In Summary
- People with disabilities bring valuable skills and talent to the workforce, but misconceptions about what they can achieve can create unnecessary barriers to their employment.
- Easterseals Midwest provides individualized employment support, including career exploration and job placement as well as on-the-job assistance, helping people with disabilities find meaningful work that aligns with their strengths and interests.
- Employers also benefit from inclusive hiring through dedicated employees, strong retention and support from Easterseals Midwest, which helps make accommodations and customized employment possible.
The biggest barrier people with disabilities face in finding a job isn't their disability. It's the misconception of what they can achieve.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). It was designated by Congress in 1988 to recognize the positive impact people with disabilities have on the American workforce. The U.S. Department of Labor chose this year’s theme, "Celebrating Value and Talent,” as part of their year-long celebration of the American worker for the nation's 250th anniversary.
That theme rings true for our team at Easterseals Midwest. We see every day how talented people with disabilities are, and how much value they bring to their workplaces and communities.
Support That Removes the Ceiling
We help participants succeed by breaking down the limitations others place on them. People with disabilities want meaningful work and a place to belong, just like anyone else. With the right support, they can attain all of that and more.
Easterseals Midwest Employment Services supports people at every step, from career exploration to long-term employment. Most people come to us through the Vocational Rehabilitation service. From there, we offer career planning, job development, and on-the-job support, including specialized support programs tailored to young adults with autism. That’s not to mention our summer work experience for teens.
Last year, we supported 781 people across Missouri and Kansas, facilitated 130 new job placements and welcomed 52 new business partners. Participants earned an average of $16.38 an hour, $1.38 above minimum wage in Missouri and $9.13 above minimum wage in Kansas.
Matching Strengths to Jobs
No two employment paths are alike because no two people we serve are alike. Our services are highly individualized and often include customized employment, which matches a person's strengths with an employer's needs.
We also meet people where they are. In cities and rural communities alike, our employment specialists travel to participants' homes, provide transportation to interviews and meet in locations across the community.
We love aligning a job with someone's talents and interests. That approach often leads our participants to succeed in roles that break outdated assumptions about disabilities.
Becky is a graduate of our LINK program, which helps young adults with autism build social and job skills as they transition from school to the workforce. She loved her college science coursework and wanted a career that would put that passion to use.
Her autism specialist arranged an observational visit at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. That visit led Becky to apply for a lab technician position, which involves preparing samples and tools for their experiments. Today, she is flourishing in this role in a field that inspires her.
Real Value for Employers and Communities
Employers who hire people with disabilities gain dedicated, reliable team members. Moreover, an inclusive workplace also creates a better culture for everyone.
People with disabilities often choose to stay longer than other employees in the same types of positions. Participants in our employment services have a 90% retention rate at 90 days and an 80% retention rate at one year. For any business that knows the cost of turnover, that retention is a clear benefit.
Sami is a prime example of the enthusiasm and reliability people with disabilities bring to the workplace. She began her career journey with Easterseals Midwest through our summer work experience program. Through our pre-employment services, she secured a job at the team store at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.
At first, an Easterseals Midwest job coach worked with Sami to help build her confidence. Now she works independently and continues to receive our community integration services.
"My co-workers and my supervisor have told me that I do really good at my job," Sami said. "I help customers find what they need. It makes me feel happy that I'm doing such a good job there."
Another Misconception: The “Cost” of Support
Some employers assume that they don't have the resources to help people with disabilities succeed on the job. That isn't the case.
Easterseals Midwest works with employers of every size across Missouri and Kansas, in urban and rural communities alike. Our partners range from local small businesses to regional grocers and major attractions. Participants have found jobs at Sporting KC, the YMCA, the St. Louis Aquarium, the Royals’ Kaufman Stadium and many more.
Those partnerships grow out of community collaboration and creative job matching. We get to know each employer's needs and each person's strengths, then find where they fit together. Customized employment works especially well for small businesses. They often have more flexibility with job descriptions, which makes it easier to shape a role around what someone does best.
Support for employers goes beyond the match. The federal Vocational Rehabilitation program covers job accommodations at no cost to the employer. Many employers also qualify for tax credits. And our team supports both the employee and the employer, from the first interview through long after the first day on the job.
Talent Worth Celebrating
Becky and Sami work in very different places. One is in a science lab. The other is at a major league ballpark. What they share is talent, drive and the right support to put both to work.
Their stories reflect a simple truth. People with disabilities belong in our communities and contribute to our economy. With the right support, they thrive, and their communities are better for it.
This NDEAM, I invite Missouri and Kansas employers to take a closer look at the talent they may be overlooking. If your business is ready to hire, we'd love to talk with you about becoming an Easterseals Midwest business partner.
If you'd like to support in other ways, please consider donating to Easterseals Midwest.
