Employment in Illinois for People with
Disabilities
Governors Employment & Economic Opportunities Task Force
Members:
Margaret Harness – Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
Sharon Slover – Executive Director of Education & Careers -Menta Group
Phil Milsk – Legislative Director with the ARC of Illinois
Issues & Solutions: Areas for
Discussion
1.
Vision for employment (i.e., long-term goal)
2.
What needs to change?
3.
What do we need to know more about to
address this issue?
4.
Proposed actions for change
5.
Who needs to be involved in change process?
6.
What can you do starting tomorrow?
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 by state policy or are
legislatively based
 About 1/4 of efforts are grassroots based – i.e.,
outsiders working to influence state policy and
practice
At least 18 states have official Employment First
legislation and/or polices

Policy clearly states: employment as first priority

Broadly focused on all aspects of system


May begin in the grassroots, ultimately must be
adopted and implemented by the system
Primary focus is not on eliminating facility-based
services
The National Scene
Public
Policy
Changes
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
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
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 Are We?



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
People with Disabilities in Illinois:

US Census:
 656,000 have a disability (7.8% of population)
– Source: ACS, 2009
 5.9%

have a work limitation
– Source: CPS, 2010
Working Age Adults on Social Security Disability Benefits
(SSI or SSDI): 406,000
– Source: Social Security Administration, 2010
The Illinois
Employment Picture
in Context
Illinois Employment First Summit
January 31, 2012
Summit Report downloadable at
www.state.il.us/agency/icdd
David Hoff
Institute for Community Inclusion
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Compare Illinois to U.S.?
Workforce Participation
% of All Adults in Workforce
% of All Adults with Any Disability in
Workforce
% of Adults with Cognitive Disability in
Workforce
Illinois
National
69%
68%
35%
35%
25%
24%
Source: US Census ACS, 2009
Department of Developmental
Disabilities
Illinois DDD – Total # Served: 29,000
Illinois DDD
National*
% Individuals - Integrated Employment
10%
20%
% Individuals - Facility Based Work
17%
27%
% Individuals - Facility Based Non-Work
72%
36%
Illinois DDD – Total Funding: $276,000,000
Illinois DDD
National*
% of Funding – Integrated Employment
6%
12%
% of Funding – Facility Based Work
12%
29%
% of Funding – Facility Based Non-Work
82%
30%
*National data includes additional category of Community Based Non-Work, that brings national total
to 100%
Source: ICI Agency National Survey of Day &
Employment Services, 2009
Vocational Rehabilitation
Illinois Vocational Rehabilitation
Total Closures: 17,900
Illinois VR
National
% of Closures into Employment Setting
30%
30%
Rehabilitation Rate for All Closures with IPE
57%
56%
Mean Weekly Earnings at Closure
$274
$357
26 hours
31 hours
Mean Weekly Hours at Closure
Source: RSA 911 Data, 2009
Community Mental Health System
Illinois Community Mental Health System Employment Status
Individuals
Served *
Employed
Unemployed
Not in Labor
Force
Age 18 to 20
6,942– 100%
1,486 – 21%
2,560 – 37%
2,896 – 42%
Age 21 to 64
98,452 – 100%
24,309 – 25%
49,041 – 50%
25,102 - 25%
* Includes individuals for whom employment status can be identified
Community Mental Health System Employment Status
Illinois Compared to U.S.
Employed
All Ages
Unemployed
Not In Labor Force
Illinois
U.S.
Illinois
U.S.
Illinois
U.S.
24%
21%
48%
41%
28%
37%
Source: SAMHSA Community Mental Health
System Reporting System - 2009
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
The Illinois Scene
Big Picture
Trend(s)
Timeline – Changes from Advocacy
ICDD
Blueprint
08
Legislation
SJR 15
09
Legislation
PA 96-368
DDD 2011-17
Strategic Plan
10
Emp. Taskforce
Report with
Emp. 1st Goal
11
12
Emp.
Summit
Rebalancing - Institutional Closures
$ shifts to community support use
Quinn“Close”:
Howe
Howe
closed
09
10
QuinnQuinn“Close”:
“Close”:
Jacksonville Jacksonville
Mabley
Murray
Tinley
Singer
Chester
Tinley Jacksonville
closed
closed
11
12
13
Div. of Dev. Disabilities
PUNS Wait List - Employment
Employment Need
Support to work at home
Number of People
479
Support to work in the
community
6,754
Work/ activities in a disability
setting
9,282
TOTAL
as of 10-11-12
16,452
Getting Home and Community Based
Service Waiver - Win the lottery!


$ for employment
supports and
transportation
Ligas lawsuit
settlement




Includes self employment
Ligas suit members + PUNS wait
list people
1400 awarded this year
1700 more this year
 750 Home based
 750 CILA
 200 CILA – caregiver over 75
Funding Services in a Time of
Cutbacks Rebalancing


State institutions cost more than community homes
Supported employment costs more than current rates
cover
SO, rethink use of limited $:
 Save money by shifting living to community
• DDD provided rate incentives
• Advocate that DDD put its limited $ in supported
and community employment services
The element that makes a
person job-ready is being in
a real job.
Joe Chiappetta,
Disabilityworks – Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Subminimum Wage Legislation
Federal
H.R. 3086
Summary:
•Discontinues the issuing of special wage certificates under
section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (20 U.S.C.
214(c)) to any new entities not currently holding a certificate, as
of the effective date of the Act.
•Revokes all special wage certificates held on the effective date
of the Act:
•Repeals section 14(c) of the FLSA of 1938 effective 3 years after
the date of enactment.
Illinois HB 5729
Summary:
•Finds that “people with disabilities should enjoy a
presumption that they can achieve integrated, non-segregated,
employment.”
•Amends the Illinois Minimum Wage Law
•Further provides that a special license may not authorize
payment of less than the minimum wage for more than 6
months unless the Director of Labor authorizes
Employment First – Doing Differently





Make Employment a Priority Now. Don’t wait for
“Employment First Policy”
Raise expectations so everyone’s strengths and
interests lead to employment goals
Use all funding – work the system
Think broad - customized employment, micro business,
use personal connections to find niches
Think quality of life – everyone should be engaged in
their community even if not paid
Integrating Service
Systems at the Point
of Transition
Partnerships
 Local school district, adult employment
service provider, government funding
agencies (VR, IDD, County entities)
Transitions Scenarios
* Youth exits school with no work experience
* Youth exits school with work experience, but no postschool supports available
* Youth exits school with work experience and seamless
linkage to adult system supports
The Disparity
* Educational and adult service systems are seldom in synch
* Early, pre-exit collaboration between systems is not common
* Resource integration is rare
Transition Service Integration







All students with disabilities
Transition instruction entirely community-based
transition
Paid employment, integrated workplaces
Non-work activities in normalized settings
Individual choice of schedules and employment options
Adult agency employment specialists working with
school personnel
Cost-sharing resources of school system, supported
employment funders, adult agencies
Transition Service Integration
Intended Outcomes
 No Service Disruption: first day after school exit
Schedule looks the same as the last day of school
 Same jobs
 Same community activities
 Same staff support
 Schedule looks the same as the last day of school
Outcomes

90% employed at school exit

90% employed one year after school exit

95% experienced seamless transition to adult system
What It Takes…..
* Braiding resources
* Identifying points of success for all elements of the
collaborating systems
* Flexible applications of governing regulations of
collaborating systems
The Ideal
Youth are jointly served by school
system and adult employment agencies
BEFORE school exit.
The Result
Seamless transition from
students to employed adults
“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
RESOURCES



A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities
http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/CI121
3BETTERBOTTOMLINE.PDF
IL APSE Assn for Persons Supporting Employment First
http://www.apse.org/chapters/details.cfm?id=8
Alliance for Full Participation
http://www.allianceforfullparticipation.org/about-afp-2
“ A ship in harbor is safe --but that is not
what ships are built for. ”

John A. Shedd
Time for A Conversation:
Illinois Statewide Transition Conference