Extended employment sheltered workshop programs in America began in Missouri, in the city of Sedalia, in 1965, when a parent campaigned for a vocational program to better the life of his disabled child, who had finished school and was entering adulthood. That campaign led to the passage of Senate Bill 52 and the creation of an extended employment program, creating an alternative choice for people with developmental disabilities. Today, 90 non-profits in Missouri offer extended employment sheltered workshop programs, and together they employ nearly 7,500 individuals with varying disabilities. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides some funding, regulations, and guidelines for the establishment and operation of sheltered workshops.