Disability advocates who support employment of people with disabilities in the community at typical wages welcomed Governor Scott Walker’s announcement at Wednesday’s State of the State address, marking a new statewide initiative to improve employment rates for Wisconsin residents with disabilities.
The announcement, which Gov. Walker said would call on both state government and Wisconsin businesses to tap into the state’s vast pool of potential workers with disabilities who want to work, is good news for Cindy Bentley, Executive Director of People First Wisconsin.“We want people with intellectual disabilities to be working in their community. We want people to have meaningful jobs and also making a decent wage,” Bentley said. “We do not want people with intellectual disabilities to be working in segregated facilities or living in segregated settings. We want them living and working in their community.”