Customized Employment: A Way Beyond “Food, Flowers and Filth”?

Abstract This article critically examines the effectiveness and limitations of contemporary employment programmes in the U.S. designed for individuals with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Despite the noble intentions and efforts to promote inclusion, the prevailing logic of employment often confines these individuals to peripheral, unskilled job markets. The analysis highlights a systemic issue within the welfare state framework, where customized employment initiatives, while personalized, fail to lift individuals out of precarious situations. By delving into the perspectives of agents from nonprofits involved in these programmes, the article underscores the role played by such initiatives in categorizing individuals based on definitions of employability.