Transcript PowerPoint

Working with Disabilities:
The Meaning of Work
for People with Disabilities
as Understood by People with Disabilities
and Employers of People with Disabilities
By Jayne Kaszynski and Joelle Brouner
Presented by
Stephen Kozak, MIG Project Director
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Health and Recovery Services Administration
Division of Eligibility and Service Delivery
Office of Eligibility Policy and Community Education
Funding provided by CMS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant CFDA No. 93768
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Jayne’s Bio
Jayne Kaszynski—Jayne is a student at the Evergreen State
College in Olympia, Washington, where she is pursuing a
Masters Degree in Public Administration. She also serves
on the College Board of Trustees, appointed by the current
Governor Christine Gregoire.
Jayne is particularly interested in the experiences of people
with mental health issues seeking employment. As a result
of funding provided by the state’s MIG and a partnership
with the Washington State Rehabilitation Council, Jayne
co-facilitated two peer led focus groups of VR customers
with mental health issues to gather their input on how
services could better meet their needs.
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Joelle’s Bio
Joelle Brouner—Joelle is the Executive Director of the
Washington State Rehabilitation Council. She has been
involved extensively in the broader movement to advance
the human rights of people with disabilities.
Joelle understands her partnership with VR as a means to
contribute to the economic advancement and increased
self-determination of the disability community. She has a
Bachelors of Arts in English from Seattle University in
1996, and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Public
Administration from the Evergreen State College.
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Purpose of Research
Examine and Compare Attitudes and Perceptions on the
Meaning of Work – People with Disabilities and Employers
of People with Disabilities
Although much rhetoric exists around work benefits in general, we
could find no examination of what influences people with disabilities’
perceptions of the meaning of work. Our research explores the
intersection of work culture and disability culture, using grounded
theory methodology and a focus on three main queries:
• What is the meaning of work?
• What is meaning of work for people with disabilities?
• How do these perceptions differ from or support those of employers
(and employment professionals)?
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Research Methodology and Content
Grounded Theory Methodology
Described in the “Meaning of Work" report (Resource CD)
Interviews – primary data
•People with disabilities and employers in urban counties
•Researcher with visible disability – consumers
•Researcher with non-visible disability – employers
Literature Review – secondary data
Evergreen State College – 20 diverse articles
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Literature Review
•Scarce research on the perspectives of people with
disabilities on the nature, meaning, and importance
of work
•Apparent lack of interest in determining what is
important and meaningful about work/ employment
to people with disabilities in existing literature
•Focus rests on societal benefits, not taking needs
or desires of people with disabilities into
consideration, either implicitly or explicitly
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Attitudes and Perceptions on the Meaning of Work
Findings and Themes include:
Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Value of Work/Employment consumers
Have a more permissive attitude toward work and a greater focus on
extrinsic benefits (wage, health care, pension, flexible work model, etc)
Distinguish work (activity) and employment (action with pay)
Offer reasons why certain individuals should not be expected to work
Support current program services that provide individuals the option of
fulfilling social and emotional needs through dynamic community
programs – other than employment
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Attitudes and Perceptions on the Meaning of Work
Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Value of Work/Employment –
employers (and employment professionals)
Greater focus on intrinsic benefits (work that is interesting, provides
opportunity to use one’s abilities and initiative, sense of achievement,
providing social interaction)
Perspective based on societal and business concepts of “worker” in
which person with disability can fulfill social, emotional, and physical
needs, “as well as goals of self-sufficiency” – less emphasis on latter
Societal and Business case – work helps the individual to become less
dependent on public dole, provides access to underutilized resource,
and promotes diversity in the workplace – to the point perhaps of
making the individual another commodity to serve the bottom line,
while helping to normalize them
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Implications for MIG
Outreach materials used to promote employment
opportunities and competitive outcomes
•While promoting business case to engage the
business community, do we use language that “reduces”
the individual to a commodity?
•Do we place enough emphasis on meaningful and
competitive employment outcomes (including living
wage, comprehensive insurance, career ladders) when
talking to employers – and when presenting to other
community stakeholders, including consumers?
•When talking about community inclusion, are we
maintaining necessary connection to meaningful/
competitive employment and quality of life progression
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Implications for MIG
Policy Implications
•When collaborating with agencies, divisions, providers, do
we maintain “status quo” of performance indicators not
based on living wages?
•While acknowledging the fact that not all want to work at
more competitive levels, what about sheltered
workshops?
•What practices or expectations exist for assessing
progress in a sheltered workshop and readiness for more
competitive employment?
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Research and Study
Need for additional research
What particular meaning does work/employment hold for individuals with
disabilities?
Where does an intersection occur between “work ethic” culture and
disability culture?
Promising Practices of another program
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (Title V of the Older
Americans Act of 1965) – provides subsidized, part-time, community
service work based training for low-income persons age 55 or older who
have poor employment prospects.
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In Closing Then …
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Are we successful in getting outside of the bowl
while still focusing on the needs and desires
of the consumer?
Well, thank goodness we all made it out in time
…. ’Course, now we’re all fish out of water
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? Questions ?
If so, please raise your hand …
Or your voice …
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ACK!!
ACK!!
ACK!!
ACK!!
ACK!!
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