News and notes from Imagine! and the Imagine! Foundation.
Why Employment First Matters
Aug-03-2021
Services
This week we are joined by Kim Cortes, Imagine!'s Director of Community and Employment Services. In this article, she breaks down what Employment First is and where it began.
Now that we understand what Employment First is, this month we’re talking about why it matters. If you missed Part 1, check it out here.
Work gives us a sense of meaning, identity, and purpose. Think about the role of work in your own life. When we meet someone new, one of the first things we ask is “what do you do?” Our jobs and our careers define our days and core aspects of our sense of self. By treating employment as the first and preferred outcome, regardless of ability, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to build meaningful, connected lives. This isn’t just a nice idea, it’s critical to the health and wellbeing of those we serve.
Employment is a social determinant of health. Social determinants of health are conditions in the environment that affect a wide range of physical health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes. Employment matters because humans are inherently relational. Without connection, our metal health suffers. When our mental health suffers, our physical health follows. All of this affects quality of life. Both the World Health Organization and the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion have recognized that for people with disabilities, health outcomes often depend more on their social and environmental circumstances than their disability itself.
For most adults, work forms a central component of our social experiences. At the most basic level, it’s where we spend most of our waking hours, and therefore where we experience most of our human contact. Beyond that, we gather at work, and we make plans to gather outside of work. We make friends and meet future partners. Without access to competitive integrated employment, people with IDD are denied these opportunities, and their health suffers as a result.
Imagine! has an important role to play in driving the systems and cultural changes necessary to make Employment First a reality. Next month, we’ll talk about how we’re doing just that.
