MADISON – State and federal efforts to connect people with disabilities to meaningful career opportunities achieved a new milestone in Wisconsin, setting a record high for the number of working-age individuals employed, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The achievement, celebrated recently at Madison College by Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Amy Pechacek and U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, follows years of investments in the Career Pathways Advancement Initiative, which has received more than $20 million in Disability Innovation Fund grants since 2021. “As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October, we celebrate the record number of people in Wisconsin with disabilities who have started new, good jobs and grown their careers,” DWD’s Pechacek said. “At any given time, DWD’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is serving approximately 16,000 Wisconsin residents with disabilities and we appreciate the U.S. Department of Education and many stakeholders who help obtain, maintain, and advance employment for people with disabilities.” Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) released by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that Wisconsin achieved a record high of 189,194 working-age individuals with disabilities employed in 2023. This marks the second consecutive year of record-high employment for workers with disabilities in Wisconsin. “We are proud to partner with Wisconsin and to highlight the meaningful successes for individuals with disabilities that are happening in this state and across the country,” the Department of Education’s Marten said. “These efforts change lives, improve businesses, and help make sure we have an economy that works for everyone.” Marten, along with officials from the Biden-Harris Administration, recently joined Pechacek to highlight Wisconsin’s leadership in implementing disability employment initiatives. The delegation included Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Assistant Secretary Glenna Wright-Gallo and Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner Danté Allen. Held at Madison College, the visit highlighted the Department of Workforce Development’s Disability Innovation Fund grant program, the Career Pathways Advancement Initiative. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by DWD’s vocational rehabilitation division, the program connects Wisconsin job seekers with disabilities to careers in healthcare, information technology, construction, and manufacturing. Since 2021, DVR enrolled 1,000 students with disabilities in training programs tailored to their career goals. “I have always had a strong drive to be a nurse,” Madison College student and Career Pathways Advancement program participant Brittany Montgomery said. “I started that way right out of high school, had to veer off that path for a few years, but I’m back on that path and exactly where I want to be.” Proclaimed by Gov. Tony Evers earlier this month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) recognizes the vital contributions of Wisconsinites with disabilities to the state’s economy and workforce. Observed each October, NDEAM educates the public about disability employment issues and celebrates the diverse contributions of American workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
