Career Planning Services (NJ DDD)
Meaningful work changes lives. Career Planning under New Jersey’s DDD programs helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities discover what kind of work fits their strengths and interests — and builds a concrete, step-by-step path to get there.
What Career Planning Involves
Career Planning is a time-limited, person-centered service that answers a big question: what does a good working life look like for this person? Through structured discovery — conversations, assessments, community experiences, and trial activities — we identify strengths, interests, and the conditions where someone does their best work.
The result is a clear, written career plan the individual, family, and support team can act on — often leading into Supported Employment services.
What's Included
Discovery process
Structured exploration of strengths, interests, and ideal working conditions.
Career exploration
Learning about real occupations through visits, job shadowing, and informational interviews.
Written career plan
A concrete plan with goals, steps, and supports — not a vague wish list.
Skill-building roadmap
Identifying the training or experiences needed to reach the goal.
Benefits guidance
Understanding how work interacts with benefits, so decisions are informed.
Bridge to employment
A direct handoff into Supported Employment when the plan is ready.
How It Works With Your NJ DDD Plan
Services are delivered through New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) programs. Your Support Coordinator adds Career Planning to the individual’s person-centered plan, and we take it from there — matching staff, building the schedule, and reporting progress against the plan’s goals. If you don’t yet have a Support Coordinator, we can point you in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Career Planning for?
Adults served by NJ DDD who want to work but are not yet sure what job fits, or who need a clear plan before starting a job search. It is a covered service when included in the person-centered plan.
How long does Career Planning take?
It is designed to be time-limited — typically a matter of months, ending with a concrete written plan rather than an open-ended process.
What happens after the plan is done?
Most individuals move into Supported Employment services — which we also provide — to put the plan into action with job development and on-the-job support.
Explore More DDD Waiver Services
Priority Group Services supports the whole person-centered plan — services combine seamlessly under one trusted NJ provider.
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