By Terri Friedrich
Community Care Integrated Project Coordinator

Earlier in my career, there was a push in Wisconsin to get individuals with disabilities working in their communities. The integration of people with disabilities into regular jobs in the community where they earn a decent wage and have opportunities to interact with a variety of other people is vital to their wellbeing, as well as to the community. That effort stalled as county waiting lists for services for people with disabilities grew.

Now, with additional support from Pathways Integrated Employment grant, Community Care is jumpstarting integrated employment in Racine and Kenosha Counties, and plans to continue the effort throughout the other counties it serves. In Racine and Kenosha, integrated employment opportunities for our Family Care members are growing. That’s good news.

Without these efforts, people with disabilities have been limited to work in workshops that pays sub-minimum wages. Integrated employment can provide more employment opportunities. My philosophy is that everybody has something to offer. We have to find out who that person is in order to find the right job, and to know what supports and accommodations would be needed. We should begin with the individual. What does he or she want to do?

Community Care offers three main integrated employment services:

• Supported employment: A program that assists individuals in becoming and remaining competitively employed in an integrated work setting.
• Competitive employment and micro-enterprises: A program that assists individuals in finding employment or supports for self-employment.
• Vocational futures planning: A team-based, comprehensive service that supports individuals in obtaining, maintaining and advancing in employment.

These services help get the right people in the right jobs, with the right supports or accommodations. The result is a win-win for our members and employers.