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
19 May 2006
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 Farah
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 ]
[The full announcement is located under the section heading "For Your Information."
]
If you are looking for ways to be more involved as a Navigator with youth with disabilities in your area, this strategic vision just released by ETA may help to make it a priority! On May 9th, DOLETA Assistant Secretary, Emily Stover DeRocco, sent a notice to All State Workforce Liaisons and State Workforce Agencies to "inform states and local areas of the expansion of ETA's strategic vision to serve out-of-school and our most at-risk youth, including Indian and Native American youth and youth with disabilities under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)" (http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=1589). With priority being given to youth with disabilities served under WIA, this is your opportunity as the Navigator to be more involved in helping your One-Stop systems more effectively include and serve youth with disabilities. Perhaps you can partner with your state / local workforce board, One-Stop Youth Coordinator or Coordinators, Special Education Coordinator or Coordinators, and WIA-funded youth programs (such as School-to-Career) to help ensure that youth with disabilities are included in outreach and training and employment opportunities. This may be a good time to propose a 'Youth with Disabilities' training for your One-Stops and community youth programs to help connect them with information and resources, as well as to help these programs learn more the ADA, IDEA and providing reasonable accommodations.
DATES: The closing date for receipt of cooperative agreement applications under this announcement is July 1, 2006. Prospective applicants are also asked to submit, preferably by May 30, 2006, an e-mail, a fax, post card, or letter of intent that includes (1) the program announcement number (SSA-OESP-06-1) and title (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program); (2) the name of the agency or organization that is applying; and (3) the name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, and fax number for the organization's contact person.
SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration (SSA) announces its intention to competitively award cooperative agreements to establish community-based work incentives planning and assistance projects (WIPA, currently the Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) Program) in every State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose of these projects is to disseminate accurate information to beneficiaries with disabilities (including transition-to-work aged youth) about work incentives programs and issues related to such programs, to enable them to make informed choices about working and whether or when to assign their Ticket to Work, as well as how available work incentives can facilitate their transition into the workforce. The ultimate goal of the work incentives planning and assistance projects is to assist SSA beneficiaries with disabilities succeed in their return to work efforts.
The WIPA Program is an important part of SSA's employment strategy for beneficiaries with disabilities. One of SSA's goals in implementing TWWIIA is to help achieve a substantial increase in the number of beneficiaries with disabilities who return to work and achieve greater self-sufficiency.
The Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-203) reauthorized funding through FY 2009 for the WIPA program, which was initially authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-170), enacted on December 17, 1999. The WIPA Program is designed to provide work incentives planning, assistance, and outreach services to SSA's beneficiaries with disabilities nationwide, in all geographic areas and U.S. territories.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: A cooperative agreement may be awarded to any State or local government (excluding any State administering the State Medicaid program), public or private organization, or non-profit or for-profit organization (for profit organizations may apply with the understanding that no cooperative agreement funds may be paid as profit to any awardee), as well as Native American tribal organizations that the Commissioner determines is qualified to provide work incentives planning, assistance and outreach services to all SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities, within the targeted geographic area.
AWARD INFORMATION: Subject to the availability of funds, SSA anticipates that a minimum of $100,000 for individual state WIPA projects (Minimum awards for territories remains at $50,000) and a maximum of $300,000 will be available to fund specific WIPA projects annually.
Access the URL to read the full announcement including application and submission information.
DATES: May and June 2006
SSA will hold informational pre-application seminars throughout the nation to solicit interest and encourage community-based organizations to apply for cooperative agreement awards. All interested applicants are invited to attend. Informational pre-application seminars open to potential applicants for the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program (currently the Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) Program).
The schedule (including date, time and address of each pre-application seminar location as it becomes available) will be posted at the following Internet site: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/WIPARFA.html
Mental Health Month is an annual observance sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH). It is designed to increase awareness about mental health and mental illness. For more information on mental health or this year’s Mental Health Month theme, call NMHA at 800-969-NMHA (6642), or visit the web site at www.nmha.org.
If you or your One-Stop / community is involved in any activities to help celebrate and bring awareness to mental health, please send me a description to highlight in a One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week during the month of May.
The Rutland Mental Health Services (RMHS), Inc. and the Vermont Department of Labor (DOL) entered into a cooperative agreement to pilot the Workforce Incentives Project from October 1, 2004 through June 30, 2006. The Workforce Incentives Pilot Project is focused on building stronger partnerships between RMHS and DOL focusing on the provision, and access to, mental health services for clients in the community. The goals of this agreement include, but are not limited to:
The pilot project places a Clinical-Masters Level professional, known in the project as a "One-Stop Liaison," in the Rutland One-Stop Career Center on a twice a week schedule in order to assist case managers in their efforts to place clients with mental disabilities in meaningful employment. The One-Stop Liaison is also included in staff meetings and related training events and is an employee of the Community Mental Health Center. The services provided by this project include: assessment, linkages, coordination, crisis assistance, training and documentation. The Disability Program Navigator, Melissa Ballard, covering the Rutland and Bennington areas, works with the DOL case manager and One-Stop liaison to coordinate scheduling of customers.
If you would like more information on this project, please contact Jim Dorsey at: E-mail jdorsey@det.state.vt.us.
On May 9th, DOLETA Assistant Secretary, Emily Stover DeRocco, sent TEGL No. 28-05 to All State Workforce Liaisons and State Workforce Agencies to "inform states and local areas of the expansion of ETA's strategic vision, (as described in TEGL 3-04, dated July 16, 2004 available at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=1589) to serve out-of-school and our most at-risk youth, including Indian and Native American youth and youth with disabilities under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)."
According to TEGL 28-05 background, the White House Task Force Report on Disadvantaged Youth (available at: http://www.cyde.us/wiayouth/resources/documents/WhiteHouseTaskForceDisadvantagedYouthFinalReport.pdf)
[ Get free Adobe Reader ] recommended that youth programs focus on serving the neediest youth, with priority given to out-of-school youth, high school dropouts, runaway and homeless youth, youth in foster care, court involved youth, children of incarcerated parents, and migrant youth. Through this current TEGL, ETA has incorporated "Indian and Native American youth and youth with disabilities as two additional priority groups of neediest youth under the Youth Vision.
ACTION REQUIRED: TEGL 28-05 provides information to state and local WIA systems on the strategic vision for serving these additional populations under four major focus areas. According to the TEGL, states should share the information in the TEGL with the local areas. One of the critical strategies specifically identifies working with the Disability Program Navigator.
[NCSET E-News: May 2006 Mid-month]
The Youthhood is a free, dynamic web-based curriculum and tool to help all youth set goals and plan for the future. Although the site addresses youth directly, it is intended to be used in classrooms, community programs, or any other settings where adults work with youth. The Youthhood includes information, interactive activities, and a wealth of other tools to help youth connect their future goals to their academic learning. This session will provide an overview of this new Web site along with a live tools
A Webinar is a seminar that takes place in real time, online. Utilizing Macromedia Breeze, we are able to provide a PowerPoint presentation as well as a tour of our Web site. The Webinar can also be recorded and posted on a Web site for viewing at any time after the live session. Breeze also allows you to send questions to the presenter at any time through utilizing the discussion board provided as well as to participate in polls and evaluations of the session provided by the presenter.
As a follow-up to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) meeting on Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities held last October, EEOC will hold a roundtable on the same topic with employers from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 7, 2006. Commissioner Christine Griffin will moderate a panel discussion, which will include company representatives from J.P. Morgan Chase, Tec-Access, Prudential, Agilent Technologies and Pitney Bowes. Speakers will review their companies' preparedness plans and how accommodations are made for persons with disabilities. Also, plans for continuity of operations and recommendations for other private employers will be discussed. Questions will be accepted from the audience. Please mark your calendar.
The roundtable will take place in the Commission Meeting Room, 1801 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20507. Questions about the roundtable should be directed to Mildred Rivera, Special Assistant to Chair Cari M. Dominguez, at (202) 663-4590 or by e-mail at mildred.rivera@eeoc.gov. For further information about EEOC's prior meeting on emergency preparedness and persons with disabilities, including the transcript of the meeting, please visit the agency's website at: http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeoc/meetings/10-25-05/index.html.
Back by popular demand — the National Center on Workforce and Disability / Adult (NCWD/A) is offering more online trainings on Customized Employment (CE).
AUDIENCE: One-Stop staff and partners, community rehabilitation providers, job developers, business service representatives, and other interested parties. All sessions run from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Eastern time
The Customized Employment process links together a set of strategies designed for all people who need a job customized to their needs in order to work. Services can be offered from either a system perspective or an individual job seeker's perspective. The Summer Series shares both the system and job seekers' sides to discuss funding Customized Employment activities.
Self-employment means a customized job often developed through creating a business. This is an ever-growing strategy to increase income for many people, and is an important component of job development. Note: These sessions are offered in addition to the CE mini-series offered in 2005 - 2006 to providers of employment-related services, job center staff, and their partners.
REGISTRATION: Email your name, email address, and phone number to E-mail rachael.webb@umb.edu with the subject line "Customized Employment." You can register for the entire series or individual sessions. All sessions run from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Visit the website for more information and technical support.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead Federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders. The mission is to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior.
This website provides information to the public, researchers, and clinicians on a range of mental disorders affecting adults and children, including: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, suicide that occurs in the context of mental disorders, autism-spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other behavioral conditions that can adversely affect a child's healthy development.
This website includes answers to frequently asked questions that fall under the following subtopics including: Minimum Wage, Accommodation, Jobs & Training, Statistics, Discrimination, ADA, Hiring and Laws & Regulations.
[The following was excerpted from a May 12th U.S. Census Bureau News edition regarding the release of the report. The news release is available at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/aging_population/006809.html]
About 18 percent of Americans in 2002 said they had a disability, and 12 percent had a severe disability. Among people with disabilities, more than half of those 21 to 64 years old had a job, more than 4-in-10 of those ages 15 to 64 used a computer at home and a quarter of those age 25 to 64 had a college degree. "The demographic snapshots contained in this report help planners and decision-makers assess the needs of this important segment of our population," said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. Americans with Disabilities: 2002 was compiled from the Survey of Income and Program Participation.
According to the report, approximately 51.2 million people said they had a disability; for 32.5 million of them, the disability was severe. About 56 percent of people ages 21 to 64 who had a disability were employed at some point in the one-year period prior to the interview. People with a severe disability status reported the lowest employment rate (42 percent). This compared with the employment rates of people with a non-severe disability (82 percent) and those with no reported disability (88 percent). Similarly, 32 percent of people ages 25 to 64 with a non-severe disability and 22 percent with a severe disability were college graduates. The corresponding rate for those without a disability was 43 percent.
Among other findings, people with a severe disability had an increased likelihood of having Medicare or Medicaid coverage, living below the poverty level, reporting their health status to be "fair or poor," receiving public assistance and having a household income below $20,000. For instance, the poverty rate for people 25 to 64 with no disability was 8 percent, compared with 11 percent for those with a non-severe disability and 26 percent for people with a severe disability.
[The following is excerpted from the article.]
Thirty years ago, Congress announced that more than half of American children with disabilities were not receiving appropriate educational services. Today, American schools have a world-class system for differentiating instruction for all students, regardless of cognitive, emotional or physical limitations…While children with disabilities are now welcomed into classrooms with open arms, it can be hard to find educators embracing the kind of frank discussions that normally accompany such a sea change in instruction. Whether it's because teachers and administrators are all leery of being called prejudiced, embarrassed about some of their past policies or simply too overwhelmed with day-to-day work to get their arms around the bigger issues, the result is the same: There are a number of seemingly insurmountable challenges in special education, and not much is being said about them. Issues like racial disproportion. Abysmal teacher morale. Non-existent academic programs. Paperwork roulette. The good news is, some districts have found ways to rectify, or - at the very least - cope.
The five issues identified in the article are highlighted below. Access the URL to read the full issue including the resolutions.