As of 2018, more than 600,000 Minnesota residents reported having at least one disability, comprising 11 percent of the state’s population. When examining Minnesota’s overall workforce, residents with disabilities have lower levels of labor market participation, lower employment-to-population ratios, and substantially higher unemployment rates. This leads to higher poverty levels for people with disabilities than those without disabilities.

The Metro Regional Quality Council gathered employment-related information through listening sessions, focus groups, informational interviews, and Person-Centered Quality Reviews.  This information guided the employment work completed by the MRQC.

This campaign will be a journey through employment experiences, emphasizing capability and power while also bringing to light current unfair but legal practices.

The We Work! Campaign will be a series of short videos from different stakeholder groups such as self-advocates/people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, employers, providers, and council members. The purpose of this campaign is to educate the public and employers on the benefits and best practices of employing people with disabilities.

Tayler introduces the We Work! campaign and discusses the important employment protections provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ACA). This campaign will be a progression through employment experiences for people with disabilities. The series will emphasize capability and power while bringing to light current unfair but legal practices.

Katie is the Advocate Associate at The Arc Minnesota.  In this video, she shares what she is passionate about and what advice she has for job seekers and employers. She wants everyone to know that people with disabilities want to work hard, strive, and do their best.

Paris is a parent of an adult with disabilities. Her son is a senior in college and ready to begin his career. Paris wants everyone to know that it is important for people with disabilities to have the opportunity and choice to pursue higher education. Access to education impacts people’s employment and career outcomes, and overall quality of life.

Allie works with children at an early childhood center. In this video, Allie shares her story and offers advice for people with disabilities looking for their dream job. She also has advice for employers hiring people with disabilities. Her motto is, “You never know until you try it!”

Matt and his family own and operate a few metro area Culver’s. Earlier this year, they shared with us how Culver’s works to make Minnesota’s workforce better for everyone, including people with disabilities. To Matt and his family, a great guest experience starts with a great employee experience. In this video, our partners at Culver’s share their best practices for inclusive employment!

After working 20 years as an educator, Poppy is a leader in the field of education. While she has dedicated her career to supporting and advocating for her students and their families, she has also had to advocate for herself as an employee with a disability. Learn more about Poppy’s career and how to advocate for yourself at work by watching this video!

Have you heard of customized employment?

Customized employment is personalizing the employment relationship between a candidate and an employer in order to meet the needs of both.

Josh Dean is the Customized Employment Specialist at Vocational Rehabilitation Services. He is committed to improving the employment outcomes for people with disabilities through customized employment. Learn more about customized employment and why you might use this best practice to find meaningful employment by checking out this video!

Volunteering helps job seekers build skills and relationships that can lead to employment. It can also help form friendships and support networks. Learn about why volunteering is important to Nicole in this video!

Are you interested in the findings of the Metro Regional Quality Council? Check out the employment report, summary, or handout: