N.D.I. Technical Assistance Team
N.D.I. Consulting, Inc.
[ http://www.dpnavigator.net ]
and
The Burton Blatt Institute
Syracuse University
[ http://bbi.syr.edu ]
One–Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project E–Mail listserv
November 20, 2009
Please note that due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week, we will not be disseminating a One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week. From everyone at the NDI Technical Assistance Team and the national DPN Program Office, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. We all have a lot to be thankful for!
Good morning everyone!
Below please find the website(s) and publication(s) 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.
Have a great weekend and safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Laura Gleneck
Project Coordinator
NDI Technical Assistance Team
Phone: 781-899-0139
Fax: 781-642-0895
[ E–mail lgleneck@ndi-inc.org ]
[ http://www.dpnavigator.net ]
Good morning Navigators,
Did you sign up for the Workforce3 One webinar designed to help Disability Program Navigators learn more about the electronic tools available to help you and your workforce system? If not, there is still time.
Webinar Invitation: Disability Program Navigator Training on Electronic-Tools (E-Tools)
United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration
December 2, 2009
2pm Eastern Time
[ http://www.workforce3one.org/view/5000930952518361686/info ]
Presenters:
Moderator: Randee Chafkin, National DPN Program Office, Division of Adult Services, Employment and Training Administration
This Webinar is designed to provide customized training to Disability Program Navigators on the various Electronic Tools supported by the Employment and Training Administration's Office of Workforce Investment. Attendees will benefit from an overview of products and tools using the O*NET System and CareerOneStop.org. Specifically, information about the following products will be highlighted: (1) Career Exploration Assessments; (2) Navigating the O*NET database; (3) Military Crosswalk; (4) Skills Search; (5) Re-Employment Portal; (6) Employer Locator; and (7) State Job Banks and Labor Market Information.
It is difficult for me to pick 1, 2, 3 or even 4 of the resources that are included in this week’s Resources of the Week to highlight for Navigators because I think they are all beneficial to your work. But I will highlight just a few…Under Resources of Interest if you are not connected with your state assistive technology project, please learn more. This is a great resource to help not only your One-Stop Career Centers but also community organizations make sure that they are connected to information on how to use, access and purchase assistive technology. The Job Accommodation Network has updated their fact sheet on Workplace Accommodations. This is something that you should be sharing with your business services team as well as ensure is included in all outreach materials to employers to let them know the “low cost / high impact” of workplace accommodations. You may also be interested in the statistics from the Institute for Community Inclusion’s State Data Note 25 on Job Seekers with Disabilities at One-Stop Career Centers: An Examination of Registration for Wagner-Peyser Funded Employment Services from 2002 through 2007.
Guess what is coming up….Tax Season, check out the information under Real Economic Impact and learn how you can connect your One-Stop Career Center and people with disabilities to information on the Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation services.
TIME TO GIVE THANKS!!!
Since next week is Thanksgiving, we thought that we would end the DPN highlight by saying thank you for all of the work that you have done and will continue to do to help to provide more effective and meaningful employment opportunities for job seekers with disabilities. So, let’s celebrate all that the DPN Initiative has been able to accomplish because of your efforts.
Thank you for all of the work you do!!!!!!
The NDI TA Team
Became of Facebook Fan of the United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) joined the growing list of federal government agencies using Facebook to communicate with stakeholders and engage a broader audience. Facebook users will be able to comment on recent news items, share useful DOL resources with other people within their networks, and become a "fan" of the Department to receive the latest updates. Establishing and maintaining a meaningful presence on Facebook is one step in DOL’s ongoing commitment to social media as a powerful tool in engaging the public in the work of the Department.
To become a fan, access: [ http://www.facebook.com/departmentoflabor ]
Webinar Invitation: Disability Program Navigator Training on Electronic-Tools (E-Tools)
United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration
December 2, 2009
2pm Eastern Time
[ http://www.workforce3one.org/view/5000930952518361686/info ]
Presenters:
Moderator: Randee Chafkin, National DPN Program Office, Division of Adult Services, Employment and Training Administration
DESCRIPTION
This Webinar is designed to provide customized training to Disability Program Navigators on the various Electronic Tools supported by the Employment and Training Administration's Office of Workforce Investment. Attendees will benefit from an overview of products and tools using the O*NET
System and CareerOneStop.org. Specifically, information about the following products will be highlighted: (1) Career Exploration Assessments; (2) Navigating the O*NET database; (3) Military Crosswalk; (4) Skills Search; (5) Re-Employment Portal; (6) Employer Locator; and (7) State Job Banks and Labor Market Information.
Staff from the Employment and Training Administration's Division of Workforce System Support and the Disability Program Navigator Initiative Office collaboratively developed training and instruction related to how the Employment and Training Administration's electronic tools can help Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) provide enhanced services to their customers. As a result of a focus group held earlier this year, this Webinar is presented to highlight specific tools that were identified as being particularly useful to DPNs. Webinar participants will hear from ETA representatives who have experience in career assessments and the use of electronic career tools and resources to support customers of the One-Stop Career system.
REGISTRATION
Registration for this Webinar is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please click the link below to login to Workforce3 One and register today!
[ http://www.workforce3one.org/view/5000930952518361686/info ]
ACCOMMODATIONS
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/page/webinarcaptioning ].
Archived Webinar: Expanding Options: Promoting National Service Within the Workforce System
Original Broadcast Date: November 3, 2009
National Service Inclusion Project
Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston
[ www.serviceandinclusion.org ]
As the workforce system is promoting inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, national service programs are expanding their efforts to create inclusive service environments and recruit qualified individuals with disabilities. More than ever, individuals with disabilities are engaging in national service to gain meaningful workforce skills, explore career options and develop community relationships.
This webinar included a presentation by Randee Chafkin, Senior Program Specialist for Disability Programs at the United States. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, who provided an overview of the Office of Workforce Investment and potential linkages for Disability Program Navigators to promote national service to their constituents. This webinar focused on the promising practices being implemented by Disability Program Navigators to promote national service as a viable option to individuals with disabilities seeking employment skills and experience. Bob Shogren, Executive Director for the Governor¹s Commission on Service and Volunteerism in Arizona, shared effective practices for developing inclusive partnerships between the national service community and the Disability Program Navigators to promote national and community service to individuals with disabilities.
You can view and download the PowerPoint presentations from both the Corporation for National & Community Service and the national DPN Program Office and link to the webinar archive (enter “Laura Gleneck” in the Participant name box to connect).
Find an Assistive Technology Resource Center in Your State
[ http://www.resnaprojects.org/nattap/at/statecontacts.html ].
State Assistive Technology (AT ) Act programs work to improve access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities through comprehensive statewide programs. These programs include device loans, AT reuse, device demonstrations and state financing activities. For examples of how some states have helped people with disabilities get assistive technology visit the website of the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP at [ http://www.ataporg.org/atap/projects.php ]. For a listing of AT manufacturers and distributors in your state visit ABLEDATA at [ http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160163&ksectionid=19326 ].
For more information about assistive technology and its role in increasing the independence of people with disabilities visit Disability.gov’s Technology section at [ http://www.disability.gov/technology/assistive_technology ].
Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: Higher Education's Obligations Under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
U.S.Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
Revised September 1998
[ http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html ]
The Office for Civil Rights provides information on postsecondary schools' obligations to provide auxiliary aids to qualified students who have disabilities under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA. It includes examples of different types of auxiliary aids and services including a section on “Questions Commonly Asked by Postsecondary Schools and Their Students.”.
Fact Sheet: Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact
Job Accommodation Network
UPDATED: September 2009
[ http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/LowCostHighImpact.doc ]
Recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) refocused attention on workplace accommodations by broadening the definition of disability; more coverage means more employees will likely be entitled to workplace accommodations. This increased attention has some employers concerned about the costs of providing job accommodations. However, a study conducted by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), shows that workplace accommodations not only are low cost, but also positively impact the workplace in many ways.
The JAN study has been on-going since 2004. JAN, in partnership with the University of Iowa’s Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center (LHPDC) interviewed 1,182 employers between January 2004 and December 2006 who contacted JAN. In addition, JAN, in partnership with the West Virginia University School of Applied Social Sciences (SASS) interviewed 366 employers between June 28, 2008, and July 31, 2009, who contacted JAN. Employers in the JAN study represented a range of industry sectors and sizes and contacted JAN for information about workplace accommodations, the ADA, or both. Approximately eight weeks after their initial contact, the employers were asked a series of questions about the situation they discussed with JAN and the quality of the services JAN provided.
The study results consistently showed that the benefits employers receive from making workplace accommodations far outweigh the low cost. Employers reported that providing accommodations resulted in such benefits as retaining valuable employees, improving productivity and morale, reducing workers compensation and training costs, and improving company diversity. These benefits were obtained with little investment. The employers in the study reported that a high percentage (56%) of accommodations cost absolutely nothing to make, while the rest typically cost only $600.
And to top off these positive results about the cost and benefits of workplace accommodation, the employers in the study also reported that JAN understood their needs and provided information that met their needs. In addition, 98% of employers stated that they would use JAN services again for assistance with workplace accommodations.
What is the bottom line? Workplace accommodations are low cost and high impact, and JAN can help employers make them, free of charge.
Data Note 25: Job Seekers with Disabilities at One-Stop Career Centers: An Examination of Registration for Wagner-Peyser Funded Employment Services from 2002 to 2007
State Data Information
Institute for Community Inclusion
[ http://statedata.info/datanotes/datanote.php?article_id=296 ]
The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment services, known as the Employment Service. Wagner-Peyser funds are a primary source of funding for the services of One-Stop Career Centers that provide employment services available to all people, including people with disabilities. This data note examines trends on a national and state-by-state basis in the number and percentage of job seekers who self-identified as having disabilities who register for Wagner-Peyser Employment Services. Readers should note that because disability status in this data source is self-identified, it is likely disability among job seekers who register for Wagner-Peyser services is underreported and the actual numbers of people with disabilities who register for services are higher.
Access the URL to read the full data note, as well as to view the tables, which depict a national summary of Wagner Peyser Employment Services Participants and Percentage of Persons registered for Wagner-Peyser funded employment services that were people with disabilities by state and year..
Fact Sheet: Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
[ http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/pandemic_flu.html ]
What are asset-building strategies?
(The number of asset-building strategies is not limited to the following list.)
The Real Economic Impact (REI) Tour is a national public/private initiative assisting low income persons with disabilities with asset building strategies, free tax preparation and filing assistance. The tour seeks to improve the economic status of low‐income persons with disabilities by fostering collaboration at the community level to ensure that people with disabilities are taking advantage of the various tax credits and asset building opportunities that are available to them. In the 2008 filing season, the Tour prepared over 90,000 tax returns in 62 different cities netting over $81 million dollars in refunds for persons with disabilities. This site contains information about the Tour including how local areas can get involved as well as a resource library for empowering financial self‐sufficiency.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest federal support program for low-income individuals and families. The EITC is a refundable credit. An individual must file taxes to receive this refund, even if they do not have any tax liability.
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisor helps Veterans understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the Act. The law is intended to encourage non-career uniformed service so that America can enjoy the protection of those services, staffed by qualified people, while maintaining a balance with the needs of private and public employers who also depend on these same individuals.
Employers are required to provide to persons entitled to the rights and benefits under USERRA, a notice of the rights, benefits and obligations of such persons and such employers under USERRA. Employers may provide the notice, "Your Rights Under USERRA", by posting it where employee notices are customarily placed. However, employers are free to provide the notice to employees in other ways that will minimize costs while ensuring that the full text of the notice is provided (e.g., by handing or mailing out the notice, or distributing the notice via electronic mail).
This USERRA Advisor was developed by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service. The Department of Labor (DOL) developed the elaws Advisors to help employees and employers understand their rights and responsibilities under numerous Federal employment laws. Each Advisor includes links to more detailed information that may be useful to the user, such as links to regulatory text, publications and organizations. Additional information is also available from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
VETS has developed an Internet-based system that will allow USERRA claimants to officially submit a claim via the internet VETS Website using an electronic version of Forms 1010 (E-1010). ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) and VETS staff are available to provide technical assistance prior to filing an official claim.
Go to the USERRA Advisor: [ http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/userra/mainmenu.asp ]
To address the employment and educational challenges within the region, The WorkPlace, Inc., Norwalk Community College, Westchester Community College, the Business Council of Fairfield County, and the Business Council of Westchester joined forces to examine ways to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in their region and improve the prospects for young people with disabilities transitioning from school to work or from school to post-secondary options.
[The following is excerpted from the “Conclusion” section of the report]
People with disabilities who want to work emphasize that they are not seeking charity in the workplace—they want to be judged by the same standards as any other job seekers and workers. They ask employers to focus on skills and abilities and not disabilities. Employers in this region who have hired and successfully employed people with disabilities for many years say, essentially, the same thing: decisions to hire are based on the applicant—with a disability or not—meeting a specific business need. Along the way, these employers have learned valuable lessons and best practices about recruitment, hiring, and retention of people with disabilities. We urge employers who serve on local and regional business councils to share best practices with colleagues in special forums, as well as in regular, ongoing information sessions.
Similarly, we encourage educators to share success stories. There is tremendous variation in school districts’ abilities to provide successful special education and transition experiences for students with special needs. Availability of financial resources can make a big difference, but money alone is not the answer. Leadership support is a major factor. As noted by a transition educator and consultant who has evaluated school districts, “there are good things happening in districts where it may look like they may not be happening. The difference is that when you don’t have administrative leadership trying to replicate what’s working and looking at what kids need, then good things happen only in isolation.”
We have also illustrated federal initiatives that include promising practices and resources to address the educational and employment challenges facing people with disabilities and to assist local communities in the hiring, retention, and promotion of people with disabilities. We hope this report, by illustrating both gaps in services and opportunities, helps to strengthen those initiatives. The hidden workforce—current and future—can be an asset to our region. But action is needed now: A coordinated response on the part of the key stakeholders can make the difference between having a pool of potentially valuable workers who are tax payers rather than tax users.
This report was funded through the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) initiative, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. The report is the result of a comprehensive assessment of the disability services available in the Connecticut-New York Talent for Growth region consisting of southwestern Connecticut and Westchester and Putnam Counties in New York, and federal initiatives developed to address some of the challenges identified.
Workforce development is especially important for youth with disabilities because research shows that they are more likely to be out of school, unemployed, or incarcerated. Under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the workforce development system is guided by state and local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and local Youth Councils. WIA establishes guidelines for service eligibility and institutionalizes the One-Stop System, with 19 required partner programs, as the preferred delivery system.
Program Design is critical to effective workforce development with all youth.