Using Braided Funding Strategies to Advance Employer Hiring Initiatives that Include People with Disabilities

Many state and local disability employment services are operated by a number of different public and nonprofit agencies (e.g., the federal/state vocational rehabilitation system, the local school system, the One-Stop Career Center system, and many community-based employment service providers). These organizations often find it necessary to access funds from more than one program, agency, or funding stream. As a result, many program administrators and staff face the challenge of developing effective strategies to braid disability employment funding. This report profiles four employer-responsive programs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Connecticut that have implemented braided funding strategies to support hiring initiatives with key employer partners. These in-depth summaries demonstrate clear advantages to braided funding strategies, particularly where participating employers are able to deal with a single point of contact for funding and disability employment services.