Customized Employment: Your Questions Answered

Alissa Brooke has worked for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center since 2008. Throughout her career she has had extensive experience working in the field supporting transition-aged individuals with ASD and IDD in employment. Ms. Brooke has been devoted to developing and honing the skills and techniques required to build trusting relationships with employers, and disseminating this information to others in the field. She is focused on supporting choice, customized employment, and the use of assistive technology and behavioral supports to promote job retention. Ms. Brooke is dedicated to making contributions that support improving competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.

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 20 years. Ms. McDonough is the Associate Director of Training at VCU-RRTC. She is also the Project Director for a national research and training center on employer practices of hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. Additionally, Ms. McDonough provides technical assistance and disseminates resources nationally to individuals with disabilities interested in employment. Ms. McDonough serves as the Virginia Project SEARCH Statewide Coordinator where she provides training and technical assistance to 20 sites. Throughout her career with VCU-RRTC, Ms. McDonough has worked directly with individuals with disabilities assisting them in locating employment and determining accommodation needs.