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
6 October 2006
Good morning everyone,
Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month! Thank you for all your efforts and activities to promote the abilities and needs of job seekers with disabilities and to help build the capacity of the workforce development system to provide effective and meaningful participation to them!!
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 "Publications of Interest."
]
The Annual Disability Status Reports provide policy makers, disability advocates, reporters, and the public with a summary of the most recent demographic and economic statistics on the working-age (ages 21 - 64) population with disabilities by state in the United States. They contain information on the population size, prevalence, employment, earnings, poverty, household income, home ownership, and activity limitations of working-age people with disabilities, as well as the composition of this population by age, race, gender, and educational attainment. Comparisons are made to working-age people without disabilities, across types of disabilities and to the previous year.
Disability Program Navigators (D.P.Ns) are always trying to obtain current statistics on working-age adults with disabilities in their local community, state and national level. You can find this information in the Second Annual Status Report on the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. This data is especially pertinent and can be incorporated into presentations and materials during National Disability Employment Awareness Month to emphasize the status of working age adults with disabilities within your community, state and nation-wide.
[The message is listed below in its entirety.]
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we pay tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep America's economy strong, and we underscore our commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunity for all of our citizens.
Our country has made great progress to ensure that opportunities are accessible to everyone who is willing and able to work. Access to jobs was significantly expanded in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) into law. This important legislation has served as a foundation for strengthening our Nation's workforce and advancing innovation and American leadership in a global marketplace.
In 2001, my Administration announced the New Freedom Initiative to build on the progress of the A.D.A. and more fully integrate men and women with disabilities into all aspects of life. The New Freedom Initiative has helped expand access to technology, training, and education for citizens with disabilities. As a result, those who have a disability and seek employment are better able to compete for jobs. To assist in providing additional access to employment opportunities, we have also implemented the "Ticket to Work" program and strengthened training and employment services at One-Stop Career Centers. By visiting DisabilityInfo.gov, individuals and employers can learn more about the Federal Government's disability-related programs and receive information and resources they need to help achieve their personal and professional ambitions.
To recognize the contributions of Americans with disabilities and to encourage all citizens to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce, the Congress, by joint resolution approved as amended (36 U.S.C. 121), has designated October of each year as "National Disability Employment Awareness Month."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2006 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I call upon Government officials, labor leaders, employers, and the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
[The message is listed below in its entirety.]
Dear Colleague:
As we begin the month of October, we again celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and proudly recognize our workers with disabilities. We also salute employers large and small who are working to recruit and hire qualified individuals with disabilities.
What began in 1945 as a single week of recognition has grown into an international, month-long series of events and opportunities to increase the employment of people with disabilities. This year, we commemorate National Disability Employment Awareness Month with the official theme of “Americans with Disabilities: Ready for the Global Workforce.” This theme will be used by the private sector; federal, state and local governments; and advocacy organizations around the country to plan events and programs that showcase the abilities and skills of job candidates who have disabilities. These events will serve to increase awareness of the successes achieved among both the disability and employment communities, and shed light on the barriers people with disabilities still face in finding and keeping employment.
On October 18th, the American Association of People with Disabilities along with the Social Security Administration and other private sector sponsors will serve as national hosts of Disability Mentoring Day, promoting career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through one-on-one job shadowing and hands-on career exploration. On October 26th, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao will announce the winners of the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award to recognize the non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in improving the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities. Also in October, we will celebrate the 4th anniversary of DisabilityInfo.gov, an online resource that provides people with disabilities and employers information on a host of cross-cutting topics, including resources on job accommodations and employment programs. This easy-to-navigate Web portal is the federal gateway to disability-related information - from state and local resources to news and events to grants and funding and more.
Under the leadership of Secretary Chao, the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy is developing and influencing policies and practices that directly impact the participation of people with disabilities in the workforce. Across America and beyond, people with disabilities are making tremendous contributions in the work place. This month and throughout the year we acknowledge their important contributions, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities realize their employment and career goals.
Sincerely,
W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D.,
Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced 16 grants totaling $145 million over five years to implement Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants (S.P.F. SIGs) to advance community-based programs for substance abuse prevention, mental health promotion and mental illness prevention. Dennis O. Romero, Acting Director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, announced the grants during his speech at the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association’s annual conference in Oak Brook, Illinois.
The strategic prevention framework is built on a community-based risk and protective factors approach to prevention and a series of guiding principles that can be utilized at the federal, state / tribal and community levels. The S.P.F. requires states and communities to systematically assess their prevention needs based on epidemiological data, build their prevention capacity, strategically plan for and implement effective community prevention programs, policies and practices, and evaluate their efforts for outcomes. Although the direct recipients of S.P.F SIG funds are states and federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations, SAMHSA envisions the S.P.F SIGs being implemented in partnerships between the states / tribes and communities.
“Substance abuse prevention, just like the prevention of obesity or smoking, involves work by families and schools, faith organizations and health professionals, corrections officials and youth leaders,” said Assistant Surgeon General Eric Broderick, D.D.S, M.P.H., Acting Deputy Administrator of SAMHSA. “People from all sectors of a community are needed to help build resilience and reduce risk factors that affect the decision to reject substance abuse. Similarly, funding streams from multiple sources can come together to build a comprehensive approach to prevention that spans organizations and individuals at the local and state levels. The grants being awarded today help achieve both of those goals.”
The funds enable states, in collaboration with communities, to implement a process known to promote youth development, reduce risk-taking behaviors, build on assets, and prevent problem behaviors. These grants enable the states to provide leadership, support and technical assistance to help ensure that participating communities are successful, as measured by abstinence from drug use and alcohol abuse, reduction in substance abuse-related crime, attainment of employment or enrollment in school, increased stability in family and living conditions, increased access to services, and increased social connectedness.
Access the U.R.L. to see the list of states that received funding, along with a short statement on the scope of activities.
What do a watch with an alarm, a day planner, a Palm Pilot, and a computer all have in common? These are examples of devices that can assist employees complete their daily job duties. For the worker with a disability such "assistive technology devices" may be vital to obtaining employment and improving daily work performance. Assistive technology (A.T.) can assist in bridging the gap between a person's physical abilities and the job requirements. Many workplace challenges can be either overcome or ameliorated by using assistive technology in combination with other types of workplace supports.
Despite the promise of assistive technology, many people with significant physical disabilities remain in facility-based employment programs. Underutilization of A.T. to facilitate competitive employment is related to a number of critical issues. This includes lack of information on available technology; lack of coordination across services; lack of training on how to use devices for users, families, and professionals; and lack of coordination in the evaluation and selection, as well as lack of funding of assistive technology alternatives. This fact sheet will provide some general information about assistive technology and provide resources that the reader can access for more information.
The formation of meaningful collaborative partnerships among public and private programs and agencies is an essential way to maximize resources. Skilled professionals know that few community rehabilitation programs can undertake their employment mission alone. The sharing of the targeted resources of many agencies to different tasks is an extraordinary way to leverage dollars. Inevitably, any successful customized employment program will reflect shared interagency partnerships and collaboration. This fact sheet describes strategies that enhance the development of effective collaborative community partnerships focusing on competitive employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
This fact sheet describes three tax incentives available to help employers cover accommodation costs for employees and/or customers with disabilities, making their businesses accessible for everyone.
This fact sheet provides definitions of key terms and procedures related to job accommodations under the employment provisions (Title 1) of the A.D.A..
All workers, not just individuals with disabilities, require different types, levels, and intensity of supports in their workplaces. Businesses provide supports to their employees and offer them a wealth of resources during the normal course of business. However, some employers may need additional assistance in creating workplace cultures that are supportive of individuals with disabilities. This additional assistance or workplace supports may be provided by an agency such as a Community Rehabilitation Program (C.R.P.). The goal is to work with employers so that businesses can increase their capacity to support workers with disabilities. This fact sheet will address some of the commonly asked questions about the level and intensity of workplace supports that individuals with disabilities may need to obtain and maintain employment.
This practitioner's guide provides a model approach for community-based transportation planning. This guide will assist transportation professionals, staff of human service and workforce development agencies, community and disability activists, and all others seeking to conduct a community-based process to adequately plan for new, more and improved transportation options. The practitioner’s guide provides a model approach for community-based transportation planning based on a review of common elements in the experiences of 13 communities across the U.S.
On September 6, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) announced joint efforts with A.A.R.P., the American Red Cross, the National Organization on Disability, and the National Fire Protection Association to help individuals with disabilities prepare for emergencies. These entities have developed a brochure highlighting the key preparedness steps Americans with disabilities and their families and caretakers should take before emergencies occur. The brochure can be downloaded in P.D.F. format by accessing: [ http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/disabilities.pdf ] [ Get free Adobe Reader ]. You can also find a link to download a TEXT copy on the website. For more information about emergency preparedness for individuals, families, and businesses, visit the project’s Web site or call 1-800-BE-READY.
The 2006 JAN Annual conference took place on September 18th and 19th in Boston, MA. The JAN Conference offered three concurrent training tracks addressing accommodation issues, innovative employment practices, and A.D.A. / legal issues. Some of the presentations and materials (including handouts and Power Point presentation) from the conference have been posted to the JAN website.
Access the U.R.L. and scroll through the schedule to click on links to handouts and presentations.
A dramatic 40.2 percent employment gap separates working-age people with and without disabilities in the workforce, Cornell University researchers reported. The finding, which coincides with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, is part of a series of reports released by Cornell University in collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (A.A.P.D.).
The report states that 38.1 percent of people with disabilities are employed, compared with 78.3 percent of people without disabilities, making a gap of 40.2 percentage points. There are 21,455,000 people with disabilities of working age (21 - 64), 12.6 percent of the total working age population. "The employment gap between people with and without disabilities is long-standing. There is evidence that it is growing, and that people with disabilities are not participating in the recovery from the 2001 recession," said Andrew Houtenville, director of Cornell's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics (Stats R.R.T.C.).
The researchers found that the poverty gap is 15.4 percent; that is 24.6 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities live in poverty compared with 9.3 percent of those without disabilities. The report also noted that people with disabilities constitute 27.6 percent of the working-age American population living in poverty.
The reports, which will be issued yearly at the beginning of October by Cornell, "fill a pressing need for timely and relevant statistics about people with disabilities for policy-makers, advocates and the media," said Houtenville.
The Disability Status Reports use the American Community Survey - the public-use version of the raw data that the Census Bureau uses in its report. Because of revisions by the Census Bureau to compensate for problems in the collection of Census 2000 data, the new A.C.S. data are not comparable to data used to measure employment and poverty among people with disabilities in 2004.
About 50 million people have a disability, such as hearing loss, mental disability, physical limitation, or vision loss. Improving the health of this large segment of the population is a central concern for public health. This Chartbook is the first in a series to present information about the health of people with disabilities by state and territory. It has three purposes: 1) to show that a large percentage of adults have a disability, 2) to show that the health of people with disabilities is not as good as that of the people without disabilities, and 3) to highlight areas in which public health systems can include more people with disabilities in their programs.
The information in this book can be used by people with disabilities, their family members, policy makers, health professionals, disability service providers, and others interested in the health and well-being of people with disabilities.
Access the U.R.L. listed above for more information about the Chartbook. Access the website listed below to link to individual profiles for each state: [ http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh/chartbook/states.htm ] [ Get free Adobe Reader ]
The Twenty-Sixth Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is now available online. Volume 1 focuses on the children and students being served under IDEA and provides profiles of individual states’ special education environments. Volume 2 contains state-reported data tables and appendices.