know anybody who works as hard as Eva to be a good employee; to decode not only employee regulations and tasks but also the complicated social dynamics that go into being a successful member of a team,” she said. “Eva constantly engages with how she can be a responsible employee and asks questions that makes me think about what it means to contribute, and to show such love for your workplace. I could not be more impressed by Birnn as an employer or proud of Eva as an employee; their partnership is an incredible thing to witness.”
Vermont’s approach to inclusive employment isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart business. Stories like Eva’s show that when people with disabilities get the right opportunities and support, they don’t just do well, they thrive. Employers gain hardworking, dedicated team members, and communities benefit from a stronger, more diverse workforce. By investing in programs like Way2Work and building partnerships between businesses and workers with I/DD, Vermont is creating a more inclusive and successful economy where everyone has a chance to contribute and belong.
To contact or learn more about Champlain Community Services visit our website at https://ccs-vt.org/ or call 802-655-0511.
This article is part of a series, collaboratively produced by members of Vermont Care Partners, a statewide network of sixteen non-profit, community-based agencies providing mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disability supports.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Recruiting workers with disabilities strengthens Vermont’s economy.