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Virginia EPIC Project

The overall goal of the RPRJ EPIC project is to effectively eliminate subminimum wage employment (SWE) in Virginia. The project will support transition of individuals with disabilities (IWD) currently in SWE to competitive integrated income (CIE) and will prevent youth with disabilities, particularly youth who are students currently in receipt of services through a Medicaid Waiver, from pursuing SWE or nonintegrated employment.

The primary outcomes of RPRJ EPIC project are to transition 300-350 project participants who are currently working in SWE to CIE, and to divert 350-400 youth who are at risk of SWE to pursue CIE.

Project Overview

The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services proposes to further reduce those numbers and to completely eliminate 14(c) employment through the Real Pay for Real Jobs (RPRJ) Education and Outreach, Partnership Development, provisions of Individualized Services and Capacity Building (EPIC) project.

Click here to read the project overview.

Dashboards

Below you will find an interactive map sharing data about the education and employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities in Virginia. The data presented on this dashboard is derived from AWARE data, covering the period from 2003 to 2023. It specifically pertains to clients associated with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. It offers a detailed overview of various aspects concerning these clients, encompassing educational milestones, employment trajectories, and rehabilitative progress over the specified period.
 
 
 
You will also find a series of interactive graphs sharing the education and employment outcomes of individuals with and without disabilities at the national level, including labor force participation, annual income, education attainment, and more. The data presented on this dashboard is derived from ACS 1-year data, covering the period from 2000 to 2021. ACS is a comprehensive statistical survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, designed to provide vital information about the American population and its characteristics. Through an extensive questionnaire sent to a sample of households across the country, the ACS gathers data on various social, economic, housing, and demographic factors. This data offers invaluable insights into trends in employment rates, income levels, and disparities between people with and without disabilities.
 
 

Virginia EPIC News and Updates

Visit this tab for occasional updates on the RPRJ EPIC project evaluation activities for the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and their partners.

RPRJ EPIC Project Evaluation: Baseline Qualitative Findings

Posted March 8, 2024

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ARTICLE: New Grant Assesses Ending the Subminimum Wage

Posted September 20, 2023

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