MOHR is honoring two organizations with 2025 MOHR Choice Awards. The awarded organizations both support Minnesotans with disabilities through educational, employment, social, and recreational programming. “Every year we highlight exceptional programs offered by MOHR members,” explains Robin Harkonen, President of MOHR. This year’s Choice Award winners, WACOSA and Udac, Inc., are both working with community partners to deliver experiences that help people develop skills ranging from self-advocacy to employment readiness and more. “Opportunities like these are truly life changing for the individuals who participate in them,” added Harkonen.
Udac, Inc.: Udac Business Internship
The Udac Business Internship is a state-of-the-art model for employment success, advancing independence and community inclusion while decreasing dependence on disability services. The program includes a dedicated curriculum infused into education and training provided by local employers. Paid internships are designed with the employer to achieve new levels of participant self-confidence and independence. The program is designed with each employer to advance people with IDD beyond entry level positions with ongoing development opportunities. Want to learn more about this life changing program? Read this article: Udac: Remaking Employment Services in ICI Impact Magazine.
WACOSA: Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors for Respect is an advocacy program in which adults with disabilities receive training to become paid presenters about disability inclusion and respect in elementary schools. Participants go on to present in local 4th grade classrooms. They lead the presentations and incorporate interactive activities like “shredding and crushing” hurtful words, and creating inclusion pledges and displaying them in the classroom with the students. The Ambassadors also share their personal stories to help advocate for others. This can be powerfully educational and healing for Ambassadors and student participants. In 2024, WACOSA's Ambassadors presented in nine classrooms for over 200 students, with seven more classrooms planned for early 2025. Learn more about this important community partnership on WACOSA's website.
