The State Use Division (the Division) of the American Rehabilitation Association
preceded SUPRA. The Division provided State Use organizations the opportunity to exchange information, network and participate in training and educational activities of mutual interest. Division activities included networking, annual surveys and reports on member products, services, sales, compensation, legislation and other information, as well as the presentation of an annual conference.

The American Rehabilitation Association restructured into primarily separate medical and vocational entities in 1997. As a vocationally oriented organization, the State Use Division sought similar-status collaboration with the newly created American Congress of Community Supports and Employment Services (ACCSES), established as an “association of state associations”. ACCSES dedicated itself primarily to vocational rehabilitation services and focused on the needs of CRPs.

Corporate structural requirements on the part of both ACCSES and certain of the independent State Use central nonprofit agencies led to the decision in December 1997 to form an independent State Use association. The State Use Programs Association, Inc. incorporated in early 1998.

Mission Statement

The mission of SUPRA is to promote legislatively mandated State Use preferential purchasing programs, which provide vocational training and employment for people with disabilities.