Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment in Oregon, known as Pathways 2 Employ, is a five-year project running from 2024 to 2029, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Disability Innovation Fund (DIF). The project is designed to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities by creating more equitable, coordinated, and sustainable systems that connect education, workforce development, and community-based services.

Our work begins in Region 1, which encompasses Lane County. Within this region, we are actively partnering with Eugene School District 4J, Bethel School District, and Marcola School District. The 4J CTE CALCI (Career and Academic Learning Communities Initiative) program plays a central role by integrating inclusive career-connected learning into the school district’s broader CTE efforts.

We collaborate with PIVOT Architecture, which brings strong connections to local industry and a focus on building environments that support workforce readiness. PIVOT’s involvement helps ensure that the spaces and partnerships supporting youth employment are intentional, inclusive, and designed with future pathways in mind.

Connected Lane County is another core partner in Region 1, bringing deep experience in serving out-of-school youth and engaging community-based organizations. Their work focuses on creating bridges to employment for young people who may not be connected to traditional educational pathways.

The University of Oregon serves as the lead convener and administrative home for the project. Faculty and staff from the Center on Human Development provide coordination, data analysis, research support, and technical assistance to ensure that the work is grounded in evidence, guided by community voice, and oriented toward scalable, long-term impact across Oregon.

Together, our partners are laying the groundwork for a statewide model that reimagines the transition from school to work, ensuring that youth with disabilities can move into adulthood with agency, support, and real opportunities for meaningful employment.