How were the Competencies Established?
Since ACRE began, its members were interested in creating training that was competency-based. We must give credit to APSE (the Association of People Supporting Employment First), a national organization that has promoted community employment for people with disabilities since 1988, for doing the first work on the development of competencies. APSE assembled nationally recognized experts in the field to establish the first set of competencies for employment providers. These competencies covered the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in the field of employment for people with disabilities.
ACRE embraced these APSE competencies, and then refined and expanded them. Once finalized, these competencies allowed us to develop a process for curriculum review and approval. The expanded competencies included multiple approaches to employment for people with disabilities, including competitive employment, Customized Employment, supported employment, transitional employment, etc. Additionally, these competencies were broken down into 2 levels (Basic and Professional), in order that training could be developed for a basic level of knowledge and skill as well as a professional level of knowledge and skill. In 2013, ACRE revised the Employment Services competencies, to keep in line with the revisions that APSE had mades to its competencies, and in 2021, ACRE released an updated version of the Employment Competencies.
ACRE embraced these APSE competencies, and then refined and expanded them. Once finalized, these competencies allowed us to develop a process for curriculum review and approval. The expanded competencies included multiple approaches to employment for people with disabilities, including competitive employment, Customized Employment, supported employment, transitional employment, etc. Additionally, these competencies were broken down into 2 levels (Basic and Professional), in order that training could be developed for a basic level of knowledge and skill as well as a professional level of knowledge and skill. In 2013, ACRE revised the Employment Services competencies, to keep in line with the revisions that APSE had mades to its competencies, and in 2021, ACRE released an updated version of the Employment Competencies.