Vera Institute of Justice

Overview

This 1980 Vera publication gives information for how to set up an employment program for hard-to-employ people such as Vera's Job Path. Begun in 1978, this program adapted Vera's "supported work" concept to adults with borderline mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Vera originally developed the paradigm of supported work when it sought to create transitional employment opportunities to help ex-offenders and ex-addicts become acculturated to the world of work and acquire marketable skills. With Job Path, developmentally disabled adults have the opportunity to live as fully-realized adults with real jobs and real independence. They believe that work is an essential aspect of adulthood and of self respect. Job Path was spun-off from Vera in 1998.