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1. What is a developmental disability?

Developmental disabilities affect between 1 and 2% of the population in most western countries. Developmental disability means a disability that is manifested before the person reaches 22 years of age and includes a diverse group of chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. Developmental disabilities can be detected early on, and do persist throughout an individual's lifespan. They may be physical, such as blindness. They may affect mental ability, such as learning disorders. Or the disability can be both physical and mental, such as Down syndrome. Additional terminology you might hear: intellectual, cognitive, and developmentally delayed.

2. What is supported employment?

The Supported Employment Program provides paid, competitive employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities in integrated work settings with appropriate ongoing support from a job coach. The program offers a creative and cost-effective approach to meeting business needs and including people with developmental disabilities in the workforce. Each job is customized by bundling entry-level tasks that match the skills of the supported employment candidates.

Departments at Snohomish County will use the job title Supported Employment-Office Assistant I, which is designated for employees within the Snohomish County Supported Employment Program. This title intentionally has no job description associated with it in order to allow for maximum customization of each position.

Supported Employment candidates are part of the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), as defined in RCW 71A.10.020(0). Their participation in DDA is verified through Snohomish County Human Resources and the Human Services Department.

A requirement of the Supported Employment Program is that each supported employee and hiring department work with a job coach. These professionally-trained vocational counselors are sent from local agencies in order to serve the employment-support needs of persons with developmental disabilities. Each job coach assists with the individualized training and long-term supports (at no cost to employers) which allows supported employees to maximize their job performance.

3. What is a job coach?

A job coach is a professionally trained vocational counselor who is skilled in on-the-job training for people with developmental disabilities as well as workplace support strategies. The job coach is at no cost to employer and is available to provide:

• Assistance with initial and ongoing training of the supported employee


• One-on-one and group training for supervisors and coworkers about workplace support strategies for the supported employee


• Creative self-management tools for the supported employee to increase efficiency


• Problem-solving and support to workplace and supported employee as needed

The job coach will continue with regularly-scheduled visits with the department and your supported employee to assure that everyone is pleased with the situation. The goal is to have the job coach fade when the supported employee has learned the position and found natural supports from other coworkers.

The job coach remains a resource to you and your employee for the length of your supported employee's employment. This means that if tasks ever change or new coworkers or supervisors need training or if something arises, then the job coach is your resource.

4. What is the benefit of Supported Employment?

By creating entry level jobs, and hiring supported employees to do those tasks, the workload of your specialized FTEs is freed up, allowing them to be more efficient, cost effective and productive with their time. 

Departments will have the job coach and the Supported Employment Coordinator to support them with all of the steps of hiring and maintaining a Supported Employment employee. The department and staff will not be alone in the process.

The County continues to strive for a diverse work force that reflects the diverse population throughout Snohomish County.

5. Additional questions/comments

Contact Human.Resources@snoco.org