Local Leader Receives Award
MN
Work Incentives Connection Founder Honored
by Anita Boucher
On May 11th, Barb Smith
of the Minnesota Work Incentives Connection received the Skip Kruse
Memorial Return-to-Work Award for “tireless energy, compassion and vision, demonstrated in
promoting the use of Social Security Administration (SSA) employment
support programs for people with disabilities.” Barb is only
the second non-SSA staff member to receive such an award. SSA Area
Director Paul Demers and Joani Werner, Area Work Incentives Coordinator,
was kind enough to nominate Smith for this honor on behalf of Minnesota’s
local SSA offices.
Smith cites many people
as inspirations for her work. “Skip
Kruse possessed the qualities of a great advocate. To be put in the
same category with him is a tremendous honor. A driving motivation
for me is the experience I have had with people with disabilities
in both my personal and professional lives. I am inspired by the
many people with disabilities who have triumphed over significant
barriers to employment. To accomplish what they have takes courage,
persistence, optimism and likely a good sense of humor.”
Praise for Smith has
come in from many quarters. John Schatzlein of the Work Incentives
Advisory Group cites Smith for making a difference in the community. “Barb and her staff have significantly improved
access to information about the benefits and service provisions available
in returning to work for a person who has acquired a functional limitation.” Joani
Werner noted the outstanding service Smith provides, “Barb
is very dedicated to helping our clients understand the complexities
of Social Security’s return to work programs!” Tim Benjamin
of Access Press also notes her unwavering commitment to what’s
best for the people. “I’ve referred many people to the
Work Incentive Connection to get a work analysis done, and every
one has come back to me with only praise for Barb, the staff and
the whole organization. They truly have the best interests of the
individual in mind, rather than the interests of some other institution.”
The Kruse award is a
well-deserved recognition of Smith’s
local, regional and national leadership on work incentives issues.
In 1993, Smith initiated the Minnesota Work Incentives Coalition,
which sponsored training on a variety of Social Security, Medical
Assistance and other work incentive topics. Smith was also the Coalition’s
liaison to the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.
She served on the Consortium’s Work Incentives Committee, which
promoted legislative changes leading to the creation of Minnesota’s
Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)
program.
In January of 1999, Smith led the creation of the Minnesota Work
Incentives Connection, which helps people with disabilities navigate
complex rules regarding the impact of work on their government benefits.
Services are statewide and include: a toll-free telephone hotline;
comprehensive Benefits Analysis reports; outreach and training on
topics related to work and benefits; a State Work Incentives Support
Center; and an Employment Support Network. The Connection conducts
extensive evaluation, which demonstrates that receiving such assistance
helps people with disabilities work more and reduces their dependence
on government benefits over time.
Smith is currently leading
the Minnesota Work Incentives Connection’s
move from state government to nonprofit status, so that it can remain
a long-term resource for Minnesotans with disabilities. “Barb
is most deserving of this prestigious award because she has demonstrated
outstanding leadership.,” said Rehabilitation Services Director
Kim Peck. “She has been successful in building the continuum
of benefits planning services for Minnesotans with disabilities that
are provided by the Work Incentives Connection.”
Smith is one of a handful
of national experts in the field of benefits planning, assistance
and outreach. She co-chairs the SSA Chicago Regional Commissioner’s
Work Incentives Advisory Group (WIAG), which includes advocates
and SSA employees from all six states in the Chicago Region. WIAG’s
goal is twofold—to provide
the Regional Commissioner effective and timely guidance on how best
to administer SSA’s employment support provisions, and to provide
real solutions to real problems for people with disabilities who
want to work. The groups other Minnesota representatives, Barbara
J. Kuhn, Anne Lewandowski, Lolly Lijewski, John Schatzlein and Joani
Werner, all had high praise for Smith. Schatzlein’s comments
were typical, “Barb Smith certainly has been a tireless advocate
to the SSA DEWIT advisory committee and has been a major influenecial
force representing Minnesota’s persons with disabilities who
desire to achieve better return-to-work options and incentives.”
Anita Boucher is the evaluation
and grants director of the Minnesota Work Incentive Connection.
