My ROAD to Work
Work is more than a paycheck. It provides structure, purpose, and a sense of accomplishment. Supported employment helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) get the supports they need to succeed at work. But workplaces don’t always fully embrace the idea of dignity of risk.
My ROAD to Work is here to change that. We work with job coaches, people with IDD, and employers across the country to improve workplace practices and create practical tools that help job coaches put dignity of risk into action. This means job coaches learn how to give employees the chance to make decisions, try new things, and learn from experience, while still providing support when needed. By using these tools, employees with IDD can take charge of their work journey and build skills for the future.
My ROAD to Work has three phases:
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Phase 1: Conduct a national survey, focus groups, and site visits to understand what supports or limits dignity of risk in the workplace.
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Phase 2: Use what we learn to create My ROAD to Work tools that help job coaches reflect on their practices and put dignity of risk into action.
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Phase 3: Pilot the My ROAD to Work tools with three supported employment providers to ensure they are helpful and easy to use.
A 12-member Empowerment Advisory Board, made up of adults with IDD, family members, job coaches, and employers, are guiding our project to make sure it benefits people with IDD and workplaces across the country.
Questions About My ROAD to Work
My ROAD to College is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. You can find out more about them here.
My ROAD to Work is a 3-year project that started in September 2025.
My ROAD to Work is designed for supported employment providers to help them evaluate and strengthen dignity of risk for employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The project invites job coaches reflect on how dignity of risk is put into practice across employment settings. Using what they learn, coaches work alongside those they support to create a plan with concrete steps to enhance dignity of risk and create a more empowering employment experience. The work directly benefits job coaches and employees with IDD, and families, providers, and employers may also find the tools helpful.
Some tools will be shared in Fall 2026. The full set of tools will be released after piloting and refinement in Year 3. Materials will be posted as they become available.
Want to learn more about My ROAD to Work or how you can get involved? Email our team at myroadproject@air.org or sign up for our newsletter using the link at the bottom of the page. We can’t wait to hear from you!