Program continues to deliver wins for employees, employers, businesses and communities
Removing Barriers, Building Skills
Unified Work is powered by a simple concept: Removing barriers to employment empowers people to build the skills needed to thrive in their careers, all while fortifying local businesses and communities by building a larger, stronger and more inclusive workforce.
Rooted in MDI’s Mission
The concept behind Unified Work is a natural extension of MDI’s mission, which for more than 60 years has been about empowering people with disabilities by providing meaningful employment opportunities. By fostering an inclusive workplace, MDI enables employees to build confidence, independence and purpose, resulting in dedicated employees and satisfied customers.
A Decade of Growth
MDI launched Unified Work in 2017. Nearly a decade later and with more than 1,200 program participants graduated from across its different academy classes, Unified Work continues to evolve to meet the needs of employees and employers, truly measuring up to MDI’s vision of being an organization with purpose.
From Soft Skills to Broader Access
With a focus on equipping people with disabilities with the soft skills essential to workplace success, Unified Work began as a “Work Skills 101” course that focused on key areas of professional development, like leadership and communication. Demand for the class outpaced available seats and within three years the offerings expanded to include seven classes across MDI’s five locations in the Twin Cities and northern Minnesota.
Classes proved so valuable that, though they were designed with a focus on individuals with disabilities, people with other barriers to employment began enrolling and graduating with enhanced confidence, self-awareness, communication skills, and other soft skills. That tradition of Unified Work being open to all continues today.
Expanding Course Offerings
With the help of grants and generous contributors, Unified Work continues to offer free, in-person and virtual courses that cover a broad array of critical workplace skills: workplace appearance, professional greetings and first impressions, self-confidence, personal mission statements, creating an elevator pitch, communication and feedback, problem-solving, goal setting and more.
Classes are being piloted to include more of the technical skills needed in modern workplaces, with STEM-focused (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) coursework to further develop problem-solving and analytical thinking through hands-on learning experiences in areas such as robotics, virtual reality, and 3D modeling. This STEM-focused track prepares learners for future careers in tech-driven industries, fostering innovation and adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.
Immersive Technology, Real-World Impact
Opportunities for Unified Work to do more has led to its programming expanding beyond the classroom, like introducing virtual reality (VR) technology that provides accessible, hands-on training in technical fields to shatter the inevitable limitations of traditional career skills teaching. By putting on a VR headset, learners are transported to any number of possible careers.
These immersive, interactive experiences allow students to tackle some of the tasks involved with specific jobs in a controlled environment, thanks to advanced career skills training software provided by Transfr VR. In the six months since this new tool debuted, nearly 1,000 people from across Minnesota have virtually experienced more than 500 different career skills courses. This VR partnership has sparked the imaginations of participants, broadened their view of career options, and improved their engagement and self-confidence.
Unified Work’s Vision for the Future
The consistent, continued growth of Unified Work is more than just a testament to the quality of its courses and the outcomes for its participants. It reflects the power of MDI’s founding vision for Unified Work and its unique approach of bridging employers and employees to ensure equitable opportunities and success for all.
Ready to build a more inclusive workforce?
Join the movement that’s reshaping careers, companies, and communities. Explore Unified Work programs today and help remove barriers to employment—one opportunity at a time.
