Mainstreaming on Main Street Overview

Mainstreaming on Main Street recognizes a number of closely related factors:

• The nation faces a declining work force due to an aging population.
• The biggest barriers to the hiring and advancement of persons with disabling conditions are perceptions regarding the ability of persons to perform the work and perceptions of prohibitive costs of accommodations.
• For 68.5% of companies employing persons with disabling conditions the cost of accommodations are $500 or less.
• Job placement, rather than development of highest potential, has been emphasized in the area of job services for the disabled.

Mainstreaming on Main Street seeks to promote the best use of individual skills and organizational resources by addressing challenges faced by professionally trained experienced, persons with disabling conditions. The Mainstreaming on Main Street program includes opportunities for addressing challenges realistically.  Organizations have the opportunity to participate in “practice field” situations.  These practice fields allow both individuals and organizations to realistically assess the challenges associated with the advancement of persons with disabilities.

The value of the Mainstreaming on Main Street program comes from a focus on relationships rather than the legalities of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The program emphasizes overcoming obstacles rather than adherence to minimum standards. Discussions regarding real and perceived barriers to advancement of persons with disabling conditions allow all participants to learn from each other and challenge assumptions. 

The target audience for Mainstreaming on Main Street comes from three constituencies:

1. Early career persons (3-5 years) with disabling conditions.
2. Established professionals facing disabling conditions.
3. Organizations seeking both excellence and inclusion.

The expected outcome of the Mainstreaming on Main Street program is a workplace that makes the most effective use of all human resources available.  Individual participants are expected to broaden their leadership abilities and improve their self-advocacy skills.  Organizational participants are expected to be better equipped to look at the untapped resources persons with disabilities present.  Both individual and organizational participants are expected to provide leadership by example of professional effectiveness, despite disabling conditions.

www.MainstreamingonMainStreet.com