St. Cloud State University faculty members Dr. Marcy Young Illies, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, and Dr. Brian Valentini, Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education, have partnered with Rise, a nonprofit organization, to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
The research team received a $30,000 grant from The Shavlik Family Foundation, which has a highly competitive grant process open to nonprofits to remove barriers by providing access to technology needed to empower people to reach their full potential, including those with disabilities.
This project aims to research variables that impact a person with a disability’s likelihood of choosing community-based employment compared to special minimum wage employment.
Information from this project will support a roadmap for ending special minimum wage work at Rise and will provide critical information to other disability services providers hoping to do the same.
About Rise
Rise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on the belief that everyone deserves opportunities to achieve meaningful growth and live a purpose-filled life. Rise’s programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin take a whole-person approach, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through supportive access to employment, housing, and life-enrichment services.
