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Extended Employment Sheltered Workshop Services

Employment in VSI’s three workshops offers a wide range of employment options for people with developmental disabilities – and a lot more. Free training and experience in a work environment are only the start. Workers experience the pride of earning a paycheck, producing goods and services for small businesses and national corporations. VSI’s workshops are also important opportunities for our employees to meet friends and socialize.

VSI operates three workshops, two in Liberty and one in North Kansas City. Additionally, each of the three locations offers some unique services for both the workers and business customers. The latter are important because their contracts are critical to supporting these services, making them much lower in cost for taxpayers to support these services for a total of over 150 workers.

Located in North Kansas City, Shop No. 1 is the organization’s oldest and remains in the community where VSI began 51 years ago. Like the other two workshops, the North Kansas City location serves a variety of companies in the business community, from small startups that “go big” thanks to VSI’s flexible services to some of the largest and most demanding corporations in the nation. Shop No. 1 serves approximately 55 employees.

Shop No. 2 in Liberty is the largest, with 82 workers. It also hosts several unique programs, including VSI’s original first-aid kits for pets and VSI’s PrintShop. Both of these services expand VSI’s business footprint, increasing opportunities for employees with disabilities. These and other developments help offset traditional workshop business losses, which have occurred in recent years due to international competition and automation.

Workshop No. 3 with approximately 42 employees is VSI’s smallest, but it too offers some unique options. This capable group generally handles some of VSI’s most complex and difficult jobs and has earned respect from some of the most demanding customers for the workers’ ability to deliver important work on time with high quality.

The work produces important results in other ways as well. Among those served, VSI workshops record a 91 percent satisfaction rate and a 94 percent satisfaction rate by stakeholders. These results are no accident. The international accrediting organization, CARF, praised VSI for its organization-wide consumer-first attitude. Consumers indicated that they deeply appreciate the respect staff members give them. Enriching consumers’ lives is an priority.