Live Work Achieve: 2015

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MSPE Live.WORK.Acheive mailing list

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

[Mspe] MSPE Live.WORK.Achieve Listserv - November 2015

Live.WORK.Achieve

A Listserv for the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment

for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Including Intellectual Disabilities Project

November 2015

Inside this edition:

1) Embracing a Culture of Accessibility in the Workplace

2) Disability Inclusion Starts with You

3) Making My Way Through College

4) Social Media and Accessibility: Resources to Know

5) Internet of Things: New Promises for Persons with Disabilities

6) Official Launch of the National Employment First Website

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1) Embracing a Culture of Accessibility in the Workplace

There’s more to workplace accessibility than installing a ramp. Learn how much more in this post for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) by Emily Ladau, author of the Words I Wheel By blog. http://www.aucd.org/template/news.cfm?news_id=11510&parent=16&parent_title=Home&url=/template/index.cfm?

2) Disability Inclusion Starts with You

The Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has released a short online video titled "Disability Inclusion Starts with You." Employers who do business with the federal government—including small business contractors—can download and post this video on their intranet or company websites, and share it with employees and job applicants who may be reluctant to self-identify. The simple tool encourages employees with disabilities to "be counted." It reinforces the notion that increasing the representation of people with disabilities in the workplace is the goal—and that achieving it starts with them. To view the video, visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/SelfIdVideo.html.

3) Making My Way Through College

Making My Way Through College is a guide for any student pursuing a degree or other type of credential (certification, license) at a two-year or four-year community college, college, or university. You will find information on a variety of topics relevant to preparing for and succeeding in college and transitioning from college into the world of work. Much of the information provided is relevant to all students, but the primary focus of the guide is on navigating the college experience for students with disabilities or those who think they may have a disability. To download a copy of the guide, visit http://www.ncwd-youth.info/PostsecondaryGuide.

4) Social Media and Accessibility: Resources to Know

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, there was no Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Since then, the number of social media channels, and their use for communication among all demographics, has grown exponentially. Unfortunately, despite newer ways to reach individuals living with disabilities, many individuals in this community face challenges in gaining full access to the content and conversation on social media platforms. This article on DigitalGov provides some of the federal resources that can enhance social media access for people with disabilities. To read the article, visit http://www.digitalgov.gov/2015/01/02/social-media-and-accessibility-resources-to-know/.

5) Internet of Things: New Promises for Persons with Disabilities

The Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict), in collaboration with AT&T, has published Internet of Things: New Promises for Persons with Disabilities. This white paper explores the impact of smart connected objects and devices on people with disabilities, and the potential of connected technology to improve independence and quality of life from home automation to applications in health care, transportation, education, and employment. To download a copy of the report, visit http://g3ict.org/resource_center/publications_and_reports/p/productCategory_books/subCat_2/id_335.

6) Official Launch of the National Employment First Website

Interested in learning more about what is going on in other states around Employment First, but do not know where to access the information? Or, do you want access to a one-stop resource of data sets, policies, initiatives and more related to Employment First? You'll find answers and much, much more on the new national Employment First website. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the platform provides a unique comprehensive resource for policymakers, researchers and external stakeholders to learn about national trends and activities in Employment First:

Viewing outcome data across respective federally-funded systems (education, I/DD adult services, mental health, vocational rehabilitation, workforce investment, and others) at an individual state level as well as the ability to compare data from up to three states at a time
Reviewing comprehensive profiles for each individual state with respect to relevant legislation, policies, gubernatorial actions, funding initiatives, pilots, and strategic partnerships going on in each state as it relates to increasing competitive, integrated employment options for individuals with disabilities
Conducting queries to ascertain all policies/actions around a specific topic based on a customized search process

Visit the interactive website at http://employmentfirst.leadcenter.org/.

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

[Mspe] MSPE Live.WORK.Achieve Listserv - October 2015

Live.WORK.Achieve

A Listserv for the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment

for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Including Intellectual Disabilities Project

October 2015

Inside this edition:

1) Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-To Guide for Employers

2) Beyond 90 Days: Videos for Community

3) NCWD/Youth Releases Inclusive Volunteering Paper Featured

4) New Insight Brief from Think College!

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1) Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-To Guide for Employers

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has published Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-To Guide for Employers. This guide assists employers seeking to diversify their workforce with the skills and talents of people with disabilities, particularly young adults with disabilities. The guide addresses the benefits of internships to both individuals and employers, and covers things to consider when establishing an internship program that is open to all qualified candidates. For a copy of the guide, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/pdf/InclusiveInternshipPrograms.pdf.

2) Beyond 90 Days: Videos for Community

Successful Employment and Quality Work Life After Severe Disability Due to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), a project funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) has produced Beyond 90 Days: Videos for Community, a series of videos on the experience of employment after injury. Individuals with SCI share their perspectives on the importance of education and employment to independence. Vocational rehabilitation counselors discuss issues and resources related to finding and retaining employment. To view the videos, visit https://vimeopro.com/muscchp/beyond-90-days-videos-for-professionals.

3) NCWD/Youth Releases Inclusive Volunteering Paper Featured

The National Collaborative of Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) has released Fostering Inclusive Volunteering and Service Learning, a guide for youth service professionals and others interested in facilitating youth engagement in volunteer activities. It describes how youth benefit from volunteering, different types of volunteer opportunities, and ways to assist youth to prepare for, access, and learn from their experiences. For all individuals to access and benefit from volunteering, the widespread practice of inclusion is key. An inclusive service environment actively fosters the engagement of all youth, including youth with disabilities, those involved in the foster care or juvenile justice systems, and other disconnected youth. The guide also provides relevant resources and tools that can enhance and foster successful outcomes. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy worked with the Corporation for National and Community Service to issue a joint letter that features the new guide and reiterates the importance of inclusion on the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For a copy of the guide, visit http://www.ncwd-youth.info/fostering-inclusive-volunteering-and-service-learning.

4) New Insight Brief from Think College

A new Insight Brief, Building Inclusive Campus Communities, was created for Think College by the staff of several inclusive postsecondary education programs. It includes a framework for thinking about inclusion, and a checklist that can be used to examine practices through the lens of that framework. For a copy of the new guide, visit http://www.thinkcollege.net/images/stories/26_inclusivecommunities_F.pdf. For copies of other Think College Insight Briefs, visit http://www.thinkcollege.net/publications/insight-briefs.

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

[Mspe] MSPE Live.WORK.Achieve Listserv - Special Edition - What Matters to Me Employment Survey

Live.WORK.Achieve

A Listserv for the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment

for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Including Intellectual Disabilities Project

Special Edition – September 10, 2015

Inside this edition: What Matters to Me Employment Survey

The What Matters to Me Employment Survey is collecting data on a spectrum of areas people with disabilities encounter every day in Mississippi—employment, housing, transportation, education, voting, health care, and long-term care. Information gained from this study will be used to guide systems change efforts in the state.

You are being asked to complete a web-based questionnaire developed by staff at the Institute for Disability Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. The questionnaire should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. You may decline to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable and you may withdraw at any time without penalty. Foreseeable psychological, social, or physical risks expected as a result of participating in this study are nonexistent to minimal. All data will be kept strictly anonymous and confidential.

To take the survey, go to https://usmep.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bJWI8mIWUd5ILpX.

As a participant in this research study, your anonymity is important. Only group information will be presented in fulfillment of degree requirements and at scientific meetings and/or published in journals.

Questions concerning this research should be directed to Jerry Alliston at 601.266.5979. This study and consent form have been reviewed and approved by The University of Southern Mississippi's Institutional Review Board, which ensures that research projects involving human subjects follow federal regulations. Any questions or concerns about rights as a research subject should be directed to the Administrator of the Institutional Review Board at The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5147, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, 601.266.5997.

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[Mspe] MSPE Live.WORK.Achieve Listserv - September 2015

Live.WORK.Achieve

A Listserv for the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment

for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Including Intellectual Disabilities Project

September 2015

Inside this edition:

1) Disability Partners Community Forums – Sept. 23, McComb, 5-7 p.m.; Sept. 24, Clarksdale, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

2) Why a Record Number of People with Disabilities Work for the Government

3) Career Pathways Breaking Down Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities

4) Department of Labor Clarifies Sibling Coverage for Family and Medical Leave

5) Workforce Information Advisory Council

6) Accessibility Matters in eRecruiting

7) New Section 503 Checklist Tool

8) National Disability Employment Awareness Month Posters Now Available

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1) Disability Partners Community Forums – Sept. 23, McComb, 5-7 p.m.; Sept. 24, Clarksdale, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Mississippi’s three developmental disabilities network partners—the Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights Mississippi and The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies—are holding their annual community forums in September. The purpose of these community forums is to hear directly from the public about concerns and issues. The two remaining meetings are scheduled for Wed., Sept. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. in McComb (McComb Public Library, 1022 Virginia Avenue) and Thurs., Sept. 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Clarksdale (Coahoma County Courthouse, 115 First Street). For more information, transportation or an accommodation request, call 1.800.772.4057.

2) Why a Record Number of People with Disabilities Work for the Government

President Barack Obama set a target in a 2010 Executive Order that called on the government to be a model employer by adding 100,000 new employees with disabilities over a five-year period. In the executive order, the President noted that agencies had failed to meet a similar goal laid out 10 years earlier by President Bill Clinton. The most recent figures show the strategy is working. For more information, read a Federal News Radio article at http://federalnewsradio.com/hiringretention/2015/08/record-number-people-disabilities-work-government/.

3) Career Pathways Breaking Down Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities

A recent Homeroom blog by the U.S. Department of Education looks at career pathways. The blog, by Michael Yudin, assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and Johan Uvin, the acting assistant secretary of the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, highlights a notice of final priority and a notice inviting applications to establish model demonstration projects to develop and use career pathways to help individuals with disabilities, including youth with disabilities, acquire necessary marketable skills and recognized postsecondary credentials. Read the blog at http://www.ed.gov/blog/2015/08/career-pathways-breaking-down-barriers-to-employment-for-individuals-with-disabilities/.

4) Department of Labor Clarifies Sibling Coverage for Family and Medical Leave

The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) is excited to announce that the Department of Labor has clarified when siblings may be eligible to take job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)! The department describes the situations when sibs may be protected in two updated fact sheets, 28B and 28C, and a listing of frequently asked questions. For copies of these fact sheets, visit http://siblingleadership.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FMLA-Fact-Sheet.pdf.

5) Workforce Information Advisory Council

The U.S. Labor Department is seeking nominations for members for the newly created Workforce Information Advisory Council that is being established as required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The 14-member council will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Labor to address the evaluation and improvement of federal and state workforce and labor market information systems, and how the department and the states will cooperate in the management of those systems. Nominations must be received by Oct. 6, 2015. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20151369.htm.

6) Accessibility Matters in eRecruiting

With most of today's employers using some form of web recruiting to evaluate and hire job applicants, it's more important than ever for organizations to understand why accessibility matters to the "eRecruiting" phase of the employment lifecycle. This summer, the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) concluded its national survey on user experiences related to the accessibility of online job applications and other eRecruiting tools. To check out a new infographic summarizing the survey results and to stay tuned as PEAT develops new tools and resources related to this critical issue, visit http://www.peatworks.org/talentworks/infographic.

7) New Section 503 Checklist Tool

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (DOL/OFCCP) has released a new interactive tool to help federal contractors assess their compliance with the affirmative action program (AAP) requirements of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Developed by OFCCP in coordination with the Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Checklist for Compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 enables employers to answer a series of “yes/no” questions about their company’s practices and policies. While contractors are not required to use the checklist (and using it doesn’t ensure compliance), doing so may prove beneficial in enhancing awareness of AAP obligations and flagging potential problem areas in need of correction. For a copy of the checklist, visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/ChecklistforCompliancewithSection503_JRF_QA_508c.pdf.

8) National Disability Employment Awareness Month Posters Now Available

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2015 is less than a month away! To help employers and others in planning observances, the official poster and other materials are now available. Held each October, NDEAM celebrates the many and diverse contributions of America’s workers with disabilities, both past and present, and employers can take part in a variety of ways. This year’s theme is “My Disability is One Part of Who I Am.” For more information or to order a copy of the poster, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/. NDEAM activities for Mississippi will be available soon on the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment (MSPE) website at www.mspeidd.org.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

[Mspe] MSPE Live.WORK.Achieve Listserv - August 2015

Live.WORK.Achieve

A Listserv for the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment

for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Including Intellectual Disabilities Project

August 2015

Inside this edition:

1) Postsecondary Education Survey

2) LEAD Center Releases Two New Publications

3) Services for Youth with Disabilities Provided Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act

4) National Skills Coalition Publishes New WIOA Fact Sheet

5) New Report on Guardianship

6) DREAM ON with AUCD

7) Qualifications Do Count in the Accommodation Process

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1) Postsecondary Education Survey

The Mississippi Partnerships for Employment (MSPE) project is conducting a web-based study to access the need for increased number and availability of postsecondary education programs for people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD). The questionnaire should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You will not be asked to provide any personal identifiers. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may decline to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable and you may withdraw at any time without penalty. All data will be kept strictly anonymous. This study and consent form have been reviewed and approved by The University of Southern Mississippi's Institutional Review Board, which ensures that research projects involving human subjects follow federal regulations. Questions concerning this research should be directed to Dr. Jerry R. Alliston at 601.266.5979. To take the survey, visit https://usmuw.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_09AUKcjsakpWgOV.

2) LEAD Center Releases Two New Publications

The LEAD Center recently released two new publications: The LEAD Center Policy Update – Employment Health Care and Disability and its LEAD On! quarterly publication. The Policy Update features stories on the newly introduced Transition to Independence Act, the Notice of Proposed Rule Making for the ABLE Act, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of King v. Burwell, various state updates, upcoming Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) webinars on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and more. The quarterly publication contains articles on the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, LEAD presentations at the NAWDP and APSE Conferences, Self-Guided Discovery and Customized Employment, new resources and more. For a copy of the Policy Update, visit http://www.leadcenter.org/resource-center/publication/policy-update-employment-health-care-and-disability-june-30-2015. For a copy of LEAD On!, visit http://www.leadcenter.org/news/newsletters/lead-june-2015.

3) Services for Youth with Disabilities Provided Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act

The U.S. Department of Labor has released a report, Services for Youth with Disabilities Provided Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act: Results from a Survey of Local Workforce Investment Boards. This report focuses on the workforce system's current efforts to provide assistance to youth with disabilities at the local level, with data from practitioners to gain insight on what factors are in need of improvement. For a copy of the report, visit http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEN/TEN_32-14.pdf.

4) National Skills Coalition Publishes New WIOA Fact Sheet

The National Skills Coalition recently published a new fact sheet, WIOA and Serving the Hard to Serve. The fact sheet's goal is to clarify provisions of the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to ensure that the standards are interpreted correctly during implementation to avoid unintended impacts on services to the hard-to-serve including ex-offenders, homeless individuals and individuals with limited English proficiency. For a copy of the fact sheet, visit http://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/resources/publications/file/2015-06-WIOA-and-serving-the-hard-to-serve-2.pdf.

5) New Report on Guardianship

TASH recently released a report entitled Guardianship and the Potential of Supported Decision Making with Individuals with Disabilities. The report is based on a completed parent survey that shows full guardianship as the most common recommendation made to parents of children with disabilities and alternatives, such as supported decision-making, as the least common recommendation made. The parent survey was conducted in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, and The Arc Michigan. For a copy of the report, visit http://rps.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/06/05/1540796915586189.full.pdf+html.

6) DREAM ON with AUCD

The world needs to hear the voices of grassroots self-advocate and family leaders with disabilities. Their wisdom and advocacy will help advance issues that will make a difference for many. Help the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) mobilize and lift up the voices that matter in the disability movement by bringing emerging leaders to Washington, D.C. where they can be part of important events, testify in front of key Congressional committees, and bring their first-person perspectives to national conversations about the lives of people with disabilities. To celebrate AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato’s 50th birthday, AUCD is working to raise over $10,000 to make this dream come true. Donate to the AUCD DREAM Fund today! For more information, visit http://www.aucd-dream.causevox.com/.

7) Qualifications Do Count in the Accommodation Process

Two recent EEOC cases highlight the importance of employee qualification when negotiating accommodations under Title I of the ADA. As these cases prove, the decision to grant more complex accommodations such as reassignment or telecommuting requires that both the employer and the employee work together to find an accommodation that is reasonable, effective, and congruent with the skills and qualifications of the employee. In EEOC v. United Airlines, 693 F.3d 760 (7th Cir. 2012), the U.S. Court of Appeals 7th circuit ruled that an employee who is qualified does not have to compete for reassignment to a vacant position, in the event that it is requested as a reasonable accommodation. The ruling holds that it is reasonable to reassign employees with disabilities to a position for which they are qualified, even if they are not the most qualified applicant. However, a recent ruling on EEOC v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. 12-2484, 2015 WL 1600305 (6th Cir. Apr. 10, 2015) held that the employer was permitted to deny an employee the opportunity to telecommute, when it was deemed that the employee’s performance was consistently poor and that she could not perform the essential functions of the position by telecommuting. Reasonable accommodations are provided on a case by case basis, and often require critical thinking about very specific circumstances. The issue of the employees’ qualifications are an important factor in those negotiations. This is true of employees with and without disabilities who request accommodations at work, as 95% of accommodation requests come from employees without disabilities. The following resources can assist employers to make effective decisions about complex reasonable accommodations: the Employment and the ADA website http://www.northeastada.org/pages/employment/employers.cfm and Making Work Happen Online Toolkits http://www.makingworkhappen.com/.

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