Wisconsin becoming national leader in hiring disabled workers

6 Jun 2017


LAKE DELTON - When Nate Kube lost a long-term convention center job, he struggled to find work — and his place.

Kube, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, got a new start through a program called Project Search. Last year, the 26-year-old front desk agent became associate of the year here among the 1,500 employees of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. 

"It made me feel like I had a sense of purpose again ... It was really hard for me to get back into the workforce. I almost wanted to give up, but coming into Project Search gave me a sense of purpose and it gave me some of my pride back," Kube said. 

Stories like Kube's are becoming more common in Wisconsin. Driven by an expanding economy and work by GOP Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic lawmakers, Wisconsin is moving more disabled workers toward self-sufficiency. 

The University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability reports that between 2010 and 2015, the state moved from 16th in the nation to 10th in the share of disabled workers with jobs. In Wisconsin, 41% of disabled workers are employed, compared to 35% nationally. 

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