5 Eyewitness News covered the presentation of a MOHR Outstanding Employer Award at Brunson's Pub in St. Paul.
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Federal requirements that restricted access to supported employment programs for people with disabilities in Minnesota under the age of 25 since July 2016 have been clarified, thanks in part to a summer visit by a federal Rehabilitation Services Administration monitoring team.
The group found that subminimum or special minimum wage employment should be made available to young people who are not interested in competitive integrated employment (CIE), according to a letter from John Fisher, interim director of Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS). In its technical assistance, the RSA team approved these actions by VRS:
- Emphasize "Informed Choice" for individuals under 25 years old.
- Allow individuals and families to say that they have no interest in pursuing competitive integrated employment, and to accept that as sufficient reason to determine them to be ineligible for VR services because they are not able to benefit from services.
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A call has been issued for Minnesota to nominate its best direct support professionals for
ANCOR's DSP of the Year
. The winner will be recognized at the group's annual conference to be held in Miami, April 27-29, 2020. The deadline is November 30.
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The
Unified Work coalition is about expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. There are roundtable discussions, best practices to share and more.
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Area Arby's recognized for employing people with disabilities-
Sun Sailor
A letter a week helps keep Aaron Lind from 'getting stuck'
At work helping folks at work-
Mille Lacs Wild Rice Corporation named outstanding disability employer by MOHR -
Aitkin Age
Medtronic named outstanding disability employer -
MDI, Medtronic, others form coalition to support hiring workers with disabilities -
MOHR's 2019 Outstanding Disability Employers were also mentioned in the October 22 issue of
health take (sign up).
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Rugs a cottage industry in Windom
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The special minimum wage option known as 14(c) extends work options to a large majority of individuals served by Cottonwood County DAC. They create and sell rugs from donated materials.
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From far and wide they come, bringing old blue jeans, sheets, corduroys, bed spreads and flannel.
The cast-offs of Cottonwood County will be cut, sewn and bound together by people with disabilities to be sold as rugs, table runners, place mats and dog toys.
In the small town of Windom, this is a prime opportunity for many. Rugs number in the hundreds and are sold by retailers.
Eighty-four percent of the individuals served by Cottonwood County DAC help with rug production. They’re paid a piece rate made possible by the special minimum wage provisions that are afforded to such programs. Some refer to it as a reasonable accommodation. Without it, said DAC Director Rhonda Haglund, this dignifying work and all of its benefits would disappear.
“We want to keep contributing,” said Haglund. Before the rug projects began in about 1970, the program only offered recreation and leisure opportunities. “We don’t want to go back to that,” she said.
-more-
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Rugs made by the DAC come in 24-, 28- and 31-inch widths and are up to 100 inches long. More info is available on
Facebook
.
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Thriving on special minimum wage? Tell us.
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Few, if any, in the mainstream are talking about special minimum wage (14c) as a valued option that people with disabilities can choose. MOHR wants to tell those stories. Can you help?
Do you know of individuals with disabilities:
- Who had not previously worked until the special minimum wage option was made available.
- Who used this option as preparation to get hired directly.
- Who could possibly work as a direct hire but have decided that this option is the best fit right now.
Please email your special minimum wage stories to
Aaron
.
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Joshua Steinke, 35, has attended Udac for 16 years. He was born prematurely. "Josh's tragic beginning has turned into something quite wonderful," said his mother.
View the video
.
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Learn more about this MOHR member in Duluth.
Mr. Aaron Lind, a man with autism whose story was first shared by MOHR, will join leaders from Chrestomathy for a radio interview on November 21 at 6 p.m. on
KFAI - 90.3 and 106.7 FM in the Twin Cities.
MOHR is looking for news from members to share with its audience. Please
send it to us for possible inclusion in MOHR impact.
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Follow us on social media
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MOHR recently released its 2019-2020 Government Affairs Committee
Workplan
. It addresses the DSP workforce shortage, DWRS, service redesigns, transportation and more.
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App to help New Ulm, Brown County authorities interact with vulnerable residents -
Report: More than 600 people with disabilities left behind at Metro Transit stops -
MinnPost
'Joshin' app connects caregivers to families with special needs -
FOX 9 News
Complaints, disparities dog system to distribute disability services -
Star Tribune
Why hiring people with disabilities will improve your bottom line -
Star Tribune
Gophers participate in Lanes for Friendship event -
Gopher Sports
Costly Medicaid missteps could foretell bigger problems at troubled Minnesota agency -
Missing paperwork bumps 1,600 Minnesotans from Medicaid coverage -
Post-Bulletin
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