table of contents- home page - text-only home page New Report Introduced to Increase the Employment of Minnesotans With Disabilities In November 2000, the Disability Institute, in cooperation with the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota and Courage Center, introduced a new report, "Better Jobs, Brighter Futures: Views and Opinions of People with Disabilities and Employers." Despite the current picture of full employment in Minnesota, there is evidence that people with disabilities have not shared in this economic boom. Even though more than 19% of Minnesota's citizens have a disability, they are not widely recognized as a potentially powerful force, which could be tapped to address the state's current labor shortage crisis. According to Wendy Brower, "The majority of Minnesotans with a disability are unemployed, live on the margins, and depend on the social service system for their survival. The "system" was created to provide a safety net, but instead has become a trap. Today, less than 5% of those with disabilities who are dependent on Social Security ever leave the rolls. A person has a better chance of getting struck by lightning." At one time it was presumed that a disability meant a lifetime of dependence. But this is outdated thinking. Considering modern advances in medicine and technology, most unemployed people with disabilities would prefer to earn a paycheck. "Better Jobs, Brighter Futures," is the first-ever study that asks both people with disabilities and employers what works and what doesn't in hiring qualified people with disabilities for competitive jobs that meet the demands of today's workplace. It is intended that information from this study will provide policymakers with an understanding of this issue and recommendations for actions that will lead to effective public policy initiatives. People with disabilities and employers identified better education, collaboration, and communication as essential components to increasing the employment of people with disabilities. However, both groups identified "attitudinal barriers" as the single biggest obstacle. The report shatters common stereotypes of the kind of work usually available to people with disabilities by highlighting eight individuals who have successful careers. Copies of "Better Jobs, Brighter Futures" are available for $5.00 each. Submit orders in writing to The Disability Institute, 154 Meadowbrook Road, Hopkins, MN, 55343. The publication is available in alternative formats upon request by calling The Disability Institute at 952-935-9343. The report is also available on The Disability Institute's Web site: http://www.disabilityinstitute.org table of contents- home page - text-only home page