Assistive Technology Works!
Information for Employees
The Beginning is the most important part of work. – Plato
The 1999 Work Incentives Improvement Act has separated income benefits from medical assistance. At higher levels of income people with disabilities can now buy into Medical Assistance. The time has come to realize your dreams: training for full time, employment is available, job placement services for people with disabilities are waiting for anyone with a Can Do attitude.
Ask yourself what you'd like to do five days a week, where would you like to spend your day. If you want it, you can make it happen with the right assistive technology.
First, you need an assessment...
- Acquire assistive technology and get some training.
- Discuss the job, not your disability. Be open about how you use assistive technology to get the job done.
And then, there is Self-Employment...
- Assistive technology and computers have combined to open the world of telecommuting to people with disabilities. The Small Business Administration is now granting Small Disadvantaged Business status to entrepeneurs with disabilities. Training, access to funding, and general support is now available to entrepeneurs with disabilities from your local SBA office.
Sites of Interest
- The Minnesota Small Business Administration
610-C Butler Square
100 North 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403-1563
Phone: 612.370.2324
TTY: 612.370.2332 - Office of Disability Employment Policy, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, has a list of employers offering jobs to people with disabilities. Other information available on this Web site includes:
- Focus on Ability is a web-and CD-based education and training program designed to promote the employment of people with disabilities. The program has three components: Training modules, a database of information on disabilities, and a directory of organizations that provide employment-related services to people with disabilities in Minnesota.
- Kaposia provides comprehensive, customized employment, training and consultation services to individuals with barriers to successful employment, employers and other customers. Connecting job seekers with jobs, employers with workers and providing ongoing support to both is the primary business focus. Retirement services assist customers in connecting with their communities as they leave the workforce or reduce their work focus. Support services assist all customers in achieving success.
- National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) has publications that focus on employment issues.
- WorkSupport.com is a gateway to information, resources, and services regarding the employment of people with disabilities.
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.
- The Social Security Administration Work Site provides employment support for people with disabilities.
- The Social Security Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division's Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment.
- Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act Web site.
- Minnesota Work Incentives Connection - Helping you navigate the benefits maze!
- NISH - envisions a society in which citizens with disabilities exercise individual decisions concerning their own lives, including employment, welfare, and personal supports and dignity.
- National Collaboration on Workforce and Disability - NCWD/Youth is your source for information about employment and youth with disabilities.
Minnesota Employment Resource List
Access for All
Central Minnesota Educational
Cooperative Service Unit
3335 West Saint Germain Street
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
Phone: (763) 255-4913
Access to Employment, Inc.
2344 Nicollet Ave South, Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55404
BLIND, Inc.
100 E. 22nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (612) 872-0100
Blue Sky Designs, Inc.
540 Fairview Avenue N., Suite 207
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (651) 603-0828 or 1-877-603-0828
CHOICE, Unlimited
5 North 19th Avenue East
Duluth, MN 55812
Phone: (218) 724-5868
Concert Access Technologies
6554 Cedar Boulevard, P.O. Box 140
North Branch, MN 55056
Phone: (651) 674-0100
Courage Center
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Phone: (763) 520-0520
Web site: Courage Center
DirectAbility
Phone: (612) 827-4110
Web site: DirectAbility
Minnesota's Internet Disability Directory, DirectAbility, is a comprehensive wibsite directory devoted to disability-related products, services and information in Minnesota.
Gillette Technology Center
550 West County Road D
New Brighton, MN 55112
Phone: (651) 636-9443
Web site: www.gillettechildrens.org
Institute on Community Integration
A University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
The College of Education and Human Development
University of Minnesota
102 Pattee Hall
150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Web site: Institute on Community Integration, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Minneapolis Rehabilitation Center
1900 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (612) 752-8100
Minnesota Association of People in Supported Employment
P.O. Box 7898
Saint Paul, MN 55107
Michael Kraines
Phone: (612) 474-9510
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Division of Rehabilitative Services
390 North Robert Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 296-9151
TTY: 651.296.3900
Web site: Rehabilitation Services Department of Employment and Economic Development
Minnesota Employment Center for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
709 University Ave West
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (651) 227-8471
TTY 651.225.9157
Minnesota Relay Service
Voice, TTY, ASCII: 1.800.627.3529 or 711
Web site: Minnesota Commerce: Minnesota Relay
Occupational Development Center, Inc
1260 Industrial Park Drive SE
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: (218) 751-6001
Regional Technology Resource Center for Augmentative Communication
AAC Outreach: On-Site Team Training and Equipment
Moorhead State University
9th Avenue and 11th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56563
Phone: (218) 236-2286
Rural Assistive Technology Resource Center Rural Rehab Technology, Inc.
Rural 4 Box 52 A
Saint Peter, MN 56082
Phone: (507) 931-2821
Saint Paul Rehabilitation Center
709 University Avenue West
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (651) 227-8471
TTY: 651.227.3779
Sister Kenny Institute
Job Placement Specialist
800 East 28th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: (612) 863-4000
SPEECH-TO-SPEECH RELAY
Phone: 1-877-627-3848
To learn more about Speech-to-Speech or to schedule a free-of-charge presentation for employees, groups or organizations, or for CUSTOMER SERVICE please call: 651.297.4565 Voice (Metro Area) 1.800.657.3603 TTY (In-State Only).
State Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Metro Area
2200 University Avenue West, Suite 240
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 642-0800
TTY: 612.642.0506
800.652.9000
Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.
1670 94th Lane NE
Blaine, MN 55499-4323
Phone: (763) 795-0057
Web site: Tamarack Habilitation Technologies
Telephone Equipment Distribution Program
Deaf Services Division/DHS
444 Lafayette Road
Saint Paul, MN 55155-3814
Toll Free: 1.800.657.3513
Web site: Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program
Workers' Compensation Department of Labor and Industry
443 Lafayette Road
Saint Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (612) 297-4486
TTY: 612.297.4198
Web site: Minnesota workers' compensation