California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

IDD Employment Podcast Series

Business EN ↓ 3 episodes

At the California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CPCIDD), understanding barriers, challenges and successes to employment for people with IDD is a priority. Through our research we closely examine the multifaceted challenges that impede competitive, integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). By drawing on best practices, academic findings, and the real-world perspectives of people with IDD, their families, and employers, we highlight critical gaps and barriers to employment—from limited vocational t...

Author

California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Episodes

Work, Will, and Worth: IDD Perspectives on Employment 06.10.2025 1:02:56

CPCIDD Board Member and Self-Advocate Azucena Garcia-Ferro hosts Episode 3 of CPCIDD’s IDD Employment Podcast, funded by Ability Central. Self-advocates Tracy, Joe, and Scott describe their journeys into work—starting early jobs, long-term positions in day programs and restaurants, and moves into advocacy and entrepreneurship. They name persistent barriers such as low expectations, flat-rate pay,...

Unraveling Myths About Benefits and Work 10.07.2025 1:07:49

Welcome back to the CPCIDD IDD Employment Podcast Series. In our first episode, we sat down with Carole Watilo, a supported employment provider to uncover real-world strategies for building inclusive workplaces. Now, in Episode 2, we’re tackling one of the biggest concerns for job seekers with IDD—the fear that earning a paycheck means losing vital benefits. Join us as a trusted policy expert and...

Recommendations to reduce barriers to employment for the IDD community 11.06.2025 42:38

With funding from Ability Central, we are able to further our. research and provide policy recommendations designed to reduce barries to employment and increase opportunities not only for people with IDD but employers as well. We look forward to sharing our findings, resources, and community conversations centered on strengthening inclusive employment practices. We are excited to share the first e...