1. Employment First
Making employment the first and preferred outcome for people with disabilities.

2. Values Statement
“We need everyone in the workforce for business to thrive and communities to prosper.”

3. Core Values
People with significant disabilities should have the right to enjoy their lives as much as their peers do.
Working is fundamental to adulthood, quality of life issues, and earning the means to exercise our freedoms and choices as citizens.

4. The Perfect Storm Workforce labor shortages
Unacceptable employment participation rate of 20%
Shrinking public funding $
Public policy reforms
Changing attitudes about disability and employment
Emerging technologies
SE/CE practices
Evidence-based research

5. The Perfect Storm Oregon Lawsuit The US Department of Justice Olmsted
National Governor’s Association Employment Initiative
Sen. Harkin/HELP Committee: “Unfinished Business” report
Re-examination of Section 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act (provision for sub-minimum wages)
Return on Investment

6. Minnesota APSE Founded in 1991 – one of the first state chapters
7 members from MN have served on the National APSE Board
2 Minnesotans served as National President
2006 – began preparations for the first Minnesota Employment Summit and the creation of the Minnesota Employment First Coalition
First Summit held in June of 2007
Provided the technical support, planning and delivery of 3 statewide employment conferences
Continues to serve as the primary leadership of the MN Employment First Coalition
Working on employment policy development

7. MN Employment First Coalition
MN APSE
Pathways to Employment (MIG)
DHS
DEED
MN State Council on Disabilities
MN Department of Education
Consumer Survivor Network
PACER
Institute on Community Integration (U of M)
Social Security Administration
Ramsey County Human Services
Arc Minnesota
Arc of the Greater Twin Cities

8. Employment First
Means expecting, encouraging, providing, creating, and rewarding integrated employment in the workforce;
at minimum or competitive wages and benefits;
as the first and preferred outcome for working-age youth and adults with disabilities;
especially those with complex and significant disabilities, for whom job placement in the past has been limited, or has not traditionally occurred.

9. Integrated Employment
Regular employment in the workforce on the payroll of a company (unless self-employed) at minimum or prevailing wages and benefits.
Employment where integration and interaction with co-workers without disabilities and customers is assured.
In other words: Real Jobs, Real Wages, Real Businesses. One person at-a-time.

10. Employment First Principles
Build a strong coalition of people who get things done.
State your intentions clearly – define employment and what you mean by “Employment First.”
After defining employment and also what Employment First means stay focused on this one, simple concept.
Everybody means everybody.
Focus on the “real business community.”

11. Employment First Principles
Emphasize the difference between “qualified” and “quality” employees.
Build on communities.
Raise expectations.
Stay focused and positive.
Keep moving.
Communicate, communicate, communicate.

12. Key Summit Recommendations
Establish Minnesota as a national leader in promoting the employment of adults with disabilities.
Continue an ongoing dialogue and connection among Minnesota’s Employment First champions.
Launch an Employment First vision to make competitive, integrated employment in the workforce common policy and practice in Minnesota.

13. Key Summit Recommendations
Build on known and emerging strengths in policy and practice in Minnesota.
Launch and support local initiatives that focus on building the capacity of communities to promote “Employment First” policies and practices (i.e. Communities of Practice).
Develop training & technical assistance resources to redirect and execute an “employment first” vision in Minnesota.

14. Key Summit Recommendations
Re-brand “rehabilitation” in both language and practice in favor of strengths-based, customized (negotiated) employment strategies.
Establish a single statewide definition of integrated employment and implement uniform practices of performance measurement across all State agencies and disability service systems in Minnesota.

15. National Momentum Employment First Summits have been held in: Iowa
Missouri
Kansas
Rhode Island (3)
Arkansas
Minnesota (fourth summit)
North Dakota
Illinois
Wisconsin
Indiana
Ohio
New Jersey
Virginia
Maine

16. National Momentum
6th National Organizational Change Forum in Indianapolis, Employment First Theme
Employment First Georgia hires new executive director – Nancy Brooks Lane
Minnesota Employment First Coalition releases report from 3rd Summit (Family Focus)
ODEP Establishes a National Community of Practice
Several states enact Employment First Policies, among which are KS, IL, OH, NJ, DE, TN

17. National Momentum APSE Conference in Atlanta – Theme of Employment 1st
National APSE releases statement on Employment First
Employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all working age citizens with disabilities, regardless of level of disability.

18. More to Come Employment First Initiatives continue to grow.
At last count over 22 states have employment first initiatives in process or planned
Not all states refer to their initiatives as “Employment First” (WA, VT, NH)
We need to increase the involvement of families and job seekers with disabilities.
Now’s a good time to get on the bus.

19. Accomplishments
Four employment first summits held with key stakeholders
Three employment & disability conferences held
Three published reports—a blueprint for change, a progress report, and family summit
Mini-summit with state agency leaders
Mini-summit with business leaders
National white paper written
Led to funding and launch of MNTAT
Led to funding and launch of MEPI

20. Local Level Example – Ramsey County
Accomplishments
Local Level Example – Ramsey County
Set benchmark to double employment for people with disabilities by 2015
Annual data collection on level of integration, wages and hours worked for people with Case Management Services
Hosted a local Employment First Summit specific to our county
Lead a Community Action Team (CAT) in collaboration with the MN Employment Training and Technical Assistance Center
Host an annual event for graduates and their families to provide information about transitioning from school to employment
Representation with MN APSE and the Employment First Coalition
Regular employment-focused trainings for case managers
Hosting a pilot project for students in their last year of school with the goal of having supports & a job in place before graduation

21. Advice from Families The conversation and the work must continue
Power needs to be in the hands of individuals and their families
Public education needs to put more emphasis on employment/post-secondary education and training
Centralized information
Training on employment
Community Action Teams

22. What’s Next?
Goal: To make employment the first and preferred outcome for Minnesotans with disabilities
Executive Order or actual legislative policy on Employment First.

23. Employment First If employment is first, then what’s next?
The answer is: “Everything.”
Employment First is about raising expectations and improving practices.
It’s about applying the same set of standards, responsibilities and expectations to people with disabilities that are applied to all working age adults.

24. Building an Employment First Coalition
We have only just begun.

25. It’s up to you…