A quote that often is attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson states, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
As we close National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), this quote frames the hopes and dreams of youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Each October, NDEAM celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. It provides the opportunity to confirm our commitment in ensuring that youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to high-quality training programs that lead to good jobs, and it is the spirit behind this year’s official NDEAM theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
Exiting high school and transition can be daunting for youth with disabilities and their families. When determining next steps, opportunities are limited, especially for employment. We are proud that the Munroe-Meyer Institute and the Trailblazers Programs strive to ensure that employment is possible for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are changing expectations and challenging our students to aim higher by considering integrative, competitive employment.
When we reflect on NDEAM and the work that we do at MMI, there is so much for which we can be proud.
In January, we opened the MMI Practical Assessment Exploration System Employment Lab, an assessment and training program aimed at pinpointing the career interests of individuals with disabilities and aligning them with quality training to prepare for postsecondary certifications and meaningful employment. Through our school contracts and postsecondary program, we serve over 180 students each week.
In September, the U.S. Department of Education awarded MMI a $9.8 million grant to expand our work to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to in-demand, good-paying jobs. This five-year grant, awarded under the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) program, will allow the Trailblazers Programs to expand services, partnerships and collaborations, as well as provide access to high-quality training programs that create pathways to real jobs with real wages statewide.
While this grant will help Nebraskans with disabilities gain important skills needed for employment, it also helps staff and junior faculty across multiple MMI departments gain valuable clinical and research experience, forges partnerships across multiple departments throughout the UNMC campus and expands collaborations with Nebraska Vocational Rehab, the Nebraska Department of Education, the Nebraska Department of Labor and DHHS.
Employment changes lives, and individuals with disabilities deserve the opportunity to prepare for high-quality, good-paying jobs in the workforce. In the spirit of NDEAM, we are honored to continue MMI’s mission of transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — through access to good jobs for all!