ArizonaLEND Self-Advocacy trainee (2024-2025), Selene Amador, presented her research poster titled “Evaluation of Customized Employment Pilot” at ArizonaLEND’s annual research symposium earlier this year.
ArizonaLEND Self-Advocacy trainee (2024-2025), Selene Amador, presented her research poster titled “Evaluation of Customized Employment Pilot” at ArizonaLEND’s annual research symposium earlier this year. The Customized Employment Pilot is an initiative in Arizona led by the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, in partnership with other organizations in the state, to improve job opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities. They utilize an approach called customized employment, where job roles are tailored to the individual’s skills and interests.
While Selene does not qualify for customized employment services herself, she still felt this was an important topic to research. Selene stated, “I want to get a job and when I found out about the customized employment pilot, it opened my eyes to other jobs in the community.”
Throughout her research on the pilot, she worked closely with Systems Change Liaison, Mỹ Lê Sandaine at the Sonoran Center. Selene’s poster highlights the crucial work of the Customized Employment Pilot and the importance of providing person-centered approaches to assisting individuals with significant disabilities in obtaining employment.
During her research, Selene was surprised to learn how many people with disabilities are unemployed. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), only 22.7% of individuals with disabilities were employed in 2024, compared to 65.5% of those without disabilities. This disparity highlights the need for targeted employment services as individuals with disabilities face higher barriers to employment than the general population.
Selene reminds employers [and all of us in the community] “to be more open minded to hire people with disabilities and to try more often to include people with disabilities.”
Poster titled: "Evaluation of Customized Employment Pilot" by Selene Amador, ArizonaLEND Trainee, featuring logos for ArizonaLEND and the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. The poster is divided into five main sections:
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About – Describes the pilot program developed with Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation to help people with significant disabilities find employment tailored to their abilities and interests.
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Participants – Lists job seekers (individuals with significant disabilities who want to work and need support) and employers in the pilot (La Frontera, Odyssey Services Corporation, Workability). Collaborators include the Sonoran Center and Vocational Rehabilitation.
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Featured Activities of the Customized Employment Process – Highlights the “Discovery Process” where service providers observe individuals in their daily activities to identify strengths and preferences. Includes extended support for both job seekers and employers. Accompanied by two visuals:
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A photo of a man named Bryant chopping wood, demonstrating the observation process.
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An infographic flowchart showing steps: Client Service Plan → Discovery → Job Development Plan → Visual Resume Development → Job Development → Job Coaching & Stabilization → Transfer to Extended Services.
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Goals – Lists goals such as expanding VR customized employment statewide, supporting job seeker and employer needs, and refining employment strategies.
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Critique – Notes that the pilot successfully helps people with disabilities find meaningful work, supports them throughout the process, and helps providers learn how to implement the service.
Contact Information: Provided for Lorie Sandaine with email [email protected].
References:
US. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics Summary, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm
