Employment

Employment

Find resources for building toward greater independence in the areas of health care, housing, employment and education. The Next Stage: Pathway to Transition and Long-Term Services and Supports for ASD outlines resources available to young adults and adults as they transition into independent living and the work world.

NEXT STAGE: Pathway to Transition and Long-Term Services and Support for Youth with Disabilities

Understanding frequently used terms

Guardianship and Conservatorship

A guardian is a person appointed by the court to make healthcare and other mostly non-monetary decisions for someone who cannot make these types of decisions because of an injury, illness or disability. Guardianship is a restrictive intervention that removes some of a person’s rights. Therefore, presume guardianship is not needed until all less restrictive options are exhausted and documented.

Accommodate for the person’s communication abilities in order to explain and clarify to the person the required decision that needs to be made. Use plain language and communicate in a way the person can understand the issue and context, including providing the person options regarding the decision and explaining the consequences associated with each option. Use the Guardianship Decision Tree (PDF) to help determine is guardianship is the most appropriate intervention.

A conservators is a person appointed by the court to take care of someone’s finances when he or she cannot make these types of decisions because of injury, illness or disability.

Deciding if guardian or conservator is needed is a discussion you will need to have along with utilizing the court to make the appointee.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch has information regarding Guardianship and Conservatorship.

The ARC guide to Guardianship and Conservatorship is a helpful resource.

Another helpful Facts and Questions resource website can be found at the Minnesota Guardianship website.

Supported Decision Making

Individuals, regardless of a disability, have the right to be involved and integrated into their community. Supportive decision-making is an approach for reducing the need for restrictive proceedings where a person’s right to make choices is taken away. DHS invites you to learn more about Supported Decision Making in an online video series.

The Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making (CESDM) is a statewide resource offering free in-depth telephone consultation, referrals, information and assistance through the Guardianship Information Line. CESDM also offers multi-dimensional assessments of persons who are at risk for guardianship/conservatorship services. They also provide advocacy and coaching to assist families in avoiding guardianship/conservatorship where possible, and navigating the court process when necessary. To learn more, explore the CESDM Guide to Supported Decision Making in Minnesota: A Resource for Families and Other Supporters (PDF).

The National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making has tools and resources to get help and information to advance your supported decision-making needs.

Person-Centered Practices

Minnesota is moving toward person-centered practices in all areas of service delivery. As a state, Minnesota strives to make sure everyone who receives long-term services and supports and mental health services can live, learn, work and enjoy life in the most integrated setting. The goal is for people to lead lives that are meaningful to them. To do this, we must have a person-centered support system that helps people:

• Build or maintain relationships with their families and friends
• Live as independently as possible 
• Engage in productive activities, such as employment
• Participate in community life. 

With the help of focus groups composed of people with disabilities, the Disability Hub MN created What does person-centered mean for me? An introduction, DHS-6803 (PDF). It can help people with disabilities apply person-centered principles to their life. It also helps families and case managers learn and activate person-centered processes. It is helpful to create a person-centered plan at any time throughout the lifespan. If the person, family or team is preparing for a transition, such as leaving home, finding a job or are just uncertain about the next steps, a person-centered plan can help. If the person is seeking more balance in their life or is concerned that their voice is not being heard, reach out to a planning facilitator for help.

Planning facilitators

To find a facilitator near you, see the regional listing of available person-centered planning facilitators (XLS). If you don't know which region you live in, see the map on the Regional Resource Specialist (RRS)Geographic Area eDoc. To help you find a good match, see questions to ask potential facilitators. Person-centered planning facilitators who would like to be added to this list or update their information may fill out this online form.

For questions or to request help to transition to person-centered practices, contact the DHS Disability Services Division Response Center or reach the frequently asked questions about formal person-centered planning.

Olmstead Plan

The Olmstead Plan is the state’s roadmap to enhance individual choice, find appropriate resources and employ person-centered practices to support people with disabilities.

Health Care

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be an exciting time and overwhelming. Here are a few resources to help smooth the transition.

• Disability Benefits 101 gives you planning tools and information on health coverage, benefits, including Social Security Income (SSI), and employment.
• Got Transition is a national organization that aims to improve transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families.
• Advocacy for youth with disabilities guide from MN Disability Law Center.

Visit Healthcare and Wellness for more resources.

Housing

Here are some helpful tools for increasing independent living. You may find additional Housing Support in the Basic Needs: Housing section of the Autism Portal.

Housing Resources

Housing Benefits 101: information on service options, affordable housing programs and how to live in one’s own home.

RUMI: a unique roommate matching service.

Autism Housing Network (AHN) is a database of user-generated resources and residential opportunities, as well as a supportive and encouraging online community. AHN launched the Empowering Communities Initiative (ECI), which educates people on the autism spectrum and their families about housing and support options in their communities.

PACER Center housing resources

Helping youth transition from out-of-home care to adulthood Best Practice Guide DHS-6530 (PDF)

Employment

Employment is often the primary transition goal of students with disabilities as they prepare to exit high school. Conversation and social skills, as well as work experience while in high school increase rate of employment. Education and disclosure of diagnosis are also factors that contribute to employment status later on in life.

Find resources to help you prepare for, find and maintain meaningful and integrated employment. Including the Youth in Transition Toolkit section on Employment.

Employment Resources

Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has a section on training, preparation and workplace accommodations for people with disabilities. DEED also has pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) and resources, including training and education resources. Pre-ETS are available to students who are eligible and "potentially eligible" for Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) assigns counselors to help clients develop skills that lead to employment. The Minnesota VRS program (PDF) partners with high schools and other community partners to arrange for or provide Job Exploration, Work Experience, Training and College Exploration, Work Readiness Training and Self-Advocacy Training services at no charge to students. Find the VRS staff assigned to your high school.

Vocational rehabilitation service has an online form that can be filled out and a vocational rehabilitation staff person will respond to you as soon as possible. In some locations VRS staff are experiencing high volumes of interest, and it may take a VRS staff person longer to connect with you.

Employment First: Minnesota’s plan for competitive, integrated employment

Career Wise: produced by the Workforce Development Department of Minnesota State, provides online tools for Minnesotans in the areas of career planning and education.

U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy

CareerForce: Minnesota’s career development and talent matching resource. Get education and job training, search for a job or locate a CareerForce location near you.

Home and Community Based Services: publicly funded programs that support people with disabilities.

Job Corps: a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor

Minnesota Unemployment Insurance, a program administered by Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)

Minnesota State Operated Community Services (MSOCS) provides residential (PDF) and vocational (PDF) support services for people with disabilities. Vocational services include day training and habilitation (DT & H) as well as evaluation, training and supported employment. Clients are integrated into the daily flow of the community. A state-of-the-art and highly specialized program called FACES (Friends and Community Experiencing Success) is used to plan individual support services that include community-based residential services typically provided in four-bed group homes.

Day Training and Habilitation vocational programs locations around the state provide a wide range of individualized vocational training and support, including:

• Job placement
• Supported employment
• Mobile work crews
• Competitive employment
• Volunteer opportunities
• Self-advocacy training
• Community inclusion
• Life skills training.

The 411 on Disability Disclosure (PDF) is a workbook for youth with disabilities developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth). It helps people make informed decisions about disclosing your disability in educational, employment and social settings.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. Serving customers across the United States and around the world for more than 35 years, JAN provides free one-on-one practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. JAN also has an Accommodation and Compliance Services publication for Employees with ASD.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services United State Department of Education created a Transition Guide to Post-Secondary Education and Employment for Students with Disabilities (PDF).

The Social Security Administration provides information on and links to a wide variety of employment supports and national and community resources.

The Office of Higher Education has resources to help explore your interests and career options.

Education

Find education resources under MN Autism Resource Portal: Intervention and Services - Education.

Use the Postsecondary Resource Guide (PDF) created in collaboration by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) to help plan your student’s future.

General Resources

Autism Grown Up offers strategies and resources that are easy to prep and ready to go. Across the spectrum and across the lifespan.

Source: Minnesota Autism Resource Portal