In Minnesota, 50 percent of people with intellectual disabilities and 40 percent of people with physical disabilities who are unemployed, want to work, according to recent surveys. This year Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed new employment services to ensure more Minnesotans with disabilities can seek, retain and maintain paying jobs of their choice in the community.
Gov. Dayton’s budget calls for three new government-financed employment services to transform current employment services for people with disabilities. They are:
- Employment exploration services to introduce a person to competitive employment opportunities through individualized education, work experiences and support services. This will allow the person to make an informed decision about working in competitively paying jobs in the community.
- Employment development services, which are individualized services that will help a person to achieve paid employment in their community, including becoming self-employed or establishing a small businesses.
- Employment support services, which are individualized services and supports that will help people maintain paid employment in community businesses. Services will be provided in settings where a person can interact with co-workers and others without disabilities.
DHS is working with stakeholders to redefine services the state and federal government pay for to ensure that people have experiences and options to make informed choices about employment.
Employment service providers are critical to moving services toward greater choice for people with disabilities and to raising expectations that working-age Minnesotans with disabilities can achieve competitive, integrated employment. The employment proposals for people with disabilities are part of an overall strategy proposed by Gov. Dayton to increase independent living for people with disabilities and older adults. More information about this and other budget proposals are available on the 2017 session fact sheets page on the DHS website.