10/21/2026
A first job starts long before the first day of work.
It starts with learning how to get somewhere on time. Handling money. Following directions. Communicating with other people. Trying something unfamiliar. Figuring out what you're good at and building the confidence to keep going.
For young adults with IDD, having opportunities to practice these things in everyday life can be an important part of getting ready for what comes next.
And when only 15% of 18–22-year-olds with IDD surveyed have a paid community job, while 53% who aren’t working say they want one, there’s a gap between wanting the opportunity and having a path to it.
That’s a gap programs like LINK-UP are built to help close, giving participants the real-world practice and experiences that can move them closer to the future they’re asking for.
Link Up: https://www.sparcinc.org/linkup
source: https://idd.nationalcoreindicators.org/survey-reports-insights/data-briefs-highlights-spotlights-insights/