VCU RRTC

Virginia Commonwealth University was awarded a five-year grant to conduct research on Customized Employment for transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. The grant's overall objective is to test the effectiveness of customized employment as an intervention to facilitate employment for youth with disabilities through a random control trial study. This webcast will provide a brief overview of the study but focus primarily on case study examples of the individuals who have achieved customized employment outcomes. This will include information on how each person's interests and preferences were identified through discovery and how their positions were customized.

Presenter: Jennifer McDonough, M.S., Project Director

Jennifer Todd McDonough has been a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and working in the field of employment for people with disabilities for over 10 years. She earned her M.S. from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University in Rehabilitation Counseling. Ms. McDonough is the Associate Director of Training at VCU-RRTC. She is also the Project Coordinator for the Vocational Rehabilitation Service Models for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders DRRP.  Additionally, Ms. McDonough provides technical assistance and disseminates resources nationally to individuals interested in pursuing self-employment. Ms. McDonough is a national expert on Social Security Disability Benefits and Work Incentives. Throughout her career with VCU-RRTC, Ms. McDonough has worked directly with individuals with disabilities assisting them in locating employment and determining accommodation needs.