The Specialized Training Program (STP) at the University of Oregon (UO) in Eugene was a major training, demonstration, and applied research initiative during the 1970s. The program focused on improving community and vocational opportunities for adults with severe and profound intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Purpose and Focus

STP was designed to expand vocational opportunities for individuals who were typically excluded from competitive employment. The program emphasized practical, real‑world approaches over purely academic study and combined demonstration projects, training, and technical assistance.

· Development of structured vocational and workshop models

· Operation of a demonstration workshop connected to the University of Oregon

· Technical assistance to agencies adopting similar models

· In‑service training for professionals and direct‑support staff

· Applied research documenting outcomes and best practices

Key Personnel

The program was led by University of Oregon faculty in special education, most notably Dr. G. Thomas Bellamy and Dr. Robert H. Horner, whose work contributed significantly to the national dialogue on employment for people with significant disabilities.

Role in Systems Change

STP played a meaningful role in early systems‑change efforts related to deinstitutionalization and community integration. The program helped demonstrate that people with significant disabilities could succeed in community‑based work settings when appropriate supports were provided.

Connection to Supported Employment

STP is frequently cited as part of the early foundation of the supported employment movement. Along with other late‑1970s university‑based demonstration projects, STP helped establish principles such as real wages, individualized supports, and community‑based employment.

Later Evolution

In later years, the work of the Specialized Training Program continued under the name Education and Community Supports at the University of Oregon, carrying forward its emphasis on community inclusion and employment.

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