The Illinois
Employment Picture
in Context
Illinois Employment First Summit
January 31, 2012
David Hoff
Institute for Community Inclusion –U Mass, Boston
david.hoff@umb.edu - 617-287-4308
Presented by:
Marsie Frawley, Employment First Committee Member,
Governor’s Task Force on the Employment & Economic
Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities April 25th, 2012
Employment First: What Is It?
• General theme:
Employment in the community is the first/primary
service option for individuals with disabilities
APSE 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.
Employment First 2012
• 30+ states have some type of “Employment First”
movement
About 3/4 of efforts are directed by state policy
units or are legislatively based
About 1/4 of efforts are grassroots based – i.e.,
outsiders working to influence state policy and
practice
• At least 15 states have official Employment First
legislation and/or polices
• Clear state policy: employment as first priority
• Broadly focused on all aspects of system
• While it may begin in the grassroots, ultimately
must be adopted and implemented by the system
• Primary focus is not on eliminating facility-based
services
"The world is full of good intentions,
and I never met a nonprofit whose
mission statement I didn't like.
But I have not met all that many who could
present some evidence of specific
accomplishments that would lead
in the direction of
fulfilling their mission."
•
Norton Kiritz
Founder, The Grantsmanship Center
Public
Policy
Changes
Movement to
Increase
Community
Employment
Public Policy Changes
• Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – integration,
inclusion, increased emphasis on transition and employment
• Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvements Act (1998)
• Workforce Investment Act (1998) – emphasis on disability
• Olmstead Decision (1999)
• Changes in RSA Regulations: successful employment outcome
must be in integrated setting (2001)
• CMS: New suggested Medicaid Waiver service definitions
emphasizing community employment (2011)
Innovations In Practice
• Movement from medical model to social model
• Mid 1980’s – Emergence of supported employment
 “Train & Place” transformed to “Place & Train”
• 1990’s – Expanded use of “natural supports”
• Mental health – employment as part of recovery
• Ongoing innovation and expansion in use of accommodations and
assistive technology
• Innovations in transition practices focused on employment
• Self-determination and self-direction
• Changing workforce & workplace – flexible, more diverse, evolving
use of technology
• Universal Design
2012: Where We Are At
• Individuals with even “most severe” disabilities
working successfully
• Disability no longer seen as insurmountable
barrier to employment
• Expectations are changing
 Individuals and families
 Public systems & policymakers
 Society
Use of Work Incentives
by People On SSI in Illinois
• Plans for Achieving Self Support (PASS) – 40
• Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) – 123
• Blind Work Expense - 40
Source: Social Security Administration
SSI Disabled Recipients Who Work, 2009
What We’ve Learned
• Systems change must fit within overall
culture of state
• Systems change requires both:
big picture perspective and leadership
willingness to get into “nitty gritty” policy and
practice details
• Slow and steady wins the race
• It’s not one thing, it’s a lot of things
7 Recommendations of
Employment
First Summit
Develop the basis of an Employment First strategic
plan for Illinois to include steps of:
Public agency systems change and policy
Data/measurement, evaluation, accountability
Service and support capacity/development
Funding – paying for what we want, creating incentives
Transition, post-secondary education, career advancement
Family and individual awareness/expectations
Business and community development
Next Steps in Illinois
April 12th meeting of Task Force to develop annual report to
the Governor
Opportunity to participate in ‘Community of Practice’ with
Department of Labor – Office of Disability Employment
Policy – Employment First State Leadership Mentor Project
Continue to build on synergy of Summit which brought
strong commitment of state agencies (DRS, DDD, DMH,
DCEO, ISBE, IDES, Commission on Deaf & Hard of Hearing);
advocates; self-advocates; Illinois APSE; Alliance for Full
Participation; and others.
“Solutions to poverty are
going to need to be as
complicated as everything
that causes it.”
Dr. Claire McCarthy
Martha Eliot Health Center, Boston
Examples of Illinois
taxpayers working
towards prosperity
ANDY
Position: Parts inventory
and other tasks at auto
dealership
•Customized position
created at height of
recession when “no one was
hiring”
•Position obtained via
Kiwanis Club connection
and shared interest in sports
with manager
•Now on the board of the
Kiwanis Club
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
Laura
Position: Chef - Charlie
Trotters, Chicago
• Graduated from IL School
for Visually Impaired
• Attended Chicago
Lighthouse for the Blind
• Received DRS assistance
with vocational training at
Le Cordon Bleu, College of
Culinary Arts
• Would like to own her own
restaurant
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
Daniel
Position: Team Member Lowe’s Home Improvement
•Received transition
services from DRS &
partnering services through
Challenges Unlimited
•Has received Employee of
the Month
•Received DRS support in
moving from group home
to own apartment
•National Rehabilitation
Association Nominee
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
Jared
Position: Service Clerk Jewel
•Has worked for 4 years; past
year without a job coach
•Advocates with state
legislators
•Has own driver’s license – 4
year process
•Now owns a MINI Cooper
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
ANNIE
Position: Employee at After
School Program
• Customized position
created based on interest
in working with children
• Started as a Snack Aide;
now reads to children as
part of her job
• Initially required 100%
job coaching; within 9
months, no job coaching
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
Devon
Position: Mail Clerk at
small hospital
• Devon likes to organize;
focused on potential
jobs that use those
skills
• Customized position
created through taking
over mail duties
previously done by
nurses
• Increased efficiency,
boosted morale
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
Jennifer
Position: Artist
• Verbal abilities are limited,
so started expressing herself
through painting in
elementary school. Passion
for art grew from there
• Art will be on display in local
coffee shop in April & May
• Looking for additional
employment
Illinois Citizens with Disabilities – Working Towards Prosperity
Examples of Jennifer’s Work
Web page – St. Louis Art Directory:
http://myslart.ning.com/profile/JenniferWalter
“ A ship in harbor is safe --but that is not
what ships are built for. ”
• John A. Shedd
Further Information:
Governor’s Task Force on the Employment and Economic
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Co-Chairs:
Robin Jones – guiness@uic.edu
Ryan Croke – ryan.croke@illinois.gov
Facilitator: Carlos Charneco – carlos.charneco@illinois.gov
Employment First Committee Members:
Robin Jones; Susan Walter swalter@isbe.net; Margaret Harknessmargaret.harkness@illinois.gov; Sharon Slover sslover@sedom.org; Phil Milskphilmilsk@aol.com; Marsie Frawley marsiefrawley@yahoo.com