Employment and Income Status of Adults With Developmental Disabilities Living in the Community

A comprehensive national portrait of employment and income status of adults with developmental disabilities was estimated through secondary analyses of the 1990 and the 1991 Survey of Income and Program Participation. Results indicate that the majority of adults with developmental disabilities had very limited economic resources, even when earnings from employment and benefits from governmental income support programs were both included. The minority, who worked in a variety of occupations, were earning higher incomes than previous estimates. The overwhelming majority were unemployed. Implications of the low-income profile and potential underutilization of employment services was discussed.