The employment alternatives available to disabled workers in various countries throughout the world were compared. Using a six-level model in which level 1 designated no employment and level 6 indicated competitive employment with no accommodation or shelter, the researchers examined the following employment practices: competitive employment (involving quota systems, government grants and tax credits to employers, and/or government subsidies); fully integrated employment (including supported employment and affirmative action); semi-integrated employment; and segregated employment. The use and relative effectiveness of each of these strategies both in the United States and abroad were compared. It was concluded that despite the well-documented failure of sheltered workshops in helping disabled workers become "job ready," they have been widely used in the United States as transitional places of employment. A more effective strategy would be to structure sheltered workshops to provide permanent employment for disabled workers so that these workers could be engaged in meaningful employment, interact with nondisabled co-workers, earn competitive wages, and receive fringe benefits equivalent to those in private industry. Significant national policy changes would be required if competitive and fully integrated employment for disabled workers were promoted through a quota-levy system, government grants and wage subsidies, and supported work programs. Five pages of references conclude the report. (MN)