Partnership unites two organizations with deep-rooted commitments to inclusion, empowerment and innovation
A Shared Legacy of Inclusion
For more than 60 years, MDI has been a champion for empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through meaningful employment opportunities and training, and so it’s only fitting that we are an official sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, an organization with its own storied history of breaking down barriers and championing inclusion.
Commitment to Breaking Down Barriers
The 2026 USA Games will emphasize breaking down barriers to employment for people with intellectual disabilities, an idea that has guided our work at MDI since we first opened our doors in 1964. In the six decades since, MDI has provided employment to thousands of Minnesotans with disabilities. Today, more than half of our workforce — 56% of MDI employees — identify as having a disability.
Expanding Opportunity Through Unified Work
In addition to our own inclusive hiring, MDI launched our Unified Work program in 2017 to support people with intellectual disabilities in developing their leadership, career readiness and soft skills, which are essential to landing meaningful jobs and thriving in professional environments. Today, Unified Work continues to grow, innovating new approaches to empower people to succeed.
Leadership Perspective
President and CEO Eric Black recently shared his excitement about collaborating with the 2026 USA Games. “This partnership goes beyond shared values, it’s a movement,” he said. “Together, we’re harnessing technology to advance career readiness and create real opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Through MDI’s Unified Work program and virtual reality training, we’re preparing athletes not just for jobs, but for meaningful careers in Minnesota and across the globe.”
Innovations Showcased at the 2026 USA Games
The 2026 USA Games will prominently feature Unified Work’s latest innovations to support career readiness for athletes with intellectual disabilities. These include pilots of a brand-new learning management system and cutting-edge virtual reality career training. These efforts will connect Special Olympics athletes and others with disabilities to inclusive employers, expand access to meaningful careers and accelerate Unified Work’s ambitious goal of creating one million learning experiences by 2030.
A Minnesota Celebration
Making this partnership even more fitting for MDI, for the first time in its history, the USA Games will be hosted in Minnesota. We’ve always called the North Star State home and currently operate facilities in the Twin Cities, Cohasset, Hibbing and Grand Rapids. Partnering with the 2026 USA Games creates an opportunity for us to celebrate in communities across Minnesota with our employees, our neighbors, our families and our friends, all rallying together to support inclusion, ability and pure heart.
We are looking forward to bringing Unified Work activities to the Fan Zone on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, pop-up activations at the Mall of America in Bloomington, and much more. These will not only showcase Unified Work’s impact but also celebrate the value and contributions of people with disabilities throughout Minnesota and beyond.
