Community Collaborations for Employment: Building Pathways That Work

ACL’s Projects of National Significance (PNS) Community Collaborations for Employment (CCE) grants, launched in 2021, support stakeholder collaborations to better facilitate transitions of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) between schools to employment and community living. As the seven grants conclude their final year, the CCE teams from Kansas and North Carolina will share highlights from their work, including successful strategies, effective partnerships, outcomes, and lessons learned. Self-advocates will also discuss their employment journeys and their roles in CCE teams. This session will offer ACL grantees and organizations working to advance competitive integrated employment (CIE) practical approaches they can apply in their own communities. Learning Objectives • Understand the purpose, scope, and outcomes of CCE grants. • Learn concrete strategies to build partnerships, engage employers, and support long-term sustainability. • Explore effective marketing and communication approaches to raise awareness and demonstrate impact across communities and stakeholder networks.