Partner Spotlight: Paraquad

Paraquad is one of the oldest and largest independent living centers in the country. Centers for Independent Living are unique because more than 50% of our board and staff are people with disabilities. Through the wisdom of these personally impacted people, we seek to align ourselves with campaigns that can improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities.

Paraquad’s mission is to increase equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy. As part of that mission, we work tirelessly to create opportunities for people with disabilities to secure and maintain employment at life-supporting wages. Unfortunately, many employers are hesitant to hire persons with disabilities. Even though progress has been made, bias and misinformation remain that mean that some employers are not willing to hire applicants living with disabilities.

Some persons with disabilities also have arrests or convictions for crimes as part of their histories, further complicating the challenge of being hired or promoted. We support the Clean Slate campaign for automated expungement, because we know this change in policy will reduce the barriers that are experienced by many who come to Paraquad seeking assistance in finding employment, as well as others with disabilities throughout our state. When people with disabilities succeed in the employment arena, including those who have been involved in the carceral system, there are multiple benefits to their families, to the community, and throughout society.