Hello, With ES-Coach now retired, we’re open to suggestions for the next research chapter. Our goal: to study the ecosystem that enables employment programs to thrive—because when employment programs thrive, more people with IDD achieve their career goals. Your ideas are most welcome! Check out these tentative research questions to get you started: How do state policies, service definitions, and funding models across VR, IDD, and Medicaid systems enable or constrain best practices in...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hello, I’m excited to share that the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation has accepted for publication our article: "Inside the workday of employment consultants: New insights on strengthening employment services" The article describes how 13 employment programs that used ES-Coach for at least one year, with a daily response rate of at least 60%, allocated their time on key activities and best practices. Check out the abstract, key charts, and conclusions from the article: Abstract....
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hello, With the Kessler Foundation grant ending on June 30, 2025, the ES-Coach project has concluded. We’ve been busy analyzing the data and are excited to share some promising preliminary findings. Between January 2023 and June 2025, more than 60 employment programs nationwide enrolled to use ES-Coach. Data from selected employment programs that used ES-Coach for 12 or more months with a high level of engagement show substantial improvements in their implementation of key activities and best...
5 months ago • 1 min read
On a typical 8-hour day, employment consultants dedicate just under 30 minutes to best practices to get to know job seekers and find jobs—and nearly 3 hours to administrative tasks. Learn how ES-Coach uses data and microlearning to support employment consultants with reflection, goal setting, and action for continuous quality improvement—fostering stronger teams and a more focused, less stressful workday. Sherry Healey and Alberto Migliore will be presenting ES-Coach at the APSE Technology &...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hello, Finding the best job matches has many benefits, including happier job seekers and happier employers. It feels very good. Happier job seekers are more likely to need less job coaching and may require fewer supports over time, thanks to better job retention. Happier employers are more likely to come back with new openings—and refer you to other employers on their networks, helping you support more job seekers with less effort. But what’s the secret of finding those great job matches?...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Most people stay employed when they enjoy their jobs. That’s why job matching is so important for job retention.So, how can your team of employment consultants improve job matching of the job seekers they support? It starts with truly understanding each job seeker’s strengths, interests, routines, and support needs—observing their daily routines, participating in activities with them, and arranging informational interviews and business tours. Curious how much time employment consultants...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Employment consultants dedicate an average of 2 hours and 51 minutes per day to these three essentials—see the left pie chart below: Getting to know job seekers. Finding jobs. Smoothing job entry. However, fewer boost their impact by involving those who know job seekers best: family members, friends, former co-workers/employers, or acquaintances. Doing so can improve job matches by: Providing a deeper understanding of job seekers’ strengths. Expanding employer networks. Laying the foundations...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Success in helping job seekers achieve their career goals centers on these three essentials: Getting to know job seekers well (e.g. discovery). Finding jobs through personal connections (e.g. networking). Providing other supports to ease job entry (e.g. benefits planning). Take these essentials to the next level by delivering them in community settings—e.g. facilitating job trials, informational interviews, business tours, and participating in community activities with job seekers. Doing so:...
11 months ago • 1 min read
The difference between a great job match and a poor one will determine the intensity of job coaching needed after hire as well as job seekers' satisfaction and retention. So, what essential support activities are needed to secure the best job matches? Research recommends the following three essentials: · Getting to know the job seekers well. · Finding tasks/jobs that align with their strengths. · Any other support that facilitates job entry—e.g. benefits and transportation planning. How much...
12 months ago • 1 min read