Supported Employment

Who is eligible for Supported Employment?

Only those with severe disabilities are eligible for services through the Supported Employment Program. As a general rule, individuals with disabilities who have been unable to find a job or who have had difficulty keeping a job because of their disability may be eligible for the program after evaluation and assesment. The Supported Employment Counselor determines whether or not the individual qualifies for participation.

What is Supported Employment?

The Supported Employment Program is a specialized placement and training program offered through the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) to assist those individuals with severe disabilities in finding and maintaining employment.

Choice of employment is based on such things as the individual’s: unique strengths, interests, resources, capabilities, abilities, priorities, concerns, informed choice.

Working together, trained vocational counselors and job placement specialists provide support needed for the individual to prepare for and secure an appropriate job match, as well as to retain or regain employment.

Why Supported Employment?

Supported Employment offers those with disabilities an opportunity to work in a competitive setting alongside non-disabled coworkers. They receive all the benefits of employment, including competitive wages, while learning the social and work skills necessary for success.

Unlike many other training programs, the Supported Employment program is a “place and train” model, wherein a trainer can be placed on-site with the employee until the individual is working independently. Then, through networking with community supports, the individual receives additional support in order to maintain the job successfully.

The assistance provided is intensive, individualized and long-term. An entire team of committed professionals - the Counselor, Vocational Training Instructor, Job Trainer, Employer and Community Organizations work together to reduce and eliminate those barriers to employment caused by disabilities.

Supported Employment clients may receive multiple services.

These services typically include all or a combination of some of the following:

How do I get more information about Supported Employment?

You may call the District Office which covers the county in which you live and ask for the Supported Employment Counselor for your area or call: 1-800-443-1000.

District I
51 County Road 166
Oxford, Ms 38655
(662) 234-3171

District II
2620 Traceland Drive
Tupelo, MS 38803
(662) 842-1010

District III
207 Indust. Park Rd
Starkville, MS 39760
(662) 323-9594

District IV
1003 College Drive
Meridian, MS 39304
(601) 483-3881

District V
17 J. M. Tatum Industrial Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39404
(601) 545-5619

District VI
10280 Larkin Smith Drive
Gulfport, MS 39503
(228) 897-7601

District VII
1400-A Harrison Drive
McComb, MS 39649
(601) 249-2498

District VIII
3895 Beasley Road
Jackson, MS 39213
(601) 898-7005

District IX
201 Highway 7 South
Greenwood, MS 38930
(662) 453-6172

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.