Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
University of Iowa College of Law
http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/dpn/
and
The Burton Blatt Institute
Syracuse University
http://bbi.syr.edu
One–Stop Toolkit
Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project E–Mail listserv
4 April 2008
Good morning everyone,
Below please find the web site and publication of the week, as well as other resources that we hope will be useful as you work on systems change activities to help improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
To subscribe and / or view past resources of the week archives, access: www.onestoptoolkit.org and click on the link to "Resources of the Week" on the right hand side of the home page.
To view an indexed list of the resources of the week by subject matter, visit the L.P.H.D.C. web site at http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/lhpdc/resources/wig/default.asp. It currently includes 20 categories, covering over 300 annotated references. Each category opens to a new window with each Resource of the Week which covered material in that area.
Have a good day and weekend!
Laura Gleneck
Program Associate
Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
University of Iowa College of Law
P: 617–489–0086
F: 617–489–1374
[ E–mail Lgleneck@mail.law.uiowa.edu ]
[ E–mail LFarah8@aol.com ]
[ http://www.onestoptoolkit.org ]
As a Navigator, you may be looking for creative ways to spotlight information and resources to customers with disabilities and One-Stop staff. May is Mental Health Month and presents a great opportunity to offer practical tips that all people can use to help balance everyday stresses, increase their awareness of mental health issues, and improve their overall health. Visit the National Mental Health of America’s website listed above and get activity guides and fact sheets that you can use to promote mental health awareness throughout your community and in the workforce system.
Also, check out the DPN FAQ: “How can I guide
One-Stop Career Center staff work more effectively with individuals
with mental health disabilities? At
http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/dpn/faqs/2006_05_01_basic_adv.html
While this resource was developed in 2006 and not all of
the links are live and/or current, it has some very useful
information and recommended activities to coordinate that can
help Navigators working within the One-Stop system and with
community partners.
In observance of 2008 May is Mental Health Month, Mental Health America is encouraging Americans to build their social support networks throughout May to protect and improve their mental health.
Mental Health America challenges all Americans to the Mental Health Connection Challenge by making FIVE positive and life-fulfilling connections. Research shows that social networks can reduce stress and promote overall health by providing a sense of belonging, self-worth and security.
"We all need to maintain positive connections to feel a part of our communities and families, which is why this May, Mental Health America is challenging every American to connect to family & friends, coworkers, community members and professional help, if needed," said David Shern, Ph.D., president & CEO of Mental Health America. "Years of research have shown that individuals who feel valued and cared for are better equipped to deal with stress and adversity and even experience less severe illnesses than those with little social support."
For a referral to local services, contact Mental Health America or your local Mental Health America affiliate at 800-969-6642 and www.mentalhealthamerica.net.
Mental Health America founded May is Mental Health Month 50 years ago to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental health for all. This year's theme, "Get Connected" is focused on the important role social connectedness plays in maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness.
Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation — everyday and in times of crisis.
[See also: first Web site of the Week: Employer Innovations Online From The Partnership For Workplace Mental Health]
Employer Innovations Online, facilitating practical applications at the workplace, helps employers take action to address mental health at the workplace by providing case examples of successful corporate approaches. The website includes a search engine, which allows users to search for actual practices of leading employers in key areas, such as screening and education, Employee Assistance Programs, and disability management. The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health advances effective employer approaches to mental health by combining the knowledge and experience of the American Psychiatric Association and its employer partners. The partnership delivers educational materials and provides a forum to explore mental health issues and share innovative solutions. It promotes the business case for quality mental health care, including early recognition, access to care and effective treatment.
[The news release is included below in its entirety.]
A newly designed version of the U.S. Social Security Administration's (SSA) online Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) application, powered by the U.S. Department of Labor-managed GovBenefits.gov, has been launched to make it easier for individuals to determine their eligibility for 17 different Social Security programs.
GovBenefits.gov is the federal government's official source for information about more than 1,000 benefit programs available through 16 agencies. BEST is SSA's Web-based tool for information about benefits administered by that agency. Previously, the two applications represented separate screening tools that citizens could access to learn about programs in which they might participate. A new customized connection links the content of these sites and eliminates the redundancy of having two distinct portals. "We are excited about this re-launch of SSA BEST and believe it represents a prime example of effective interagency collaboration," said Patrick Pizzella, the Labor Department's assistant secretary for administration and management, and chief information officer. "Our goal now is to leverage this success in developing additional partnerships with agencies that provide benefit information to the public. We believe that customized connections can enhance the value of agency Web sites."
Replacing the former SSA BEST tool with a customized connection means that the agency will realize efficiency and cost savings by not having to maintain content on two sites. "This was the perfect opportunity to integrate two benefit screening tools, thus reducing the time for citizens to locate and learn about programs that they may be eligible for. This customized connection is a win–win situation," said Jo Armstrong, associate commissioner for the Office of Electronic Services at the U.S. Social Security Administration.
"The launch of the GovBenefits.gov-powered benefit eligibility screening tool for the Social Security Administration demonstrates yet another success in e-government to use common tools to service the needs of multiple agencies and citizens," said Karen Evans, the Office of Management and Budget's administrator of e-government and information technology.
Visitors can access the new screening tool at http://best.ssa.gov. GovBenefits.gov — www.GovBenefits.gov is a Bush Administration e-gov initiative designed to make government more accessible to citizens. The Web site has attracted more than 26 million visitors since it went online in April 2002.
[The following is excerpted from a February 19, 2008 press release.]
Building on an innovative program created in 2007 by Syracuse University to expand the reach of educational programs in entrepreneurship available to veterans, the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University will lead a nationwide partnership with UCLA Anderson School of Management, Mays Business School at Texas A&M University and Florida State University’s College of Business to offer cutting-edge training in entrepreneurship and small business management to veterans with disabilities. This consortium represents one of the first, significant partnerships since WWII among some of the country’s most prestigious business schools focused specifically on opening the doors of America’s colleges and universities to veterans motivated by business ownership.
The consortium is an extension of SU’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program, first developed and offered by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises in the Whitman School. The inaugural EBV program took place in summer 2007 at SU and enrolled 20 veterans with disabilities resulting from their support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The EBV integrates world-class faculty, entrepreneurs, disability experts and business professionals in an educational program focused on training veterans in the competencies associated with small business ownership.
The four-university EBV partnership will dramatically expand the ability to offer this valuable program to veterans with disabilities. At all four institutions, the EBV curriculum will be standardized, ensuring that all participants receive a consistent, high-quality experience.
The EBV program is offered in three phases. Phase I is a self-study session in which the veterans complete courses through online discussions moderated by university faculty. Phase II requires that participants travel to their participating EBV university, where they will become immersed in a nine-day residency, learning to develop their own business concepts and understanding the basic elements of small business management. Phase III involves 12 months of ongoing support and mentorship provided to the veterans from the faculty experts at the EBV universities. Throughout the EBV experience, students engage in experimental workshops to write business plans, raise capital, attract customers, and develop a marketing strategy that is most effective for their business model.
The EBV curriculum will be taught by world-class entrepreneurship faculty and expert guest speakers. For the participating veterans, the program will be entirely free, including travel and accommodations.
Applications for the EBV are accepted on a rolling admissions basis, which means application for the program is always open. However, while there are no application deadlines, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Early application is encouraged. To create disability-related curriculum and assist participants in understanding and leveraging programs at the intersection of disability and entrepreneurship, the EBV is offered in collaboration with SU’s Burton Blatt Institute, which seeks to advances the civic, economic and social participation of persons with disabilities.
To apply, or for more information, visit http://whitman.syr.edu/ebv or contact the Dean’s Office in the Whitman School of Management at (315) 443-8736 or E–mail EBVinfo@syr.edu.
SUMMARY. Purpose of Program: The PWI program creates and expands job and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the competitive labor market by engaging the talent and leadership of private industry as partners in the rehabilitation process. Projects identify competitive job and career opportunities and the skills needed to perform those jobs, create practical settings for job readiness and training programs, and provide training, job placements, and career advancement services.
Each grantee must establish a Business Advisory Council which must "identify job and career availability within the community, consistent with the current and projected local employment opportunities identified by the local workforce investment board for the community under section 118(b)(1)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; (2) identify the skills necessary to perform the jobs and careers identified; and (3) prescribe training programs designed to develop appropriate job and career skills, or job placement programs designed to identify and develop job placement and career advancement opportunities, for individuals with disabilities (see 29 U.S.C. 795(a)(2)(A))."
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. Eligible applicants include employers, nonprofit agencies or organizations, designated State units, labor unions, community rehabilitation program providers, trade associations, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and other agencies or organizations, including faith-based and community organizations, with the capacity to create and expand job and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Access the URL to read the full notice, which includes full background, describes the statutory requirements for program operation, enumerates the competitive priorities, summarizes the application requirements and Federal review criteria, and lists the relevant contact information and web resources.
The Employment & Training Administration (ETA) and the Health and Human Services/Office of Refuge Resettlement (ORR) have recently entered into a collaborative relationship to work on a number of joint agency goals. This 2 hour session will provide an overview of the joint endeavors and highlight three of the innovative models contained within a soon to be released publication.
Registration for this Webinar is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please access the URL to login to Workforce3 One and register today!
If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have speech disabilities and captioning would facilitate your participation in this Webinar, you can register for captioning service through the Federal Relay Conference Captioning. Please note the Federal Relay Service requires at least 48 hours notice (2 working days) to guarantee coverage. For more information, visit http://www.workforce3one.org/support/index.cfm?id=966.
The National ADA Symposium is an annual three day conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability laws that has earned the reputation as the most comprehensive event available on the ADA. Each year, the ADA Symposium brings representatives from key federal agencies involved in implementing the ADA including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Access Board and the EEOC to provide comprehensive training and updates. All Symposium presenters are nationally recognized experts in their fields.
The ADA Symposium offers break-out sessions on a wide range of topics. Registrants select courses to create a schedule that reflects their interests and needs. A Pre-Conference is offered to provide both introductory and advanced sessions. A hallmark of the National ADA Symposium is the opportunities for networking and problem solving among participants. Social activities such as the Evening Reception and table-top discussion areas in the large EXPO Hall provide an atmosphere that encourages interaction.
The National ADA Symposium features an EXPO Hall filled with disability related products and services, an Assistive Technology Fair and demonstrations such as wheelchair golf.
Access the URL to read more about the session schedule and registration.
This webinar, which was held on Thursday, March 27th, shared effective practices of collaboration and partnership between the Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) and Disability Program Navigators (DPNs), Business Leadership Networks (BLNs), and Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs). It also provided information on how to connect local One-Stop Career Centers, state and local WIBs, and WIA mandated and non-mandated partners with the MIGs to promote employment and health care of people with disabilities. Effective practices were highlighted from Virginia, Oregon and Maine.
The lack of health care is a major barrier to the employment of people with disabilities. Recent public policy has attempted to address this challenge by providing work incentives, including retention of health care benefits. For many people receiving Social Security disability benefits the risk of losing Medicaid coverage linked to their cash benefits can be a work disincentive. The MIGs include a state Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) option which authorizes states to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible people disabilities who go to work. The MIGs encourage the adoption of a state Medicaid Buy-In optional eligibility group which allows states to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible people with disabilities who want to go to work.
You can download the archived presentation by clicking on the URL. You must be a registered user of the Workforce3 One website. You may also send an e-mail to E–mail laura-farah@uiowa.edu requesting an electronic file sent via e-mail (it is about a 2.4 MB file).
This webinar presentation included a lot of great strategies and effective ways that MIGs are connecting with other systems change initiatives and organizations, whose goal it is to provide meaningful and effective participation of job seekers with disabilities in the workforce system and to connect them with employment opportunities. Two websites mentioned included:
The Southeast ADA Center is one of ten regional DBTAC: ADA Centers that provide Information, Materials, Training, and Services to promote the use of technology for access and inclusion by all individuals, and facilitate the widespread use of universal design.
Access the website to learn more about information technology and accessible information technology.
These tip sheets from the Southeast ADA Center provide accurate information on issues and concerns related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as strengthen the capacity of those who provide technical assistance to help others achieve effective compliance with the ADA.
Do you know which ADA Center is in your region and “free” resources they can offer to you? If not, then access the DBTAC National Network of ADA Centers at: http://www.adata.org/. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research has established a network of 10 regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers. The DBTACs form a comprehensive national network for the provision of information and referrals, technical assistance, public awareness and training on all aspects of the American with Disabilities Act. Call toll free at (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY) for the most complete and experienced services available to American businesses, government entities and the public.
Virginia Commonwealth University has published a fact sheet entitled Job Coaching Services and Benefits to Businesses and People with Disabilities. The fact sheet notes that job coaches are often key to the employment success of individuals with significant disabilities. In addition to describing the activities of job coaches, this fact sheet examines the benefits to businesses that use job coaching services. Benefits to employers include the following:
Employer Innovations Online, facilitating practical applications at the workplace, helps employers take action to address mental health at the workplace by providing case examples of successful corporate approaches. The website includes a search engine, which allows users to search for actual practices of leading employers in key areas, such as screening and education, Employee Assistance Programs, and disability management. The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health advances effective employer approaches to mental health by combining the knowledge and experience of the American Psychiatric Association and its employer partners. The partnership delivers educational materials and provides a forum to explore mental health issues and share innovative solutions. It promotes the business case for quality mental health care, including early recognition, access to care and effective treatment.
Interested in hiring a person with a disability? Want to find out if the building improvements you just made can qualify as a tax deduction or a tax credit? Would you like to take advantage of state tax incentives and grants for building your company and training your staff by hiring or retaining workers with disabilities? Do you want to know how to find out if an employee's disability qualifies for an incentive? Want to find out how to make the hiring process payoff for you? Then this is the web site for you. This website is sponsored by Sierra Group's Workplace Foundation.
[The following is excerpted from a press release on the publication of this brief.]
Medicaid Buy-In participants who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may not be taking full advantage of the available work incentive programs that can improve their prospects of finding employment and attaining economic self-sufficiency. The seventh policy brief in a new series on working with disability from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., reveals that only 23 percent of Medicaid Buy-In participants who received SSDI benefits between 2000 and 2005 took part in a work incentive program. The brief summarizes Mathematica's study of participation rates for four specific SSDI work incentive programs: Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, Impairment-Related Work Expenses, and Ticket to Work.
Many SSDI beneficiaries may avoid working or earning above the substantial gainful activity level for fear of losing their benefits. To encourage working-age adults with disabilities to seek employment or earn more income, the Social Security Administration offers work incentive programs that provide various benefits, from continuation of benefits while working to free employment services that include job training and placement.
As the brief explains, the Trial Work Period program was the most utilized among Buy-In participants who receive SSDI benefits, with approximately 16 percent of beneficiaries participating. The Extended Period of Eligibility program had the second highest participation rate, 7 percent, with Ticket to Work running a close third with 6 percent of beneficiaries participating. Less than one percent utilized the Impairment-Related Work Expenses incentive.
A state-by-state comparison of participation rates gives greater insight into how some state-designed programs can be more effective than others. Nebraska, for example, had the highest share of participants (58 percent) in any program. This trend may have been influenced by the design of the state's Buy-In program, which waives the unearned income limit for all SSDI beneficiaries who participate in the Trial Work Period or Extended Period of Eligibility programs. With the largest participation rate for the Ticket to Work program (25 percent), Vermont offers another example of an effective Buy-In design feature. The state provides centralized benefits counseling services and Buy-In outreach at state vocational rehabilitation agencies, thus educating beneficiaries about available incentive programs and increasing their likelihood of participation.