Overview
In early 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the expansion of the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have been selected as core participants for this fiscal year, signaling a national push to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through policy development and capacity-building.
This isn’t just about job programs, it’s about equity, independence, and changing expectations. As the workforce landscape evolves, so must the systems that support individuals with disabilities. For IDD providers, this initiative presents both an opportunity and a responsibility: to help make competitive, integrated employment (CIE) not the exception, but the norm.
Here’s what the NEON expansion means and how providers can align with this shift.
What is the NEON initiative?
Launched by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), NEON is designed to help states develop infrastructure and policy that supports competitive integrated employment, real work for real wages in inclusive settings. Through NEON, selected states receive direct technical assistance, strategy support, and policy guidance to expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The goal is to shift systems toward employment as a default expectation, not just a program. That includes updating rate structures, supporting provider transformation, and building partnerships between state agencies, providers, and employers.
Why this matters
Employment is often a key milestone on the path to independence, but individuals with IDD continue to face barriers, limited job options, stigma, and outdated systems that prioritize sheltered work or day habilitation.
The NEON initiative signals a clear direction from federal and state leaders: the future of disability services includes meaningful employment. For agencies, that means rethinking how employment is integrated into service planning, ISP development, and support models.
Rather than siloing employment into a separate program, NEON encourages providers to treat it as an expected part of adulthood, just like housing or healthcare.
States leading the way
The 13 NEON core states along with DC, were selected because they’ve demonstrated readiness to scale up employment systems change. While each state’s approach will differ, all will receive support to redesign funding models, train staff, and expand provider capacity.
For agencies operating in those states, this is a chance to shape the future of employment services locally. Even for agencies outside these areas, the lessons learned will have national implications. What starts as a pilot in one region often sets the tone for policy shifts across the country.
Technology-driven integration
The right technology can make all the difference. Digital tools allow staff to document job coaching sessions, track employment goals, and coordinate with vocational teams.
For example, a DSP can log progress during a job trial in real time, while supervisors and employment specialists review and adjust support remotely. Leadership can generate outcome data to share with funders and state partners, without digging through disconnected systems.
When documentation and communication are streamlined, staff spend less time on logistics and more time helping individuals build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Aligning programs with employment
For many individuals, day programs are a core part of daily life. But under NEON, there’s increasing emphasis on transitioning from center-based supports to community-based employment.
That doesn’t mean day programs disappear, rather they adapt. Agencies can begin aligning day services with pre-employment skill building, job exploration, and supported employment pathways. With the right planning and tools, staff can help individuals move at their own pace toward competitive employment, without losing the safety and structure they rely on.
Giv helps agencies prepare
At Giv, we believe that individuals with disabilities deserve the same opportunities for purpose, growth, and meaningful employment as anyone else. Our platform is built to help agencies turn that belief into action—by making it easier to support employment-focused services with the tools and structure they need.
With Giv, providers can document support in real time, track individualized progress toward job goals, and coordinate seamlessly across service settings and support teams. Agencies can also generate outcome data that aligns with funder expectations and evolving policy requirements. As federal initiatives like NEON push the field toward more inclusive employment, Giv helps agencies stay ahead, not only in compliance, but in creating a future where individuals are included in the workforce.
Learn how Giv can help your agency improve documentation and improved goal tracking.
