Utilizing Natural Supports to Lower the Cost of Supported Employment

Abstract

This study explored the effect of utilizing natural supports strategies on the cost of supported employment in the state of Wisconsin. Data presented here suggest that the use of natural supports reduced annual per capita costs by 57.6%. Further, supported employees trained via natural supports generated cumulative costs of $5,063 over 6.04 fiscal quarters (i.e., $838 per fiscal quarter). This is compared to the state average of $8,212 over 3.36 fiscal quarters (i.e., $2,444 per fiscal quarter).