Jennifer Germain

Tell us about your background.

My name is Jennifer Germain. I work as a Rehabilitation Area Manager for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a division within DEED.  I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice-Legal Studies and two Master of Science Degrees; one in Rehabilitation Counseling and the other in Vocational Evaluation.

Share about the work of DEED Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

I have been working with people with disabilities for 22 years and have been with the State of Minnesota for 20 years. I started as a Rehabilitation Counselor and have been managing the North Saint Paul Vocational Rehabilitation Services site for the past 14 years. I currently have 20 staff that serve individuals with disabilities throughout Ramsey County. My office serves between 700-1,000 individuals with disabilities per year, both students and adults. In the effort to reach more youth, we have staff located in all of the high schools and transition programs within the county.

What do you think are some of the current workforce challenges for individuals with disabilities?

I think that one of the current workforce challenges for individuals with disabilities is discrimination. Many times, people with disabilities are faced with preconceived attitudes and behaviors in the recruitment process and within the workplace both from the employer and colleagues. People with disabilities are often treated differently as employers and co-workers focus on their disability of the person rather than their abilities. I am hopeful that with more education, resources, and openness that employers will continue to see the value in hiring people with disabilities and what they have to contribute to the workplace. Another challenge is that employers are often not familiar with how to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals so that they are able to perform the essential functions of their job. Accommodations are often provided for little to no cost and add value by improving effectiveness and efficiency. With that being said, not all disabilities are immediately apparent, and that can create a unique challenge for employees and job seekers as they are often misunderstood and not supported. People with disabilities strive to have the same opportunities and reach the same goals as everyone else, so our goal with the right training, preparation, and workplace accommodations is to assist the people that we work with in obtaining rewarding careers.

Where do you see the most opportunities for individuals with disabilities?

There is a prime opportunity within our current economy to open doors to people with disabilities as they are an untapped resource to employers and want to work. Hiring people with disabilities creates inclusion and diversity within the workforce and plays a critical role in competitiveness, creativity, decision-making, and innovation. We have embraced opportunities within the local community to educate, partner, and work with other agencies and business to continue to build our network so that we can help people with disabilities to become independent and successful.