In the 1960’s and 1970’s, a progression of rights for Americans living with disabilities began. This included the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, the Fair Housing Act, the beginning of the Special Olympics, and the Independent Living Act (Source: Accessibility.com). In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability (Source: U.S. Department of Labor).

As these historical decisions were made, Roy Del Valle, Ph.D, CRC, was watching and taking note. As the child of a father with Polio, these decisions were especially personal. Today, Del Valle is the District Manager for the Western, Central & Northern Division of Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).  A bureau of the State Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), MRS develops customized workforce solutions for businesses and individuals with disabilities.

“My passion for assisting people with disabilities began with early childhood experiences with my father, who despite having Polio had a career as a chemical engineer,” Del Valle said. “I can also attribute this to watching a culture progression in real-time; the disability rights movements in the 60’s and 70’s up to the 1990’s Americans with Disabilities Act.”

In 2021, MRS assisted 191 disabled Upper Peninsula residents with obtaining employment throughout the region. MRS assists people with disabilities in a wide range of employment fields such as accountants, custodians, machine operators, security retail sales, truck drivers and welders to name a few. The organization can assist individuals with obtaining and retaining employment in any field and can also help employers retain talent.

After the initial spark ignited his calling, Del Valle joined the United States Marine Corps. A First Gulf War veteran with a current service-related disability, he found himself in-between jobs after returning home from a 10-year service. His wife was working as a certified rehabilitation nurse at the time, and suggested he volunteer at her workplace, a private rehabilitation facility in East Lansing, Mich.  Del Valle became the assistant to a gentleman who had sudden onset of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

“That was a very eye-opening experience for me. I didn’t know the world of rehabilitation existed until I became involved in that line of work and began to see the different agencies and resources that were available to folks with disabilities,” Del Valle said.  After working with several non-profits, Del Valle went back to school to obtain his Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Michigan State University (MSU) and then his Doctorate in Rehabilitation Counselors Education. He has been with MRS for over 25 years.

Michigan is home to approximately 1.3 million individuals with disabilities. In the Upper Peninsula, 15% of the workforce aged people (16-64) have a disability that may be a potential barrier to employment. Increasing awareness of disability is a major part of the mission Del Valle and MRS fight for every day.

“Disability exists. It’s around us,” Del Valle said. “A crucial piece to improvement is acknowledging it’s there. How can employers work with that to retain their talent?”

MRS has 13 qualified rehabilitation counselors on staff throughout the U.P. These counselors provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and career guidance to individuals with disabilities. Rehabilitation counselors assist individuals with…

  • Finding a new job or retaining employment with the current employer;
  • Working with the individual on what particular barriers to employment;
  • Obtaining additional education and training, such as a four-year degree, trade apprenticeship, or a certificate such as a Commercial Drivers License (CDL).

MRS also has a wide range of partnerships throughout the U.P., including community rehabilitation organizations, intermediate school districts, community mental health, and area Native American communities. The organization works closely with the Superior Alliance of Independent Living (SAIL) and Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!. Del Valle serves as a board member of the workforce development board for U.P. Michigan Works!.

There are specific programs for individuals with disabilities that MRS supports. In Sault Ste Marie, MRS supports a program called Project SEARCH, an evidence-based international proprietary program that allows students with disabilities to have internships. This program operates through MyMichigan Health Center Sault and has seven to nine interns at a time enter into competitive employment after successfully completing the program.

MRS also works with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on a program where students with disabilities can participate in an 8-week summer work-based learning program at one of the nine U.P. parks. MRS works with Great Lakes Recovery Centers on the Offender Success Program to help returning citizens obtain employment.

Additional areas supported by MRS include The Michigan Career Technical Institute in Plainwell, Mich., which offers a variety of training such as cabinet making, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), machine technology, and office automation, to name a few. The Agrability program is a collaboration between MRS and Easterseals to help farmers who may experience an onset of disability. In 2021, this program assisted six U.P. farmers in maintaining their farms. 

Rural areas like the Upper Peninsula are often presented with additional barriers than their more populated counterparts. Del Valle started his career with MRS downstate but has been in Marquette since October of 2016. Because of this, he is able to see the contrast between rural and more populated areas when it comes to disability services. Del Valle notes lack of transportation, childcare availability, and myths associated with employing individuals with disabilities as some of the top barriers he has experienced.

In the U.P., transportation is a barrier to not only employment but for access to services or resources such as healthcare. When it comes to childcare, many individuals may not be able to re-enter employment based on the availability of childcare. Recently, the Michigan Tri-Share Program was announced to help combat this issue.

Myths associated with disabled people entering the workforce may cause pause for employers . According to Del Valle, there’s a prevailing myth that accommodations for individuals with disabilities are expensive. Studies by DuPont Research and Development Centers show that 56% of accommodations that require cost are $600 or less.

Employers may believe that employees with disabilities will require more support. Another study by DuPont Research and Development Centers surveyed supervisors who supervised employees with disabilities rated their employees with disabilities at 90% or higher in terms of productivity in comparison with their coworkers without disabilities.

An impressive difference Del Valle has noticed since his time in the U.P is the “grow your own” attitude.

“I really appreciate this (attitude), especially as a member of the U.P. Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board,” he said. “There’s a mantra I hear quite frequently: “U.P. solutions for Yoopers.” What can we do locally to encourage and grow our local workforce? That’s an interesting take on how to meet the workforce demands of a local labor market."

In addition to helping individuals find employment, MRS also works with employers on retaining current talent. There are two special units within MRS; the Business Services Unit and the Disability Management Unit. In the Business Services Unit, each district has a business consultant on board who can help them identify and retain talent as well as bring talent back from the effects of the pandemic. The Disability Management Unit is able to assist with accommodations and worksite analysis, making recommendations in terms of ergonomics to prevent the onset of disability or worksite injury. 

De Valle said that an important step towards bringing down workforce barriers for individuals with disabilities would be developing positive relationships between human services organizations and local businesses.

“Businesses are working to make money and turn out a profit. That’s what sustains the livelihood of not only their employees, but the local community,” Del Valle said. “More human service organizations should partner with local businesses to serve as experts and help promote the most productive workforce.”

Del Valle added that strengthening exposure of working with people with disabilities, and of MRS in general, would be helpful to the organization’s mission moving forward.

Looking towards the future, Del Valle sees partnerships as a way to increase this exposure along with overall awareness. Working with the NMU Center for Rural Health, Del Valle hopes MRS will become a regular resource for people with disabilities looking for employment.

“Let’s address those pre-employment issues first, such as healthcare issues that need to be stabilized, then the next step is employment. We want to assist in that arena to help that individual and bridge the gap between a health condition that may be a barrier to employment.’

Find out more about Michigan Rehabilitation Services by visiting the website. If you could use assistance from Michigan Rehabilitation Services or know of someone who does, reach out today.

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The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health seeks to improve the health and well-being of Upper Peninsula residents and communities by developing collaborative partnerships that enhance the access and availability of affordable, quality healthcare services. For questions or comments related to this story, contact ruralhealth@nmu.edu.

MRS Upper Peninsula Partnerships

MRS Upper Peninsula Programs

  • Project Search: Partnerships with EUPISD & MyMichigan Medical Center Sault! (Formerly War Memorial Hospital SSM)
  • MI DNR: 8 week summer work based learning opportunities for ISD students with disabilities in 9 state parks throughout the UP
  • Offender Success Program: Partnership with Great Lakes Recovery Centers to provide VR services to UP Returning Citizens.
  • Michigan Career & Technical Institute (MCTI): A postsecondary, federally accredited, nationally certified residential facility that provides specialized vocational training and comprehensive rehabilitation services to help Michigan residents with disabilities prepare for competitive employment and self-sufficiency. MCTI is now an authorized center for the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI). MSI is just one of 15 national certifications recognized by the National Manufacturers Association. MCTI will offer students two certifications: (1) Manufacturing Specialist and (2) Manufacturing Technician 1. The Manufacturing Specialist certification is for entry-level Production and Assembly positions and is the perfect starting point to advance into Registered Apprenticeships for Industrial Manufacturing Technicians. MCTI Additional Programming: Automotive Technology, Cabinetmaking/Millwork, CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant), Culinary Arts, Custodial, Electronics, Graphic Communications, Grounds Maintenance/Landscaping, Machine Technology, Office Automation, Pharmacy Services, Retail Marketing and Weatherization.
  • MRS & Easter Seals Farm Rehabilitation: MRS assists farmers with disabilities through the Easter Seals Michigan AgrAbility partnership to vocational rehabilitation services so they may continue to farm. In 2021 MRS Marquette District assisted six UP farmers continue farming.

MI Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity Initiatives

  • Post-Secondary Credential Attainment (60x30): By 2030, 60% of working-age Michiganders will have a certificate or college degree. MRS can assist UP residents with disabilities attaining the training and credentials needed to obtain employment, earn higher wages and have benefits through their employer.