A government jobs program for people with disabilities will get a massive overhaul soon, moving more than 1,000 people into higher-paying jobs that are more integrated with non-disabled workers.
Workers will go from making as little as $10 a week to jobs that pay at least minimum wage, according to Disability Rights NC, which helped negotiate changes with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The shift will be phased in over the next several years with the state continuing to subsidize wages at participating businesses around the state.
This is part of a national push to give people with disabilities more typical experiences instead of sheltering them away. North Carolina is one of a handful of states “moving away from this antiquated practice,” Disability Rights said in a news release. Oregon was the first, because of a class action lawsuit, and North Carolina is following that state’s model, according to Disability Rights lawyer Chris Hodgson.
Starting this summer “sheltered workshops” around the state—where people with disabilities are sent to do small, repetitive jobs—will stop accepting new applicants. Current workers will get an “employment assessment” and counseling paid for by the state and, by the summer of 2026, the plan is to shut down the workshops and place anyone who wants to work in a new job.
In government parlance: The Adult Development Vocational Program will be phased out in favor of competitive integrated employment.
“It’s about normalizing the idea of disability in every work place,” Hodgson said.
Details on costs of the change weren’t immediately available Thursday, and DHHS said implementation is “subject to availability of funds.” The department plans to ask the General Assembly for funding, it said in a news release.
Disability Rights said the shift will make a massive difference in people’s lives.
“This agreement recognizes that people with disabilities have interests and skills and must have opportunities to pursue jobs of their own choosing,” the group said. “It also provides workers with disabilities a path out of poverty and a chance at economic stability.”
The group acknowledged the transition will be frightening for some people who’ve been part of the workshop program for years, and a series of online FAQ’s about the change address this.
“It can be scary to change your job,” one of the answers says. “But you will get lots of help.”The group promises help choosing a new job, training and, when needed, someone to drive people to work or talk to their new boss.
“You have the right to work in the community,” the website says. “Your new job will give you new opportunities. You will get paid more. You can work where everyone else works.”
DHHS said its Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services and Division of Health Benefits would work with local partners to implement the new plan.
“Employment is a proven strategy for supporting overall health and wellness,” DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley said in the release. “The department is committed to building an inclusive workforce where individuals with and without disabilities work together, build community and thrive.”
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