“ I have walked into a store and dreamt about things I wanted to buy. Now I work in a store and buy those things I need for my children and earn a living here.” Quote from a previous participant of AccessAbility’s Project Connect program.

AcessAbility for over 60 years has provided immediate work and training for people that want to work, but need more support to be successful. It helps people with barriers such as developmental disabilities, people with mental health issues, those existing chemical dependency or criminal justice programs and people who are transitioning from welfare to work.

The scope of the people that AccessAbility serves is very broad. We believe that diversity leverages our success with people in all of our programs. This diversity enables AccessAbility to serve a higher number of people with complex and enduring needs than almost any other Twin Cities agency of its kind. People with the most challenging and complicated barriers to employment can find help with us.
Two operations of AccessAbility function together to foster economic independence.
1. AccessAbility Business Services operates as a competitive business offering document conversion and destruction, contract manufacturing, assembly, packaging and other business services. AccessAbility offers business services that offer people the chance to gain mid-to-high level marketable skills and earn wages while they gain experience.
2. People participating in programs are supported through Case Management and Job Coaching. Case managers and job coaches specialize in workplace skills and training. They collaborate with other agencies to create a specific plan for each client to solve the network of problems like housing, childcare, substance abuse, family issues, transportation, and healthcare that can keep a person from succeeding in the workplace.

Project Connect participants include recent immigrants and refugees, individuals overcoming mental health challenges, recent addictions, corrections records, or limited literacy, and those who have little or no work histories. Most of those participating in Project Connect are single mothers, more than half are immigrants or refugees from Somalia, and nearly all are people of color.

Many are homeless and struggling to secure affordable housing for themselves and their children.

After working with AccessAbility for a specific period of time, typically between 3 and 6 months, clients transition to private sector jobs with the support of AccessAbility staff. In 2008, the average placement wage was $8.88/hour, with 89% still working in these jobs after 180 days. 318 people were served in 2008 in Project Connect.

It is hard to say who benefits most as a result of AccessAbility
-Women and men who have been chronically unemployed who now find themselves with real work, a real paycheck, and real hope.
-Employers who find staff offering job readiness, loyalty and stability, or
-Public agencies and taxpayers who save $10,800 per program participant per year in real dollars as people move from welfare into paying jobs in the private sector.
-Recognized in each of the past five years by Hennepin County for outstanding achievement as a top 5 performer in serving people transitioning from welfare to work. (Ratings are determined using Hennepin County’s seven performance indicators, including average starting wage and job retention).

New Initiatives
Pilot Retail Program: AccessAbility formed a relationship with a major department store due to job openings in early 2008. AccessAbility provided a work team comprised of Project Connect participants including a team lead that was coached by an AccessAbility Train the Trainer. This team lead was responsible for supervising up to 6-8 participants in different areas of the store. The job description included greeting guests, organizing, maintaining, and merchandising departments. This project led to another retailer that hired individuals as their full-time employees. Additionally, this retailer has continued to hire individuals ongoing and for the holiday season. Overall, more than 50 individuals gained valuable work training from this program and obtaining jobs in the retail.

Imagine Design: In order to provide more hours of work available to participants and to offer a broader range of experience, AccessAbility undertook an asset transfer of Imagine Design including its product line consisting of framed affirmations, bookmarks, and other contemporary gift items. Now, these popular and affordable products are entirely designed, produced and distributed by AccessAbility and those moving from welfare to work which provides over 35,000 hours of work annually to all programs.

AccessAbility really works. It's immediate. It's long-term. It's life-changing.