http://disability.workforce3one.org/ en-us Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:43:36 EST Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:43:36 EST randee chafkin The Center for American Progress in March 2010, issued a Report, entitled "A New National Approach to Career Navigation for Working Learners." "Americans are struggling to find decent work at decent pay, and their search for a good job is hampered by the nation's lack of quality, coordinated career development services. Most could benefit greatly from easily accessible assistance on how to plan, build, and navigate a career. Working learners are particularly vulnerable. They have no postsecondary credentials that could help them advance, yet they cannot afford to stop working to attend an education program full time...." Some of the key design principles and promising models include: tailoring services to individual customers' specific needs (including a broad range of education and training levels and learning styles); tailoring services to local market trends; establishing local partnerships with community-based organizations, colleges, and employers; providing specialized training to help staff understand how to reach low-income, low-skilled populations more effectively; providing assessment tools so that the system can help customers to better understand their strengths, weaknesses, skills, and interests; providing more intensive services,such as career coaching, advising, comprehensive counseling, peer support, and access to social networking and up-to-date technology and career information. Strategies to successfully serve persons with disabilties need to be included in this dialogue. In addition, several promising practices developed to serve persons with disabilities can benefit all adult learners. Remember persons with disabilities are largely living in poverty, unemployed, and underemployed. This Report is available at: www.americanprogress.org Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:59:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007350352154322/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007350352154322/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007350352154322/comments randee chafkin U.S. Department of Labor New Monthly Data Series on Employment Status of People with a Disability—February http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm In February 2010, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.9. This translates into a total of 21,012,000 who are included in the civilian noninstitutional population (16 years and older) but not in the labor force. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force is 70.1. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 13.8 percent, compared with 10.3 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted. Access the URL to view the chart plus other pertinent statistical related information. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:18:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007333481525288/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007333481525288/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007333481525288/comments randee chafkin One-Stop Careers Centers/Workforce Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts-Boston http://www.communityinclusion.org/topic.php?topic_id=9 For over 40 years, the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) has worked to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunity to dream big, and make their dreams a fully included, integrated, and welcomed reality. As a leader not only in Massachusetts, but also nationally and internationally, ICI strives to create a world where all people with disabilities are welcome and fully included in valued roles wherever they go, whether a school, workplace, volunteer group, home, or any other part of the community. ICI projects and programs involve local, state, and national agencies, schools, institutes of higher education, national service programs, rehabilitation providers, multicultural organizations, employers, and many others. All of these partnerships work to further goals of independence and inclusion. This section of its website includes its work to help the general employment system reach job seekers with disabilities through comprehensive research, training, and consultation activities nationwide. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:13:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007333171185140/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007333171185140/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007333171185140/comments randee chafkin Disability Law Handbook (New Edition) National Network of ADA Centers http://www.southwestada.org/html/publications/dlh/index.html. The Disability Law Handbook is a 64-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws. Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments. This publication is produced by the Southwest ADA Center, one of the ten National Network of ADA Centers funded by the National Institute on Rehabilitation and Research of the Department of Education, to provide technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related laws. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:07:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007332813583144/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007332813583144/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001007332813583144/comments randee chafkin On January 20, 2010, the National Council on Disability submitted a report to President Obama entitled,"Workforce Infrastructure in Support of People with Disabilities: Matching Human Resources to Service Needs." The report examines the extent to which disability workforce infrastructure—health, education and social services programs—support people with disabilities, in addition to examining the potential imbalance between demand and supply for these services in the future. After a careful analysis of national trends and barriers, the report offers a list of recommendations to meet the needs of people with disabilities with respect to the workforce infrastructure, including taking a proactive approach to meet shortages through cooperation between the public and private sectors. Specifically, the recommendations include the following: ? Expand BLS data coverage of occupations specific to the disability services in order to better plan for shortages in these positions; ? Begin planning strategically to hire more from the pool of workers with disabilities; ? Encourage partnership opportunities between the public and private sectors; ? Promote opportunities to encourage new entrants into critical infrastructure occupations, such as home health aide, personal care assistant, mental health worker, and rehabilitation counselor; ? Increase the salaries, benefits and flexibility in work schedules for infrastructure employees; ? Develop new ways to achieve the necessary competencies and credentials for infrastructure occupations; and ? Fund research to develop a strong evidence base for the services offered by employment, health care and education support programs. The rport is at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2010/NCD_Workforce508.pdf Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:40:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006845571953765/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006845571953765/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006845571953765/comments randee chafkin Universal Access and the Workforce System Under Title I of WIA, the workforce system provides the framework for delivery of workforce activities at the state and local levels to individuals who need those services. This legislation made it clear that persons with disabilities are among the people who are supposed to benefit from this restructuring. WIA incorporates seven key principles, one focuses on universal access: All job seekers are to be given universal access to a core set of career decision-making and job search tools. The National Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Program Office has completed another information brief in its DPN Promising Practice Series focusing on universal access and the workforce investment system. A series of videos and information briefs has been developed to disseminate promising practices to expand the capacity of the One-Stop Career Center system to serve customers with disabilities and promote positive employment outcomes of people with disabilities. To learn more, access: http://disability.workforce3one.org/page/tag/promising_practices The Attachment highlights additional resources on universal design. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:09:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006843760063438/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006843760063438/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006843760063438/comments randee chafkin Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have published an article in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation entitled, “Saving for Post-Secondary Education: Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities.” Citing misconceptions among individuals with disabilities, family members, and the disability services provider community, the article clarifies and details saving opportunities for students with disabilities that are in line with the Social Security disability benefit program rules. The provisions covered include: ? Plan for Achieving Self-Support, a Social Security work incentive that allows individuals to set aside income or resources needed to achieve a stated occupational goal; ? Educational Savings Accounts or 529 Plans, which allow individuals to (1) prepay tuition at a qualified educational institution at today’s tuition rates or (2) save money in a tax-deferred account (earnings only) to be used to pay for education at future tuition rates; ? Coverdell Accounts, which enable families to put away $2,000 per beneficiary, per year and use the money—tax-free—to pay for college expenses; ? Educational grants, loans or scholarships, including Pell grants, Federal Educational Loans (Federal PLUS Loans, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, Ford Loans, etc.), Upward Bound, and Work-Study programs; and ? Individual Development Accounts, a provision where earnings deposited by an individual are matched at a particular rate, usually between $2 and $4 for every dollar deposited, by a combination of government and private-sector funds. To learn more about these provisions as well as others, read the full article at: http://www.worksupport.com/research/view Content.cfm/847. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:35:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006830900571216/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006830900571216/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006830900571216/comments randee chafkin Think Beyond the Label Campaign Kicks Off A national marketing campaign, Think Beyond the Label (TBTL)was launched at the end of January 2010. The campaign is the result of a collaborative effort by more than 30 Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) projects and is managed by Health & Disability Advocates, parent organization of the National Consortium for Health Systems Development. Think Beyond the Label targets small and mid-sized businesses and is designed to make the business case for employers to hire people with disabilities by providing them with: 1. information needed to hire people with disabilities; 2. tools necessary to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce; and 3. local resources to help them access this segment of the labor pool. The campaign includes television and print advertising as well as Internet marketing. It has generated interest from the business community and garnered local and national attention from a broad range of disability employment stakeholders as well as media. National TV ads are running on news outlets including CNN, Headline News, ESPN and other channels. Wirestone, the media agency that created Think Beyond the Label, has developed a comprehensive social media strategy that includes the use of a web site or digital hub, http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN and other Internet markets. Visit http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:20:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006830022492196/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006830022492196/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006830022492196/comments randee chafkin In November 2009, Mathematica Policy Research Inc, issued a Disability Policy Research Brief, Number 09-04, entitled, "Will Health Care Reform Increase the Employment of People with Disabilities?" "Working age people with disabilities in America have a low employment rate and a high rate of dependence on public programs-a situation fueled, at least in part, by the challenges of the current health care financing system." In this Brief, the following misconceptions are dispelled: 1) people with disabilities cannot work; and 2) they are all insured by public programs. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:07:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006054422801153/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006054422801153/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006054422801153/comments Laura Gleneck As one of the key principles of WIA, universal access offered the promise of a welcoming, integrated, and user-friendly system. Job seekers would be able to independently tap into all available employment services, resulting in fewer requests for specialized assistance and more efficient use of staff resources. Under WIA and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations would be provided upon request; however, One-Stop Career Centers would streamline services so that a wide-ranging population of job seekers, including job seekers with disabilities, would have direct access to their resources, programs and activities. With the addition of Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) in One-Stop Career Centers across the nation, universal access moved into the spotlight. Read the full Brief to learn how DPNs throughout the country are helping to expand universal access in One-Stop Career Centers for a more diverse population of job seekers. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:16:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006051343874707/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006051343874707/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001006051343874707/comments randee chafkin On February 16, 2010, DOL/ETA issued Training and Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 13-09, Contracting Strategies That Facilitate Serving the Youth Most In Need." In November and December 2008, ETA held a series of focus groups with WIBs, local youth service providers,and state youth staff to discuss challenges local programs face in developing contracts that promote service to the neediest of youth (including youth with disabilities). The focus groups provided input around several areas of program contracting and management,as follows: 1) local workforce area procurement guidelines; 2) innovative strategies and processes that have produced contracts that encourage services to the youth most in need; and 3) procedures and practices that may inhibit program collaboration for serving these youth. TEGL No. 13-09 provides guidance to states, workforce investment boards, Workforce Investment Act youth service providers on contracting strategies that facilitate service providers to serve the youth most in need while still achieving performance goals. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:32:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005766706501917/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005766706501917/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005766706501917/comments randee chafkin On February 22, 2010, the GAO summarized its recent reports on programs and policies supporting low-income families through: 1)income supports; 2)worker training; 3)programs involving fathers; and 4)care and protection of children. With poverty rates,unemployment, and underemployment increasing, the Federal system of supports become increasingly important to a growing number of persons due to their higher rates of poverty-this includes persons with disabilities. Several reports are directly applicable to the public workforce system and include recommendations about WIA performance measures, WIA-TANF coordination, use of the EITC, etc. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:53:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005753570144744/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005753570144744/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005753570144744/comments Laura Gleneck The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services'(OCS) Assets for Independence (AFI)Resource Center has issued a Brief entitled, "Understanding Asset Development for Individuals with Disabilities." The Brief underscores the role of asset development for individuals with disabilities given that these individuals are more likely to be unemployed and live in poverty than any other single demographic group in the United States. It includes information on Individual Development Account (IDA) programs and strategies by which Assets for Independence grantees can improve access to IDAs for people with disabilities. These strategies include: outreach to individuals with disabilities and disability service providers, greater accessibility of IDA services, support for IDA participants with disabilities to complete IDA programs, and accommodation of the needs of people with disabilities in IDA financial literacy programs. The brief is available at http://www.idaresources.org/IDA_disabilities.php HHS's AFI Program is authorized under the Assets for Independence Act in Title IV of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Human Services Reauthroization Act of 1998, P.L. 105-285. The AFI Program enbales community-based nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an asset-based approach to assisting low-income families out of poverty. AFI projects help participants save earned income in special-purpose, matched savings accounts, called IDAs. The AFI Program's Resource Center has compiled many helpful resources for individuals with disabilities and families with members who are disabled. The home Web site is: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/oca/afi Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:44:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005438658540989/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005438658540989/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005438658540989/comments randee chafkin The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance just issued a Report entitled, "Process and challenges in identifying learning disabilities among students who are English language learners in three NYS districts." The Report identifies several challenges to the identification of learning disabilities in English language learner students, including difficulties with policy guidelines; different stakeholder views about timing for referral of English language learner students; insufficient knowledge among personnel involved in identification; and difficulties providing consistent, adequate services to English language learner students. The Report is available on the Regional Education Laboratory Web site at: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/ed;abs Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:21:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005255274192146/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005255274192146/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005255274192146/comments randee chafkin A Brief issued by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. in December of 2009, describes how the Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment (DMIE) grant program can inform the national health care reform debate. The Brief describes why DMIE was funded, what services were available, and what is known about the program participants. Lessons learned from DMIE include: burdensome cost-sharing can discourage low-income workers with potentially disabling conditions from seeking medical care; coverage that is not affordable places people with potentially disabling conditions at greater risk of being underinsured; and affordable coverage may improve overall health, leading to prolonged employment and a reduction in dependence on Federal disability benefits. The Brief is available at: www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/disability/WWD_DMIE.pdf Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:05:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005254310517299/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005254310517299/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001005254310517299/comments Laura Gleneck Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) throughout the country have developed and implemented successful strategies in the public workforce system to promote the employment and economic self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities. This Information Brief highlights how DPNs are improving access to financial education; home ownership ad entrepreneurial programs, and increased use of the Earned Income Tax Credit to expand economic opportunities of job seekers with disabilities. One very successful strategy has been facilitating the One-Stop Career Centers to become Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Read the full Brief to learn about more strategies, resources and examples of how the One-Stop Career Center system can help support jobseekers with low-incomes during tax season. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:29:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001004859369635038/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001004859369635038/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001004859369635038/comments randee chafkin The Employment and Training Administration (DOL/ETA) has a Green Jobs Initiative (http://www.doleta.gov/brg/GreenJobs/) to foster a greener economy and a green-educated workforce. ETA is positioned to provide labor market intelligence and work with core-constituencies of labor, industry, and education to identify relevant Green Jobs skills and develop competency models leading to meaningful career ladders. This spotlight focuses on the green economy and shares some information and resources for workforce professionals to help get connected. The attached document includes general resources on green jobs, including green jobs for veterans and persons with challenges to employment. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:05:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001004243486961818/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001004243486961818/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001004243486961818/comments randee chafkin DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers, including STEM education and careers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation to promote persons with disabilties becoming trained for STEM career opportunitues. The home Web page is: http://www.washington.edu/doit/ Its Web site has many videos, information on universal design, acessible distance learning, and learning strategies. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003877232189876/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003877232189876/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003877232189876/comments randee chafkin Job Corps is a free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job. For eligible youth at least 16 years of age, Job Corps provides the all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life. The Job Corps is a very important partner for the workforce system to promote employment opportunities of youth with disabilities. In this spotlight, we share information about the Job Corps program along with links to resources you can access for more information. The spotlight begins with a brief overview of the Job Corps Program. The Job Corps (http://jobcorps.doleta.gov/), a program of the U.S. Department of Labor, was established in 1964 under the Economic Opportunity Act, but it is currently authorized under the Workforce Investment Act. Job Corps receives an annual appropriation of about $1.5 billion with approximately 62,000 youth trained annually through this program. The Job Corps provides eligible youth with academic, career technical and social skills needed to become employable and independent and to help place them in employment, the military or continuing education. There are currently 123 Centers in 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:52:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003875141637142/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003875141637142/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003875141637142/comments randee chafkin Transportation plays a critical role in providing access to employment, health care, education, community services, and other activities necessary for daily life. For people who cannot drive or afford an automobile, access to public transportation services is one of the major barriers to essential services and participation in community life. Transportation challenges can be even greater for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited incomes. The Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) includes 11 federal departments, 9 of which are responsible for providing transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited incomes. CCAM officially launched United We Ride in 2004 to: (1) Provide more rides for target populations for the same or fewer assets; (2) Simplify access; and (3) Increase customer satisfaction. CCAM asked the National Academy of Public Administration (National Academy) and Easter Seals Project ACTION to develop and host the first United We Ride (UWR) National Dialogue. The goal of the Dialogue was to help shape future policy direction and provide input to the next CCAM strategic plan. The United We Ride National Dialogue brought together key stakeholders using collaborative web-based technologies to discuss the following broad question: “What ideas can improve access to affordable and reliable transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited incomes?” The attached docuemnt is the Final Report from the UWR Dialogue. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:45:00 EST http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003874710759246/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003874710759246/info http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001003874710759246/comments