The Employment Workgroup knows the employment rate for people with disabilities is extremely low compared to those without disabilities. We would like to change this because we believe everyone deserves to be meaningfully and competitively employed if they wish. We think employment offers a unique sense of fulfillment and purpose in peoples’ lives. It is something that contributes positively to society and is also relatable to others.

The Employment Workgroup include members of the Metro Regional Quality Council, community advocates, service providers and Metro Regional Quality Council staff.

The Workgroup wants to increase competitive and integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities by:

  1. Asking employment service providers and those who work for providers about what they need to better serve people with disabilities.
  2. Asking employers about what actions they take to include and hire workers with disabilities.
  3. Asking people with disabilities and their supporters what they need in order to attain employment goals.
  4. Use the information we gather to create and share resources, and enact change.

Resources Websites

The workgroup created the RQC Employment Resources website which aims to make it easier for people with disabilities, their supporters, and employers looking to hire people with disabilities to access employment resources. The MRQC also created the RQC Housing Resources website for those looking or in need of housing resources and the RQC Transportation Resources website. 

Provider Interview Project (Current)

After completing the Employment Services Survey Project and drafting a report, the MRQC decided they need to collect more information about the barriers cited in the report. Since the surveys were designed to be completed in 5-10 minutes, there was little room for detailed responses which lead to more questions than answers. As a result, we feel we need to talk directly to providers to gain a better understanding about the barriers they face. This can help us clear up confusion and rule out variables.

To help gain a better understanding, we created a list of 13 interview questions to ask providers.

If you are a provider or work for a provider and interested in being interviewed, please send a message via the contact option.

Employment Services Survey Project (April-December 2025)

The MRQC know many people with disabilities use employment services providers to help them achieve their employment goals. However, many who work in leadership positions at provider agencies struggle to hire and retain quality direct support professionals. And many direct support professionals struggle to perform and continue their jobs. We think it is not because workers don’t want to do their jobs. In fact, many enjoy providing services and working with people with disabilities. However, certain barriers are making it difficult for them to perform their jobs. We wanted to find out what key barriers are making it difficult for leadership and direct support professionals to perform their jobs.

The MRQC has partnered with Hennepin County and Dakota County to create 2 surveys to better understand the perspectives of those who work in leadership positions and those who work in direct support positions. The MRQC emailed the surveys to various provider organizations and agencies. Those who worked in leadership positions for an employment services provider agency were asked to complete the Employment Services Survey for Provider Agencies. And those who worked as a direct support professional for an employment services provider were asked to complete the Employment Services Survey for Direct Support Professionals.

The feedback we collect from the 2 surveys will help us identify barriers that make the delivery of quality services more difficult. Once we know more about the barriers, we will craft solutions to alleviate some of the barriers.  We anticipate that some of these solutions may be in the form of legislative proposals.  We know legislative proposals can be a driving force in making real change happen, so people with disabilities can continue to receive the quality services they need and deserve.

To read the survey results, visit the link to open the MRQC Employment Services Survey Report.

If you are curious to know what projects the MRQC are currently doing or have done, check out the MRQC Work Group pages. Or scroll down to read about what other employment related projects we have done.

Human Resources Project (since March 2025)

The MRQC worked to build partnerships with educational institutions and organizations that educate and train individuals aspiring to work in the human resources field or those already working in the field. We know human resource professionals play a key role in the hiring process. We believe more human resources professionals would become more open to hiring people with disabilities if given opportunities to learn more about them and their potential as future employees. We reached out to many colleges and universities asking them if they would allow us to present information about disability and employment. For example, we discussed ways to provide accommodations, and educated attendees on the value people with disabilities bring to the workforce.

Normandale Community College Presentation

On October 8th, 2025, we presented at Normandale Community College’s Staff Development Day.

Presentations were created and led by self-advocates with lived experiences and included topics such as:

  • Accessibility in Action: Practical Approaches to Job Accommodations
  • Unlocking Potential: Recognizing Transferable Skills and Navigating Disability in the Interview Process
  • Leading with Lived Experience: Disability, Employment, and the Power of Inclusion

If you are interested in having the MRQC present at an event, classroom lecture, workshop, staff training, etc., please send a message via the contact option.

Employment Policies that need Your Support

Interested in supporting policies that help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities? Here are some policies you can support that do just that!

  • Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund or ERAF is a two-year pilot program designed to reimburse eligible Minnesota employers for reasonable accommodation purchases made for job applicants and employees with disabilities. Covering expenses from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025, this program removes financial barriers to hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities, ensuring that small to mid-sized businesses have the resources to build inclusive workplaces. The fund ends on June 30th, 2025. You can show your support for its continuation by sending letters of support.
    • Download this Letter of Support Template which contains organized ideas and facts that can help formulate the contents of your letter. Edit the Letter of Support Template by adding your own identifying information, personal stories and thoughts.
    • After editing the Letter of Support for ERAF , please email your letter to the following individuals:

      Deven is the Director of DEED Government Affairs, and HaoPay oversees the State Services for the Blind portfolio. They will ensure that the letters are passed along to the Governor’s Office for consideration.

Employment Resources Presentation Events

The workgroup hosted Employment Resources Presentation Events. These are virtual events centered on employment services and resources. They started in June 2024 and ended in December 2024. They are aimed to inform people with disabilities, their supporters, the public and employers about the various employment services and resources that are available to them.

Some of the events include topics covering:

  • Avivo: Offers customized employment services to enable individuals to achieve their life and career goals. Their career counselors create plans that are unique to each individual – a holistic approach for unemployed and under-employed people who are struggling to find work or start their careers. Their employment services are free or no-cost to participants due to eligibility requirements.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS): Is a division of the MN Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) provides employment services to people with disabilities across Minnesota. VRS is a partner in the Career Force System. Subjects such as Customized Employment and Visual Resumes are covered in this presentation.
  • Opportunity Partners: Is a nonprofit organization advancing the quality of life for people with disabilities since 1953. Opportunity Partners is one of Minnesota’s most experienced and comprehensive providers of employment, enrichment and residential services for adults with disabilities in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan area. From competitive, integrated employment to a more supported career option, they work with you to find meaningful employment and offer support throughout your career.
  • Rise: Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on the belief that everyone deserves opportunities to achieve meaningful growth and live a purpose-filled life. Their programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin take a whole-person approach, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through supportive access to employment, housing and life-enrichment services. The presentation focuses primarily on Rise’s employment services from the perspectives of a person served, family member, and staff team members.
  • Microenterprises: Jerry Mellum, a Senior Planning Analyst with Hennepin County, shares information about microenterprises and entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. He talks about what is a microbusiness and what it means to be an entrepreneur. He also talks about the big picture of how small businesses may be funded and the different supports available for people with disabilities.
  • Kaposia: Is a leading employment services provider in the state. Dana Eisfeld is Kaposia’s Director of Customized Employment and is also the co-president of MN-APSE. Dana talks about Kaposia employment services in MN and how current state systems and funding streams are set up. He also talks about the kinds of questions to ask providers for those seeking employment and the importance of eliminating subminimum wage.

Employment Resources Presentations Recordings

Down below are recordings of the events mentioned above. They provide a lot of great information for first time job seekers or for those just curious to learn more about a specific topic. To watch even more informational content about employment and other topics, such as housing and advocacy, visit the RQC YouTube Channel.