UPCOMING EVENTS:
Stay tuned for information on our next MaxAbility Lunch & Learn webinar!
PAST EVENTS AND RESOURCES:
Peer-to-Peer Mentorship with The Arc Minnesota
Thank you for joining us as we learned from self-advocates about their efforts to promote competitive integrated employment (CIE) through The Arc Minnesota’s Peer-to-Peer Mentor Program.
View the slides from the presentation HERE.
Stay in the loop! Sign up for The Arc’s Peer-to-Peer newsletter to get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Many thanks to all the participants and our partners for attending the “Busting Myths and Bettering Workplaces” event in July. Your presence and support have been invaluable in shedding light on the diversity of applicants and work environments, as well as the numerous types of supported employment programs available. It’s great to see how these programs have evolved to keep pace with an ever-changing workforce, and your contributions made this event a success.
A link to the recorded webinar is located HERE.
Thank you, Jacob, and to all of our sponsors and attendees for making this event a success! We learned what Rochester is doing in the DEI world and how other cities experiences can be applied here. With Jacob’s help, people with disabilities in and around Rochester have more opportunities than ever to weigh in on issues and voice their concerns and ideas!
A link to the recorded webinar is located HERE.
A huge Thank You to all of our sponsors and everyone
who attended our 2024 MaxAbility Reverse Job Fair!
The MaxAbility Reverse Job Fair, held at 125 Live on Thursday, April 25, included more than 15 employers looking to fill positions, as well as 13 job seekers. Employers had the opportunity to see displays created by those looking for a job that provided a more dynamic snapshot into the person’s past work, skills and characteristics beyond the traditional typed resume already submitted by the job seekers. Many of the booth displays included photos of the person performing work at past or current jobs or even artwork they created. A reverse job fair can be a less intimidating way for some job seekers to connect with employers looking to hire.
Thank you to everyone who atended this Job Fair from JobsHQ!
Thank you to everyone who attended Maxability’s March Lunch & Learn on the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund! Attached you will find the slides from Ray McCoy, a flyer for this valuable grant opportunity, and the other slides shared that day. Here is a link to DEED’s ERAF website and the Job Accommodation Network resource also mentioned during the discussions.
Webinar recording:
*This recording is offered for a limited time and will be removed March 19, 2024
Resources:
8 Ways To Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Diversity Toolkit: A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power and Privilege
Bias, Micro-aggressions, Structural Oppression
Please click the button below:
International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration, December 4, 2023 3:00 – 6:00 PM CT
Below is the link to all the videos in a playlist format from the December 4th celebration. We have included the keynote with Gaelynn Lea along with the art exhibit and awards presentation videos.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023 – Mayo Clinic
Enjoy these recordings and feel free to share them with others.
Information for SHRM credit:
- Event Title: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Date: 12/04/2023
- Code: 23-FHN9G
Artistry. Accessibility. Activation.
The 7th Annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration illustrated how each of us is uniquely different and by learning more about one another we can become a more inclusive community.
“Inclusivity comes from society not seeing us as a disadvantage, but that our disability makes us unique,” quote by Gaelynn Lea.
Each year this event has become more dynamic as well as increasing access for all to participate fully.
Here are a few highlights from year seven:
- Hosting the event at the Rochester Art Center was elegant, energetic, and entertaining.
- We had 70+ virtual attendees and 135 in-person attendees.
- Gaelynn encouraged everyone to proactively listen to the needs of the disability community.
- The Art Exhibit included 48 pieces. The entire exhibit will be on display at the Rochester Art Center through February 25, 2024.
- The People’s Choice Awards went to: “Peaceful Foundation” by Jacob Elegbede.
Past performers and new acts brought down the house.
We received media coverage from the following TV stations:
- KAAL-TV: Rochester Art Center to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities – ABC 6 News – kaaltv.com
- KTTC: Rochester celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities (kttc.com)
- KIMT3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day | Video | kimt.com & Celebrating international Day of Persons with Disabilities | Video | kimt.com
Thank you to our following sponsors:
Thank you to following businesses for graciously donating a $25.00 gift certificate that were raffled off during the event!
White Cane Safety Day
Schedule:
10:00 Welcome (Mayor Norton)
10:05 Introduction (Jeannie Worden)
10:15 Sheila Konig, Speaker
10:40 White Cane Walk – Art Center Exploration & Activity
12:00 Lunch on your own
Celebrate with us!
This important day was established nationally in 1964 to raise awareness for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. By joining us, you can help spread the word about the importance of white canes and how they can help those with visual impairments navigate
the world safely. Together, we can make difference and help ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to live their best lives.
Contact Information
Name: Christian Wernau
Email: cwernau@zumbroed.org
Check out these clips from the day!
Visually-impaired community gathers in Rochester for the city’s first White Cane Safety Day
Rochester Art Center celebrates White Cane Safety Day
Discover Your Future Employees at
the SEMN RochesterJob & Career Fair!
You’re cordially invited to the inclusive and empowering Rochester Job & Career Fair, where every individual’s potential shines, brought to you by the collaboration of MaxAbility and JobsHQ as well as our partners at CareerForce and Southeast Co-op! We’re excited to showcase a remarkable array of opportunities that cater to all job seekers!
Get ready to be a part of something truly exceptional!
Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue: RCTC Sports Center/Fieldhouse
Event Schedule
- Set-Up: 8:15 AM – 9:30 AM
- Event Hours: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Embrace the opportunity to connect with a wide spectrum of talent, finding exceptional individuals is paramount, and we’re here to help you discover qualified talent to join your team. At this year’s event, we’re thrilled to emphasize our commitment to embracing diversity and inclusivity. From emerging talent to seasoned professionals, honorable veterans seeking new pathways, including job seekers with disabilities, we’re dedicated to helping you discover your true potential in a supportive and vibrant environment. Your future colleagues are waiting to meet you!
Prepare to be inspired, motivated, and excited about the potential collaborations that await you. Don’t miss this remarkable opportunity to engage with top-tier talent and visionary companies. Let’s shape the future together!
We look forward to welcoming you to the Rochester Job & Career Fair on October 12, 2023.
MaxAbility, CareerForce and the JobsHQ Team
Virtal Lunch & Learn
August 23, 2023 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT
Thank you to our presenter, Eileen Bruns, event sponsors, and attendees for joining us for Deaf Culture Awareness. 61 people attended the lunch & learn. Some of the topics included: understanding deaf culture and the importance of body language, creating a friendly atmosphere for deaf customers and employees, along with some basic signs such as ‘Thank you’, ‘My name is…”, and “Please”.
Below are the ASL agencies that Eileen provided as a resources:
- ASLIS – American Sign Language Interpreting Services – https://www.aslis.com/
- Alliance Interpreting Services – https://allianceinterpretingservices.com/
- Middle English Interpreting – https://middle-english.com/
- Signing Savvy | ASL Sign Language Video Dictionary –https://www.signingsavvy.com/
Reverse Job Fair April 27, 2023:
Thank you to everyone who participated in the MaxAbility 2023 Reverse Job Fair! Because of you, it was a huge success. There were 22 jobseekers with disabilities ready to connect with employers from Ability Building Community, City of Rochester, Hy-Vee, Mayo Clinic, McDonald’s, Olmsted County, Pharmaceutical Specialties, Presto Janitorial Services, Rochester Motors, Rochester Public Schools, Spectrum, Terraloco, TPI Hospitality, and Weis Builders. The event, held at 125 Live, was hopping with lively conversation between jobseekers and employers.
One job seeker commented after the event that, “I am excited for my future prospects.”
An employer stated that, “I am impressed by the candidates! I have my eye on someone already.”
The following is a note received by the MaxAbility team.
Thank you, employers, for making a difference!
Dear Employers:
Thank you for coming to the MaxAbility Reverse Job Fair. We liked being able to get to know you and your business. Some of us are very interested in completing applications.
Thank you again for spending the time to attend. Hopefully we can connect in the future!
Sincerely –
RAIL Student Participants
For more about RAIL, click here
| Honoring Disability by Reframing Language MaxAbility extends a huge thank you to our presenters, Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson, Equity and Justice Director at The Arc MN and Alicia Munson, Chief Program Officer for The Arc MN, and everyone who participated in our Lunch and Learn on March 29th. |
Presenter Biographies:
Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson lives in St. Paul Minnesota and works as the Equity and Justice Director at The Arc Minnesota, an organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Brittanie identifies As a Disabled, Queer, Woman of Color passionate about disability justice and ableism. She serves on the Sub Minimum Wage Task Force and The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. In her free time, Brittanie enjoys, reading, zooming in the woods, and trying new food!
Alicia Munson (she/her) has been working alongside and on behalf of Minnesotans who have disabilities for more than a decade. In starting her career as a Direct Support Professional, Alicia’s work and allyship was informed by her personal experience as the family member of a person with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During her time as Public Policy Director for The Arc Minnesota, Alicia earned the respect and trust of community members statewide through her grassroots and lobbying efforts. Now as Chief Program Officer for The Arc Minnesota, Alicia’s work focuses on shifting programs and services internally, as well as systems and society externally, to align with the disability justice movement. She also serves on the Board for the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.
Image Description:
Postcard Invitation for Disability Reframed. Peach background with headshot of Ashley Harris Whaley. Gray text reading, Join Ashley Harris Whaley for “We Bring Value, Disability History And The Future Of Inclusive Employment” on January 25th, 2023 12:00 PM -1:00PM CT. Be introduced to elements of disability history and the disability civil rights movement. Learn about historical and current discrimination against disabled people in the workplace. Discuss how to make hiring practices and workplaces inclusive and steeped in allyship. Sponsor logos for the Mayo Clinic, Disability:IN Minnesota, the Workforce Development Center, MaxAbility, and United Way of Olmsted County. @disabilityreframed disabilityreframed.com. Disability Reframed Logo line the bottom.
We had a great turnout at this event yesterday, with 307 people joining us! The participants had great questions informed by the presentation, and enjoyed learning more from Ashley Harris Whaley.
Event takeaways –
- If you look back at the history of disability, there are some horrifying stories of exclusion and elimination of people with disabilities.
- The Disability Civil Rights Movement is not past tense. The Disability Civil Rights Movement is present tense.
- If you have not seen, “Crip Camp,” watch it.
- It takes intentionality and prioritization of disability inclusion best practices to attract and retain a disabled workforce.
“Ashley’s energetic and engaging style kept me riveted and I learned a lot! Definitely watching that Crip Camp movie tonight.” -Webinar Attendee
For more information and resources go to the Disability:IN Minnesota website.
December 1, 2022 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Inspiring. Inclusive. Engaging.
The 6th Annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration shared the importance of connecting with one another through storytelling!
“If you don’t write your story, your story will write you.” Kevin Kling
Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2022 International Day of Persons With Disability hybrid event a success! Working with the many strengths of multiple teams made the event run seamlessly. During the different aspects of the event, the collaboration and exceptional teamwork was apparent. Our new technology vendor (Fisher Productions) really elevated the entire show.
Below is the link to all the videos in a playlist format from the December 1st celebration. Included are the keynote with Kevin Kling along with the art exhibit and awards presentation videos. The short films compiled from around the world are listed individually. The talent recording will be coming soon.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022 – Video Publishing Portal – Mayo Clinic
Here are a few highlights from year six:
- Hosting the event at the Chateau Theatre was accessible, accommodating, and well received.
- We had 74 virtual attendees and 128 in-person attendees.
- Kevin Kling’s stories inspired attendees to narrate their own stories.
- The Art Exhibit included 37 pieces. The “Juror’s Choice” and “Best of Show” along with three additional pieces will be on display at the Rochester Art Center December 14 – March 1.
- The People’s Choice Awards went to: “One of a Kind Mind” by Timothy Putzier
- Past performers and new acts brought down the house.
- We received media coverage from KAAL-TV:
October 27. 2022 11 AM – 1 PM, Career Connections Career Fair
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we hosted Career Connections at 125 LIVE in Rochester, MN. The event kicked of with employers participating in a rich dialog facilitated by Ability Building Community on reducing barriers to employment for people with disabilities. A Project SEARCH graduate shared her employment journey highlighting internships as a way to grow workplace skills.
Job seekers where able to make connections with the following employers: City of Rochester, FedEx, Hy-Vee, Kwik Trip, Mayo Clinic, McDonald’s, McNeilus, Olmsted County, Seasons Hospice, Spectrum, Think Bank, TPI Hospitality, and Workforce Development, Inc.
October 13. 2022 12 PM – 1 PM, Lunch and Learn:
Best Coaches in the Game
With Ryan Rotundo-Manager of Employment Programs at the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)
Watch the webinar by clicking here.
Passcode: E#Lv@2zl
Some lessons shared from Ryan’s experiences were:
- That you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to make the most impact!
- It’s not so much about what you sell, but how you sell it.
- If you can dream it, you can do it!
- If you love something it should show, and you should talk about it loudly.
- That everyone has something to offer.
- Ryan shared that the disability community is the largest minority group in the US and experiences the highest unemployment rate.
Ryan gave pointers on getting started with inclusive hiring practices. He spoke of an employer who said, “We’re gonna make mistakes. You don’t have to be perfect.”
Here are some additional resources:
https://ndss.org/
https://askjan.org/
https://www.careerforcemn.com/disability-inclusion-bite-sized-learning-modules
August 24, 2022 12 PM – 12:45 PM CST, Lunch and Learn
Eileen Bruns, certified ASL Interpreter and Instructor, led us in an active conversation on how we can all be more inclusive to employees and community members that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Below are the ASL agencies that Eileen provided as a resources:
- ASLIS – American Sign Language Interpreting Services – https://www.aslis.com/
- Alliance Interpreting Services – https://allianceinterpretingservices.com/
- Middle English Interpreting – https://middle-english.com/
June 6-9, 2022
MaxAbility in collaboration with The Arc Minnesota and Opportunity Services hosted the first Unified Work Mobile Academy in Rochester, MN. The workshop held at the Hilton Garden Inn provided job skills training to help improve productivity, job satisfaction, and retention for people with disabilities. With topics ranging from self-confidence and goal setting to leadership and problem-solving, the goal of this program is to supercharge workplace vitality across the region. Nine job seekers participated in the inaugural cohort. To wrap up the workshop job seekers toured Mayo Clinic departments and Morrison café/kitchens to learn more about career opportunities.
The MDI Unified Work Mobile Academy created awareness regarding the importance of career training and soft skills to support our future workforce with disabilities. Below are the links to the media coverage we received:
- KIMT3 – https://www.kimt.com/
community/job-workshop-for- people-with-disabilities/ article_f3dcc614-e58f-11ec- 973c-2fd4ca0cba16.html - KTTC – https://www.kttc.com/2022/06/
07/nonprofit-hosts-traveling- job-skills-workshop-rochester/ - ABC 6 News – https://www.kaaltv.com/
rochester-minnesota-news/ workshop-help-people-with- disabilities-rochester/ 6494324/?cat=10151
For more information, visit MDI
4/21/22 – 2022 Reverse Job Fair
…………………………………………….
The team at MaxAbility would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who attended and participated in our Reverse Job Fair. 125 Live was buzzing with activity and the excitement was infectious!!
This is a collage of photos with candidates speaking to employers.
3/23/2022 Lunch and Learn Virtual Event #2 
Catherine Davis, an EquityLogic™ trainer from the Diversity Council, led this session that was jampacked with information on the topic of Moving From Orientation to Onboarding in our Attracting and Retaining Diverse Workforce series. 29 people were able to attend over the lunch hour and shared their experiences and ideas.
The following are resources provided by The Diversity Council following the event:
- Accenture Inclusion and the Power of Diversity (video): Accenture Inclusion & The Power of Diversity | Accenture
- Tips for onboarding and training employees with disabilities: https://www.accessibility.com/blog/tips-for-onboarding-and-training-employees-with-disabilities
- Remote work and accessibility: https://www.accessibility.com/blog/remote-work-and-accessibility-assistive-technology
- Understanding Employee Onboarding: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/pages/understanding-employee-onboarding.aspx#:~:text=%22Onboarding%22%20refers%20to%20the%20processes,%2C%20vision%2C%20mission%20and%20values.
- Incorporate Reasonable Accommodations Practices into your Onboarding Process (includes downloadable accommodation worksheet) https://askjan.org/articles/Incorporate-Reasonable-Accommodation-Practices-into-your-Onboarding-Process.cfm?csSearch=3745239_1
2/23/2022 Lunch and Learn Virtual Event #1 
37 attendees joined us over the lunch hour for education and connection. Our instructor was Catherine Davis, an EquityLogic™ trainer, whose energy was infectious and information was spot on!
“We need to make sure that everyone feels
supported and set up for success in their career.”
The following are resources provided by The Diversity Council following the event:
- “5 Must-Do’s for Writing Inclusive Job Descriptions”: https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-acquisition/must-dos-for-writing-inclusive-job-descriptions
- “6 Tips Inclusive Recruitment Writing”: https://hiring.monster.com/help-center/traditional-products/job-ads/6-tips-inclusive-recruitment-writing/
- “10 Ways to Reduce Interviewer Bias”: https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-strategy/ways-to-reduce-interviewer-bias
- “Unconscious Bias in Recruiting” Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Dp372Jsj4
- Tools for Reviewing Job Descriptions:
- Textio: https://textio.com/
- Gender Decoder: http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/
- Readability Analyzer: https://datayze.com/readability-analyzer.php
Together we can attract and retain a diverse workforce that includes all!
2/15/2022 – Disability Reframed 
Ashley Harris Whaley’s discussion on CULTIVATING AN ANTI-ABLEIST WORKPLACE
We had a great turnout, 283 people joined us! The participants asked great questions informed by the presentation and Ashley Harris Whaley graciously granted us some of her resources. Click on the links below.
Takeaways from the event –
What does allyship look like?
- Advocating for continued workplace flexibility
- Ensuring digital accessibility
- Eliminating any assumptions
- Listening to specific needs of your colleague(s)
- Educating yourself on disability history and issues faced by the disability community
“I wanted to take just a second to thank you and the MaxAbility committee for the training yesterday. I enjoyed it and learned many things. Right after the training I was reading some text for an upcoming radio spot and it occurred to me that some of the wording may be off-putting to someone with a disability. We easily changed it and although it was a small thing, I feel like that is the kind of change that might make a difference to someone. Thanks for helping me and others see things through a different lens.” -Webinar Attendee
Further resources:
Disabled People’s Preferred Terminology
Resources on disability representation
2021
International Day of Persons With Disability – 12/2/21 
The 5th Annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration encouraged us to include the disability lens on everything! We were emboldened to increase collaboration between local, state, and national resources for better outcomes for disabled people and other underrepresented groups. We need to see ourselves as “advocrats.” A phrase coined by one of Judy Heumann’s friends, our keynote speaker. She defined an advocrat as someone who recognizes a problem, connects with disabled people living those experiences, and together solves the problem.
Each year we enjoy the opportunity to celebrate together and to re-connect. This was especially important to so many as the pandemic continues to be isolating. We could feel the joy at The Castle, and in the chat during the Art Exhibit and Celebration of Talent!
Bite Sized learning modules for employers, introduced in October 2021, are full of information and resources:
Career Connections Career Fair — 10/07/21
Employers were excited to connect with over 60 job seekers!
Comments we heard from job seekers included:
“This event was very helpful. I was able to set-up an in-person interview with [an employer] who I applied for.”
“I appreciated the smaller intimate atmosphere of this event.”
“I liked how there was a lot of employers to choose from.”
Many thanks to the following employers who actively engaged in
Career Connections:
Ability Building Community (ABC), Avra Hospitality, Charter Communications, City of Rochester, Fastenal (Winona), Jennie-O Turkey Store, Kwik Trip, McDonald’s, Mayo Clinic, Nexus Family Healing – Southeast MN Crisis Center, Olmsted County, Pace International, , Seneca Foods, Think Bank
MaxAbility Quarterly Network Meeting – 8/18/21
Recognizing and Implementing a Request for Reasonable Accommodations
Our key takeaways from the meeting included:
- The best place to start is asking employees what they need regarding reasonable accommodations. Employees have lived experience and can work with their employer to find creative solutions.
- A welcoming environment where employees feel supported sets the stage for interactive conversations to happen.
- During new employee training, it is important to introduce new tasks one at a time and use a layered approach. This helps ALL employees to be successful.
Watch an Employee/Employer Success Story
Download the Bite Sized Learning Take Away Card
Film and Panel Discussion, Hearts of Glass June 2021
2021 MaxAbility Reverse Job Fair Recording
MaxAbility Quarterly Network Meeting Recording – 2/24/21
Passcode: WKz7E9.q
