MADISON, WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD), in partnership with InControl Wisconsin, congratulates Saint Croix Falls High School for receiving a Partners with Business Competitive Integrated Employment Outreach grant.
These grants support efforts to raise awareness about competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). CIE means jobs in the community alongside people without disabilities, at minimum wage or higher, with the same benefits and advancement opportunities as employees without disabilities.
Saint Croix Falls High School strives to support students with disabilities to work in their communities. Students participate in school-based employment opportunities to identify interests and learn new skills they can use in future jobs. To further develop these skills, school staff would like to expand community opportunities. Staff will use grant activities to develop more partnerships with local organizations and businesses. With stronger networks across the rural area, students will have more opportunities to find jobs that fit their interests and skills.
The “Partners with Business” initiative was signed into law in 2018 and is based on a successful, cost-effective strategy from BPDD’s Let’s Get to Work youth employment project that shows businesses how co-workers can support employees with disabilities on the job.
It also includes efforts to expand awareness about hiring people with IDD so that businesses and the broader community recognize the value and contribution employees with disabilities can bring to the workplace. Through awareness-building efforts, more people with IDD will get jobs in their communities, and businesses will be better able to meet their workforce needs.
“The Partners with Business approach reduces the need for outside job coaches and results in employees with disabilities being more integrated in their workplace. Workers supported through this initiative have needed fewer public supports to successfully do their jobs. It’s an effective employment strategy that works for both people with disabilities and businesses in Wisconsin,” said Jenny Price, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.
These grants are part of the 2017 Wisconsin Act 323, passed on April 16, 2018. To view the statutory language, click here.
Last Update: Sep 28, 2026 10:08 am CDT
