Employment First

AZ Employment First is a philosophy and movement supporting our mission of competitive integrated employment being the expectation for all Arizonans who have a disability. Employment First is not a program or agency, and we do not provide a service to individuals. The AZ Employment First Initiative is working with stakeholder groups across the state to redefine and rethink how we work with and for individuals with disabilities to increase successful employment outcomes. We believe everyone has a stake in making this possible. Working collaboratively to change necessary policies, services, and funding structures, as well as our partners instilling the appropriate supports and services, when working with individuals, are a few ways we are achieving our mission.

• Employment First Website
• Employment First Strategic Plan Book
• Employment First Fact Sheets & Training
• Employment First Executive Summary

For more information, please email Michael Leyva with the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (AZDDPC), email Jacy Farkas, the Director of UCEDD Training with the Department of Family and Community Medicine from the University of Arizona, or email Arizona APSE.

For a contact within the Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services unit, please email Ana Núñez.