“During Program Year 2018, Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation helped 4,589 individuals reach successful employment outcomes with a success rate of 53.1 percent for individuals who received services and exited the program.
Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation works closely with school districts across the state. The program annually provides transition services, including pre-employment transition services, to approximately 10,000 high school students and youth with disabilities.
Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation grant dollars expended for purchased client services from community vendors are effective and help local economies. In addition, the total annual increase in earnings for individuals with successful outcomes was over $66 million. The program’s customer satisfaction survey results are consistently among the top in the nation.”
“Vocational Rehabilitation
A team will work with you in your home to develop a personal employment goal. Your individual team may include a rehabilitation counselor, teacher, and/or mobility specialist. Services include:
Diagnosis and evaluation
Counseling and guidance
Training
Transition services to help blind or visually impaired youth (age 14+) to transition to college and work
Job placement/post-employment
Rehabilitation technology and equipment to help you at your job
Business-Enterprise Program
The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) may be able to help you find success through self-employment. This program helps by developing business sites (state, federal, etc.) and providing business opportunities (ex. vending routes, snack bars, convenience stores, full service, etc.).
You must be referred to BEP through Vocational Rehabilitation and successfully pass the National Restaurant Association ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification to be eligible for help. You will need to complete an interview, test, work-site evaluations, and training (includes classroom instruction and on-the-job monitored training).”
“A comprehensive, online, career development and planning program that is provided free of charge to all Missouri citizens. Funded by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), this program supports the career development efforts of schools, community organizations, and adult job seeker programs.”
This page has a list of effective practices by disability category that link to information to include eligibility and other information, and state and national resources for individuals and their families.
Missouri Builds on Efforts to Become a Model Employer (2020)
“…Governor Mike Parson announced [on February 6] that Missouri is 1 of 13 states selected by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to receive additional technical assistance (TA) to help more citizens with disabilities obtain competitive, integrated employment.
The ongoing TA is part of an emerging trend under the Visionary Opportunities to Increase Competitive Employment (VOICE) initiative that will help Missouri improve employment outcomes within its statewide mental health systems.
Last September, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 19-16, announcing the Missouri as a Model Employer initiative.”
Missouri DMH, Division of Behavioral Health Employment Services
“Individuals with substance use, mental health disorders and/or criminal justice backgrounds have strengths, talents and abilities that are frequently overlooked. The Division seeks to integrate clinical and vocational supported employment services though state-wide partnerships with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, agencies providing employment programs, community mental health centers, ADA providers and state-operated facilities. The goal is to help individuals who are interested in employment, participate in the competitive labor market, hired to do a job of their preference, with the appropriate level of professional help needed to be successful.”
“Even though persons with developmental disabilities want to go to work and continue to be contributing members to the workforce, national statistics indicate that persons with developmental disabilities experience significantly higher unemployment rates than their peers without disabilities. The Missouri DD Council is committed to supporting many statewide efforts to close this gap so that persons with disabilities are more represented in Missouri’s diverse workforce. The Missouri DD Council invests funds towards statewide efforts that contribute to expanding opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to get and keep competitive jobs in integrated work settings. It is believed that by enhancing knowledge around developmental disabilities, supports and resources for job-seekers and employees with developmental disabilities that this will contribute to more employment opportunities and successes for persons with disabilities in the workplace.”
“Past Council Employment Initiatives:
Asset Development and Financial Education: Persons with disabilities have a higher percentage of people who live in poverty than any other minority group in the country. Missouri ranks in the bottom third of all states in the understanding of financial supports that assist persons with disabilities in working their way out of poverty. Benefits planning and employment are just two pieces in this puzzle, the other pieces are asset development and financial education, therefore, the Missouri DD Council is partnering with the TACE, Region 7/University of MO-School of Health Professionals to promote Asset Development and Financial Education for persons with disabilities in our state by offering a variety of opportunities to learn more about this important piece of the puzzle and help people with disabilities learn more about asset development and financial education.”
Missouri DDC position on employment and sub-minimum wage
“In partnership with others, the MODDC will promote competitive, community based employment which we define as: jobs that occur in the community for at least minimum wage, at typical community businesses where employees with and without disabilities work in close proximity to each other, and have the same benefits, responsibilities and expectations. The MODDC believes that all people who want to work can work with the right supports. That all people have a responsibility to share their abilities, strengths and talents with others in the community, to make their community a better place.”
Missouri HealthNet Eligibility for People with Disabilities
“Disability Definition for MO HealthNet for the Disabled (MHD)
The definition of disability for MO HealthNet is the same definition used to determine disability for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
The Social Security Act defines disability as:
the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a physical or mental impairment(s) which:
can be expected to result in death or
has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
SGA is the ability to be employed and earn over $1,180 per month (2018).”
“APSE-MO is the Missouri State Chapter of APSE The Association of People Supporting Employment First, a national organization committed to improving and expanding integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for people experiencing disabilities. APSE-MO invites individuals with disabilities, their families, employment providers, funders, employers and others to join with us in making community employment a reality for ALL people with disabilities.”
“As Missouri’s federally funded 21st Century Assistive Technology Act Program, the mission of Missouri Assistive Technology is to increase access to and acquisition of assistive technology and related services. At home, work, school or play, assistive technology provides choice, opportunity, and independence.”
