WORKERS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Minnesota Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to People with Developmental Disabilities

The Disability Services Division (DSD) is part of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Continuing Care Administration (CCA). DSD manages publicly funded programs that support people with a variety of disabilities. Disabilities include developmental disabilities, chronic medical conditions, acquired or traumatic brain injuries and physical disabilities. Community-based services promote individual and family self-sufficiency and maintain an individual's or family's optimum level of independence in the community. Services include home care, residential and work-related services.

Disability Services Division
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P. O. Box 64967
St. Paul, MN 55164-0967
Phone: 651-431-2400
Fax: 651-431-7412
Disability linkage line 866-333-2466
Resource center line 651-431-2450
Toll-free line; 888-968-8463

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities

The Extended Employment Programs within the Department of Employment and Economic Development provides services to individuals in a variety of work settings including community rehabilitation program sites, community-based group sites and community-based individual sites.

Services are contracted with a statewide network of 29 community rehabilitation organizations. These organizations are under contract to the Department and are certified annually and must maintain the highest levels of service and accountability to the persons receiving services. This certification process includes obtaining and maintaining national accreditation with CARF.

Extended Employment Program
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street
Suite E200
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-296-9157
800-328-9095
TTY: 651-296-3900
FAX: 651-297-5159

Sheltered Employment

To sign an operating agreement with the state the CRP must be CARF accredited. In addition, CRP must establish a grievance procedure to address the worker's concerns, including health and safety issues. Concerns that are not satisfactorily addressed by the CRP are escalated to the funding agency, the Extended Employment program, for review.

Department of Employment & Economic Development Headquarters
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E-200
St. Paul, MN 55101-1351
Phone: 651-259-7114
Toll Free: 800-657-3858
TTY: 651-296-3900
Fax: 651-215-3841

In Minnesota a worker with developmental disabilities receives a referral from their case manager to a Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP). These programs offer sheltered employment programs.

Competitive Employment

Supported employment provided by the Extended Employment Programs provides ongoing support for persons working in the larger community in a variety of employment settings. Center-based employment provides ongoing support for persons who work in manufacturing, service, and retail enterprises operated by the community rehabilitation program.

Health and Safety

The Department of Labor and Industry offers a free consultation service. Workplace Safety Consultation provides consultation services, on request, to help employers prevent accidents and diseases through several employee-assistance programs. Employers can request an on-site visit and find out about potential hazards at the worksite and how to improve their safety management systems.

Workplace Safety Consolation
Department of Labor and Industry
443 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155
PHONE: 651-284-5005
800-342-5354 (Toll Free)
TTY: 651-297-4198

After business hours, or weekends or holidays the call should be made to a federal OSHA hotline number: 800-321-6742

Employers must report work-related incidents that result in the death of an employee or the in-patient hospitalization of three or more employees to MNOSHA within 8 hours. The call should be made to: 877-470-6742 or to one of the 3 regional offices

The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 182) provides job safety and health protection for workers throughout the state. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Occupational Safety and Health Division (MNOSHA) has the sole responsibility of administering the act. Complaints about the health and safety of workers should be directed to one of 3 regional MNOSHA offices in Minnesota.

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Minnesota OSHA Compliance
443 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155-4307
Phone: 651-284-5005; Toll-free: 800-342-5354

Minnesota Department of labor and Industry
Minnesota OSHA Compliance
12 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 1650
Mankato, MN 56001-7706
Phone: 507-389-6507; Toll-free: 877-348-0508
Fax: 507-389-2746

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Minnesota OSHA Compliance.
525 Lake Ave., S., Suite 330
Duluth, MN 55802-2368
Phone: 218-733-7830
Fax: 218-725-7722

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

The Adult Protective services Unit provides training and consultation about the Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act, identifying maltreatment in vulnerable adults can be challenging because the adult may not be able to communicate what happened or may be considered an unreliable witness. If there is immediate danger to the vulnerable adult, call 911 immediately. If you suspect abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, you should call your county's designated "Common Entry Point." The Common Entry Point receives all reports of known or suspected maltreatment and works with appropriate authorities. The phone line is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. To find your county's Common Entry Point, call: 800-333-2433. For more information about the law, reporting maltreatment of a vulnerable adult, or Adult Protection Services, contact the Human Services Adult Services Unit.

Phone: 651-431-2547 or 651-431-2546
800-882-6262
800-627-3529 (TDDTTY)

The first point of contact should be at the county level. Each county has designated a "common entry point" for reports of suspected maltreatment of the vulnerable population, including the health and safety of workers with developmental disabilities.

At the state level, an Office of Ombudsmen in the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation collects and investigates reports of injuries received from licensed facilities that have vulnerable populations.

Minnesota Office of the Ombudsmen for Mental Health and Mental Retardation
121 7th Place E.
Suite 420
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-757-1800
800-657-3506
Fax: 651-296-1021

Protection and Advocacy

An additional source of information for citizens with developmental disabilities is the:

Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
Minnesota Department of Administration
370 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
PHONE: 651-296-4018
877-348-0505
TDD: 651-296-9962
FAX: 651-297-7200

The protection and advocacy of citizens with developmental disabilities is under the Minnesota Disability Law Center. They may be contacted at:

Minnesota Disability Law Center
430 First Avenue, North
Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1780
Phone: 612-332-1441
800-292-4150
Fax: 612-334-5755