On September 30, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order (EO) 40, Committing New York to Be an Employment First State to Increase Competitive Integrated Employment for New Yorkers with Disabilities—the latest in a series of executive actions in New York aimed at employing people with disabilities over the last decade.

This brief provides:

• A look at philosophy of the Employment First framework and the current state of Employment First in New York

• A summary of evidence-based information about barriers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and other significant disabilities that may stand in the way of full adoption of Employment First (E1st) strategies

• Suggestions for practice and policy solutions to help New York meet the goals of the executive order