MOHR answers Star Trib, segregated or integrated? letters needed

The Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation

Expanding possibilities, honoring choices for Minnesotans with disabilities.

MOHR impact

December 2016

More job duties, animal care goal

Nick Carlson at Rise in Coon Rapids is establishing a career path through hard work and organization.

Two companies, only blocks apart, hired him for a range of support tasks. Cedar Creek Energy needed janitorial help and Park Precision Machining started him in similar work.

He cleans the office and public areas, and the production floor at Park Precision. And, after supervisors witnessed his work attitude, they added box assembly, metal products hand assembly and material sorting for recycling to Carlson’s duties.

Park Precision employees appreciate Carlson’s good work and he enjoys their camaraderie and friendship. Sometimes he goes out for a quick lunch with coworkers. -more-

Letters to editor: easier than chiseling in stone

Valuable day programs need positive attention in your hometown newspaper and on social media.

Please go to "Adocacy/Telling Your story" on mohrmn.org. and scroll down to the sample letters. Email a page link to families impacted by your program and ask them to write a letter of support.

From the importance of work choices provided by special minimum wages to countering the threat of looming funding cuts, the letter templates make it easier to generate and broaden support.

Segregated or integrated?

Parent Jim Clapper, co-chair of MnFAC, said working in-center is more "integrated" for his son than an independent job he held for a year. Watch on YouTube

In this issue:

Speak up online

Letters to editor needed

Segregated or integrated?

CHOICE, Inc. attracts 100 parents for WIOA meeting

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In the news ... MOHR answers Star Tribune

MOHR President Mike Burke

MOHR challenges criticism of day training programs

A November 13 Star Tribune story "Federal disability rights directive could put a bull's-eye on Minnesota" demanded an answer when it raised the issue of day training and habilitation programs of possibly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. We must be vigilant and work to share the truth, especially when we see stories that exclude our side of the issue. The public needs to hear from us, and from the families we serve. My letter was published the following Sunday. We have to speak up for the quality work we do for people with disabilities in our communities.

Parents/guardians discuss WIOA

On a windy November evening, about 100 family members came to a special CHOICE, Inc. session about Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act requirements. Parents were encouraged to schedule interviews with Centers for Independent Living advisors. These will ask about employment preferences. "It was a very valuable discussion for our parents," said Executive Director Michael Kraines. Please view the WIOA slide presentation.

Want to be heard? Make comments online

Don't hesitate to share your comments online when you read stories that are critical or complementary of day training programs and in-center work opportunities. Your letter can help educate the community. Mike Burke's letter in the Sunday Star Tribune, for example, reached hundreds of thousands of subscribers, but online comments get more attention from Internet readers who just finished the story. Let's login and start talking about the value MOHR members provide.

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