For Immediate Release: March 28, 2018
Contact: Amy Devine, 608-267-0214, amyd@drwi.org
Madison, WI-
Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) celebrates the signing of the groundbreaking Employment First bill (AB 625/SB 514). The Employment First bill, which has broad bipartisan support, will positively impact competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities by increasing cooperation between state agencies, identifying barriers to competitive integrated employment, and setting benchmarks for improving competitive integrated employment rates. Amy Devine, Public Policy Coordinator, noted, “For people with disabilities, meaningful work leads to greater economic self-sufficiency, the ability to utilize and gain new skills, better health outcomes, and fuller participation in the community. People want to work and earn good wages.”
DRW thanks legislators and the Governor for their support of people with disabilities in passing legislation that will help people with disabilities lead full, integrated lives in their communities. DRW looks forward to working with the Department of Health Services, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Department of Workforce Development in implementing the law and enacting these policies to improve competitive integrated employment opportunities for Wisconsinites with disabilities.
Disability Rights Wisconsin is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Wisconsin, charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping individuals free from abuse and neglect.