Project Grant 2334313

This National Science Foundation (NSF) STEM Education (CFDA 47.076) Project Grant award of $300,000 to the University of Cincinnati provides early-stage, exploratory research to investigate customized employment approaches for restructuring STEM workplace settings and employment practices to increase access and inclusion for postsecondary students with disabilities. The research aims to address two key questions: 1) Can customized employment approaches be used to create STEM jobs meeting the needs of both employers and individuals with intellectual disabilities? and 2) What tools best support employers and disability specialists in identifying suitable STEM positions? The project involves a multiple case study approach gathering and analyzing data from employer/employee interviews, workplace observations, and employee writing samples. An advisory board with individuals with intellectual disabilities, their family members, and STEM employers provides input. An external evaluator assesses the success of the research, which is intended to inform how STEM industry employers can structure more inclusive job descriptions and opportunities for technically skilled workers with disabilities. The findings have potential for further research on customized employment for persons with disabilities in STEM fields.