DSC’s Morrissey Named To State Task Force

The longtime head of Champaign’s Developmental Services Center is joining a state task force looking at ways to improve job prospects for people with disabilities.

Dale Morrissey says his work at the DSC focuses on people with developmental disabilities. But he says the task force he’s joining is will look at the needs of all disability groups.

He says the task force will be looking at what needs to be done at different levels of state government, to implement recently passed laws to help people with disabilities find employment.   

“We’ll be looking at all the different fiscal requirements that need to be changed, and regulation type things”, said Morrisey. “And also we’ll be looking at the different departments that currently provide  employment services  for people with disabilities, to make sure that they’re all on the same page, working together to make that happen.” 

Governor Pat Quinn announced last week that he had named Morrissey to a task force formed by legislation that brings Illinois into the federal Employment First program. The US Department of Labor says the Employment First concept works for the alignment of state policies and regulations, for the full inclusion of people with significant disabilities in the workplace and community.  Other “Employment First” states include Iowa and Tennessee.