Employment — paid work — leads to economic opportunity, equity, and independence. Individuals with
disabilities optimize their ability to enjoy these benefits of employment through careers and jobs
available to all individuals that provide competitive earnings (wages equal to or exceeding applicable
minimum wage rates), integration (interaction with coworkers and others without disabilities similar to
that experienced by their non-disabled peers while performing their job duties), and opportunity for
advancement (i.e., “competitive integrated employment”). 

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New Employment Resource Hub

The Americans with Disabilities Act National Network is announcing the publication of its Employment Resource Hub! This hub is a way to introduce new materials and centralize existing information about disability and employment from regional ADA Centers and other partners. 

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Kansas Employment First Grant Pilot Project

In 2024, select Kansas providers began work to expand their capacity to deliver competitive, integrated employment supports for Kansans with disabilities. Each organization is paired 1:1 with a mentor provider that has undergone a similar transformation. Participants also receive ACRE-accredited, evidence-based training through the Washington Institute on Supported Employment (WISE) to ensure their staff are equipped to provide high-quality, person-centered employment services.

These organizations serve culturally diverse and cross-disability populations across Kansas and are helping turn the vision of Employment First into reality.

Pilot Project Grant Recipients

The Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD), the Kansas University Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies (KU IHDPS), and the Washington Institute on Supported Employment (WISE) would like to congratulate the following organizations who were selected to participate in the Kansas Employment First Grant Pilot Project.

Compass Behavioral Health

Down Syndrome Innovations

OCCK Inc.

Starkey, Inc.

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