Detroit Lakes News Story (1987)
A 1987 early supported employment pilot project, "Project Compete," offered a practical approach to teaching job skills for individuals with developmental disabilities. Training was done onsite at the employer's place of business with supported employment services that could fade over time, and provided by Clay and Becker County Developmental Achievement Centers.
A new program in Clay and Becker counties is putting developmentally disabled people to work. What's different about Project Compete is that it teaches retarded people work skills by sending trainers to the job site with them.
The Clay and Becker County Development Achievement Centers are funding the program with the help of a $45,000 grant from Minnesota. Jackie Renner with details.
When Strand's Repair needed someone to do odds and ends around the shop, they hired Larry Ladwig. Ladwig is a 35-year-old developmentally disabled man from Callaway, Minnesota. They also got Kathy Tuma.
Larry, look up here. What size--
12.
12. Okay.
12 goes here.
So then this must be a--
Tuma's paid by the Clay County DAC to ease Ladwig's entry into the work world. The program's based on the idea that developmentally disabled people do better at work if they can learn the skills on the job.
But employers aren't expected to have time to do all the teaching.
They just don't have the time to spend with Larry that--that's needed. Larry needs the intense training to understand that he's gotta listen to directions and that the tools belong at, you know, in certain locations.
It's hard for them to take away from their daily routine to work with Larry.
Jim Strand was surveyed like other Clay and Becker County employers to see if he'd be interested in the program. He was when he found out he could get a federal tax credit for hiring Ladwig and someone who would take the minimum-wage job he says other unemployed people turned down.
Larry, like I say, is just a third hand around here. As you've seen, taking this transmission off, this engine and that, it's just nice to have somebody there who has a good back and is willing to take care of what we have to do…and doesn't backtalk.
How do you like it here?
Pretty good. Yeah.
How come? What do you like about it?
Oh, taking motors apart.
Uh-huh.
And something to do to pass time.
By February, Larry should be working on his own, without Kathy's supervision. Without the program, she doubts Larry would be working at all.
Jackie Renner, News Center 6 in Detroit Lakes.