What is a sheltered workshop? What is a developmental disability? Do sheltered workshop employees get paid for their work? Do sheltered employees receive benefits? How do I know if sheltered employment is right for my adult child? What geographical areas do you serve and how do employees get to work? How do I find out if the workshop can do work for my business? If you contract to do work for my company, will you have it finished by my deadline? Can you give business references to substantiate the quality of your work and level of customer satisfaction? Are there other workshops in the Kansas City area? Who are your business customers? What is a sheltered workshop?   top In Missouri sheltered workshops are actually small businesses that hire individuals with disabilities. They came into being in 1965. Shops operate much like any other light assembly or service shop, except that the employees are adults whose physical or mental disabilities currently prevent them from competing for regular jobs. What is a developmental disability?   top In general terms, it is a mental or physical disability that begins before the age of twenty-two (22), is likely to continue indefinitely, results in substantial functional limitations in two or more areas of major life activities, and requires special services that are individually planned and coordinated. Mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism are some examples. Do sheltered workshop employees get paid for their work?   top Yes. They are paid piece rates for assembly/packaging work. The workshop conducts annual local prevailing wage studies, which are used in conjunction with time studies to determine accurate piece rates. Employees are paid based on their ability to perform in relation to the performance of a person without a disability and are paid for the work completed. The Department of Labor and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education monitor these procedures. Do sheltered employees receive benefits?   top Yes. At FWI, full-time employees earn ten (10) paid holidays and twenty (20) paid personal days per year. All employees are covered by Workers' Compensation insurance and the company contributes the matching portion of Social Security/Medicare taxes. Sheltered workshops contribute to the community by employing people with disabilities and putting money back into the community through payrolls, purchases of good and services, and participation in community affairs. How do I know if sheltered employment is right for my adult child?   top Call us, or the workshop nearest your home, with your list of questions. At FWI you will talk with the intake program coordinator or the program manager. If you believe that FWI might be an appropriate option, we will schedule a shop tour for you and your son/daughter. When you come to the shop our staff will visit with you and your child about his/her vocational needs and wishes, FWI's services, give you referrals to other agencies if needed, and/or begin the employment application process. What geographical areas do you serve and how do employees get to work?   top Most of our employees live in south Kansas City or the Grandview area. They use a variety of transportation including private vehicles (families, residential programs), Department of Transportation (DOT) buses, Share-A-Fare (KCMO residents only), and Salvation Army vans (Grandview residents only). FWI staff receive ongoing training in the areas of safety, service planning, production techniques, management and supervision, positive behavioral supports, and disabilities. How do I find out if the workshop can do work for my business?   top Call, fax, or e-mail your job specifications. Our production manager will contact you, usually within one business day. If we have the capacity to meet your needs, we will request samples of the work for time studies and give you a bid. If you accept our bid we will forward a contract to you. If you contract to do work for my company, will you have it finished by my deadline?   top Absolutely. We will not enter into a contract unless we know that we can meet your timelines. Can you give business references to substantiate the quality of your work and level of customer satisfaction?   top We are happy to provide references. Not only do we get feedback from customers during the completion of contracts, but we also conduct annual customer satisfaction surveys. Survey information is available to the public. Are there other workshops in the Kansas City area?   top Yes. In Missouri there are shops in Clay County, Cass County, downtown KCMO, south Kansas City, Independence, Blue Springs, and Raytown. Johnson County and Wyandotte County, Kansas also have sheltered workshops. Who are your business customers?   top We have customers with a variety of business needs throughout the metropolitan area, as well as customers as far away as the east and west coasts.