Supporting Missouri’s Sheltered Workshops
The Show-Me State is home to more than 90 sheltered workshops, which collectively employ about 6,300 men and women with disabilities. These workshops are essential to providing adults with disabilities the chance to meet new people, gain new skills and earn the respect, dignity and other ancillary human benefits that come with earning a paycheck and contributing to society. Furthermore, the parents, guardians and caregivers of many of these participants support and attest to the benefits of sheltered workshop programs and the employment opportunities they provide.
Unfortunately, states throughout the country are phasing out their sheltered workshops in favor of moving individuals with disabilities into traditional workplaces. This trend is largely the result of increased pressure and new regulations from the federal government. While placing workers with disabilities in more traditional employment positions is certainly a goal to strive toward, the fact remains there are many men and women for whom a traditional workplace environment simply isn’t a good fit. However, these same individuals often thrive in a sheltered workshop environment. In fact, as of April 2017, there were more than 1,100 individuals with disabilities waiting for a job with one of Missouri’s sheltered workshops.
Earlier this year, I was proud to join my fellow lawmakers in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 28, which reaffirms the Legislature’s belief that Missouri residents with disabilities deserve to have the same choice of where, how and with whom they work and spend their time as other Missouri residents.
I have long understood the value of sheltered workshops and have seen firsthand the many ways in which people with disabilities and their communities and local economies benefit from them. It is precisely this mutually beneficial relationship that compels me to be an advocate for sheltered workshops and their employees. House Concurrent Resolution 28 was adopted by both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.