Promotional spot for Reclaiming Employment, an online platform providing self-employment resources for people with mental health challenges.

A 2014 Senate Committee hearing on access to higher education for U.S. students with disabilities.

Report includes data from a six-month pilot study of Reclaiming Employment, measuring outcomes for users seeking self-employment support.

Article argues that confronting ableism requires confronting capitalism, which values people based on their production efficiency.

A Job Accommodation Network article discusses self-employment viability for people with mental health conditions, highlighting research and the Reclaiming Employment peer support program.

The Psychology Today interview with Laysha Ostrow, conducted for a series on the future of mental health, discussed her work synthesizing lived experience and professional expertise to promote systemic social change.

As reported in HuffPost, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) convened a hearing on this topic, framed around the pending reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

Presentation at SAMHSA by Laysha Ostrow on the CPS Career Outcomes Study, covering wages, financial wellbeing, burnout, and policy suggestions.

Discussion between Laysha Ostrow and Jessica Jonikas on Leadership, Authenticity, and Self-Acceptance in Participatory Research (PAR).

Interview with Laysha Ostrow on her research, consulting company, peer specialist inclusion in care, and personal system experience.

Study of 680 CPSs found peer support jobs offer benefits like longer job tenure, better benefits, and higher job satisfaction.

Survey examined burnout among peer specialists, finding that those in peer services jobs reported lower exhaustion and higher professional efficacy.

Pilot study found using the Reclaiming Employment online platform was significantly associated with increases in some Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy subscales.

Study found self-employed individuals with psychiatric disabilities mainly used informal supports (friends, family) over institutional business supports.

Exploratory study found self-employment is a viable pathway for some individuals, though businesses are often very small and part-time.

Survey investigated peer specialist post-certification employment and retention, finding a trend of specialists leaving peer support for other types of work.

Study found wages for peer support jobs increased less than non-peer jobs (2020-2022). Financial well-being did not significantly improve.

"Once a peer always a peer": A qualitative study of peer specialist experiences with employment following state certification

Study examines peer specialist employment in shortage areas (MHPSAs). CPSs leverage their credential to address shortages; supportive policies are encouraged.

Commentary on the advantages of self-employment for people with psychiatric disabilities, fitting the recovery paradigm through self-care and individualized employment.