Disability Employment Awareness
People with disabilities are an important part of our community, yet they face barriers to inclusion. From housing access, and employment opportunities to social inclusion, people with disabilities are often fighting for basic rights and accessibility. Here are some organizations that are working to combat these issues and celebrate the disability community. We encourage you to get involved!
AccessAbility's collaborative approach with educators, local businesses, government agencies and other service providers is to connect individuals with the resources they need to enrich their lives through recreational, vocational, and paid work opportunities so they can successfully integrate with their communities.
The Arc Minnesota promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People with disabilities and their families trust The Arc for information, assistance, education, and public policy leadership.
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Fraser is Minnesota’s largest and most experienced provider of autism and early childhood mental health services. Fraser serves infants through adults with healthcare, housing, education and employment. Our programs are nationally recognized for being high quality, innovative and individualized to each family.
Hammer Residences mission is to provide adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to live life to its fullest. They provide Housing, support services, care coordination, and travel.
Highland Friendship Club (HFC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that its members have ample chances to build personal relationships, explore new interests, and form lasting friendships with people of all abilities. Additionally, HFC provides parents and caregivers with options, support and hope!The mission of Highland Friendship Club is to serve individuals with disabilities from teens through adulthood by providing a range of opportunities to develop lifelong skills, friendships and connections within their community.
Living Well Disability Services
Living Well Disability Services began as Dakota’s Children in 1972. Started by parents, volunteers and community partners in West St. Paul, our founders saw a need for longer term care that put people with disabilities, and families that support them, first. Respect for individual and family needs has been the philosophy of Living Well Disability Services from the beginning. Over time, a “person-centered” approach was developed to emphasize what every person with disabilities wanted, needed and hoped for in their future.
Opportunity Partners serves people with many different types of disabilities. Some examples include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger syndrome, brain injury, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Fetal Alcohol syndrome, and many others.
Through our Adaptive Recreation & Inclusion, Independent Living Skills, Employment Services, and Case Management programs
Most of our programs are intended to assist the people we serve in finding employment opportunities that fit their career objectives and skills. We also have life enrichment programs and mental health support services, as well as programs assisting people in finding safe, affordable housing in some Central Minnesota counties. Rise strives to support the people we serve in the ways they want, such that each individual can achieve their personal measure of vocational achievement, self-sufficiency, and belonging in their communities