“Employment First” in New Jersey

“Employment First” in New Jersey
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
12:00pm – 1:00pm (Zoom Webinar)

“Employment First” is a national approach and policy framework that prioritizes competitive, integrated jobs with fair wages as the primary option for individuals with disabilities. Employment First shifts the focus from segregated settings to community employment, aiming to raise expectations and change systems, so that all individuals can engage in meaningful work.

Although New Jersey is one of 14 states with the Employment First designation, barriers persist, including low participation, a lack of confidence in the capabilities of individuals with I/DD, and siloed systems with insufficient cross-agency partnerships. During the webinar, we will examine a bill to create an Employment First commission in New Jersey and highlight other Employment First initiatives from across the country. Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, Caucus Co-Chair, will lead the webinar.