By Bob Niemiec
I
Keeping the Employment First
Movement Moving
n 2009, I had the privilege of co-authoring
the APSE Employment First White Paper
with Don Lavin and Laura Owens. In that
paper we discussed a growing movement in the
nation about making employment the first and
preferred outcome for people with disabilities,
or Employment First.
At the time we wrote the article, there were
a handful of states embracing an Employment
First agenda whether by name or not. Washington State set a standard with the Working
Age Adult Employment Policy (in 2006). Other
states enacted similar policies whereby funding
preferences were given to community-based
services rather than institution-based services.
The momentum started to build from the
groundwork that was laid by these bold actions
and Employment First was born.
The idea of Employment First is simple. It’s
about making employment the first outcome for
all people with disabilities instead of an option
afforded to some. Employment First also sets a
standard definition of employment – real jobs,
real wages, in real businesses (or self-employment). Employment First has caught on across
the country. At last count, 24 states are engaged
in some form of Employment First ranging from
policies like Washington State’s, to Employment
First summits like those held in Indiana, Kansas,
Iowa, and others.
Articles have been written and technical
assistance institutes like those in Georgia, Washington, and Minnesota are teaching strengthsbased practices that lead to positive employment
outcomes. Local summits have also been held
like the one in Ramsey County, MN. Several
states are planning to host summits and influence policy. Employment First efforts are even
occurring in Canada and Australia. The list goes
on and on.
National APSE, which developed an Employment First Statement, is serving as a clearinghouse for Employment First information and
assisting state chapters in organizing Employment First initiatives. APSE will be conducting webinars and phone conferences, as well
as hosting sessions at the upcoming National
Conference in Seattle. With all this activity, it is
important for APSE to become a central contact
for Employment First information.
The Time Is Right
Those involved in Employment First agree that
the atmosphere and conditions for this movement
are right. We know that funding for disability
and other social services is being cut. Questions
are being raised about return on investment for
the public dollar. Other discussions focus on the
definition and time lines for “pre-vocational” services under Medicaid. The sub-minimum wage
and institutional work programs like sheltered
employment are being debated at local, state, and
federal levels.
Young people and their families tell us that
they would prefer to have a real job in the
community that will provide them with the
economic resources to live in a place of their
own. In communities from Alaska to Florida,
improved practices are proving that even people
with the most complex disabilities should and
can become gainfully employed or start their
own businesses. The time is now to move
Employment First forward.
What’s Next?
There is no recipe for starting an Employment
First initiative, as they are all different from each
other. Some efforts began at the local grassroots
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May 2011
APSE Connections 1
Keeping the Employment First Movement Moving Continued
levels, while the leadership of state APSE chapters has guided many other initiatives. In still
other states, the impetus came from state agencies
such as in Washington and Rhode Island. Strong
coalitions have been built in many states, and
Employment First legislation and language has
been proposed (KS, CA).
What is common about all the Employment First
initiatives is a dedicated group of people who are
committed to promoting the concept that employment should be the first and
preferred outcome. They also
understand that economic wellbeing can only be achieved with
good jobs and good wages at
businesses in their communities.
In the White Paper, we offered suggestions about starting
and sustaining an Employment
First initiative. Some of the key
elements we presented were:
v Focus on the Positives. It is easy to get
caught up in arguments with people who defend
institutional work, sub-minimum wages, group
placement, etc. Focus on what you are for instead
of what you are against. Employment First is a
very simple, positive idea.
v Understand and Engage the Real Business
Community. Your communities have more businesses
and opportunities than you can imagine. There are
somewhere in the neighborhood of 22 million small
businesses (1-20 employees) in the
United States while there are only
about 17,000 businesses with more
than 500 employees. Small businesses are owned and operated by
your neighbors and friends. They
are committed to their communities. Understand their needs and
–Will Rogers
engage them in the effort.
v Work with Schools and
Families: Get connected with schools and families. Let people know that there is more availv Build a Coalition of the Willing. Gather
able after school is over than day programs and
people who are committed to Employment First
institutional work. Raising expectations starts at
and are willing to work together.
an early age. When families know that a posiv Adopt an Employment First Definition.
tive future is possible for their sons and daughMake sure you have a common understanding of
ters, they become powerful allies.
what Employment First means and communicate
v Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.
that. Stay on the message.
Be sure you let people know what you are doing.
v Get Moving. Set goals and timelines that
Write articles, hold events, use social media (if apstretches you but that you can achieve. Nothing
propriate), show up at meetings, hearings, etc.
creates momentum like a little success.
v Build on Community. The coalition must be as
Summary
representative of the community as possible. ComThe momentum of Employment First is
mit to expanding the group as people come to you.
growing. In only a few short years this idea
People with disabilities and their families must be
has taken hold and spread across the counpart of the coalition. Understand that the answers will
try. We have altered the discussion and set
be found in the community and not in the “system.”
a course for the possibility of real systems
v Everybody Means Everybody. When we talk
change. We have demonstrated to people that
about people with disabilities and employment, we
anything is possible if you believe strongly
mean everybody. Of course there are people whose
enough and commit time and energy to
lives and conditions are complex. There are people for
achieve it. We cannot rest on our laurels, nor
whom we haven’t determined how to assist them with
be satisfied with our achievements.
employment. We also know that people “check out”
The power of Employment First lies in steady
of employment from time-to-time because of life situprogress. The time is now to sustain and grow
ations. But the minute we summarily exclude people
the momentum. I look forward to hearing your
from consideration, we devalue them. We must be
Employment First success stories and welcoming
committed to finding a way for everyone to participate.
you to the movement. 
“Even if you’re on the
right track, you’ll get
run over if you just sit
there.”
Bob Niemiec is Senior Consultant with Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC and a founding member of the Minnesota
Employment First Coalition.
For more information, visit www.apse.org
2 APSE Connections
May 2011