Author: Rachel Wright

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Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Hiring, Retention and Re-entry

By Elizabeth Whitehouse

Employment is the most direct and cost-effective means to empower individuals to achieve independence, economic self-sufficiency, and a sense of dignity and self-worth. This FREE CSG eCademy webcast focuses on employer practices and state policies that address the hiring, retention and re-entry of people with disabilities in the workplace. This is the final webcast in a four-part series presented by the National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. 

Continue reading “Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Hiring, Retention and Re-entry”
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Resolution on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities

By CSG Executive Committee

Download the Resolution in PDF / E-Reader Compatible Format

WHEREAS, disability is a natural part of the human experience that in no way diminishes one’s right to fully participate in all aspects of community life and disability can develop at any point during an individual’s life time and have varying impacts; and

WHEREAS, people with disabilities are underutilized in our workforce and frequently experience social and economic disadvantage; and

WHEREAS, only 19.8 percent of people with disabilities are in the workforce, compared to 68.7 percent of people without disabilities; and

WHEREAS, individuals with disabilities age 21-64 are twice as likely to fall below the federal poverty line; and

WHEREAS, individuals with disabilities bring valuable skills to the workforce, and represent an untapped segment of the labor pool for public, private and nonprofit sector employment; and

WHEREAS, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 8.7 percent, compared to a rate of 4.6 percent for people without disabilities; and

WHEREAS, employment is the most direct and cost-effective means to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve independence, economic self-sufficiency, and a sense of dignity and self-worth; and

WHEREAS, people with disabilities are a key factor in states’ ability to build strong, inclusive workforces that translate into economic success; and

WHEREAS, while state policy efforts to support increased disability employment have made an impact, many individuals with disabilities remain unemployed or under-employed; and

WHEREAS, moving the needle on this critical workforce issue will require strong public policy at the state level that systematically addresses a number of key areas.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that The Council of State Governments affirms the work of the National Taskforce on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities convened in partnership between CSG and the National Conference of State Legislatures and affirms the policy options of the Task Force that include policies and practices that make the workforce—in both the public and private sector – more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities, which will benefit the employee, the employer, and the economy as a whole.

Adopted by The Council of State Governments’ Executive Committee this 11th Day of December, 2016 in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Resolution on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities

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Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Transportation, Technology & Other Employment Supports

By Elizabeth Whitehouse

This FREE CSG eCademy webcast centered on employment-related supports for individuals with disabilities with particular focus on issues of transportation and technology, including assistive technology and emerging technologies. In addition, experts discussed other employment supports such as health care, personal assistance services and housing. This is the third webcast in a four-part series presented by the National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Transportation, Technology & Other Employment Supports
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m. EST
Part three of a four-part FREE CSG eCademy Webcast series

Presenters:

David D’Arcangelo
Director
Massachusetts Office on Disability
Full bio>>

Jeff Kline
Accessibility coordinator, Electronic and Information Resources
Texas Department of Information Resources
Full bio>>

Aaron Bangor
Chair
Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
Full bio>>

Download Slides in PDF. 

Additional Resources: 

A Review of Accessible Parking for Persons with Disabilities in Texas

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Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Entrepreneurship, Tax Incentives & Procurement

By Elizabeth Whitehouse

State tax incentives and programs can help encourage employment of people with disabilities in the private and nonprofit sectors. This FREE CSG eCademy webcast will discuss incentives and focus on entrepreneurship strategies for individuals with disabilities and state supports for established business owners with disabilities. This is the second webcast in a four-part series presented by the National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Entrepreneurship, Tax Incentives & Procurement
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m. EST
Part two of a four-part FREE CSG eCademy Webcast series

J. Edward (Ted) Townsend III
Chief of Staff
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Full bio>>

Michael Morris
National Disability Institute
Full bio>>

Jill Houghton
Executive director
U.S. Business Leadership Network

Full bio>>

Download the slides in PDF. 

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Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Career Readiness & Employability

By Elizabeth Whitehouse

This FREE CSG eCademy webcast focused on K-12 education and the transition to other education opportunities or employment for students with disabilities. The webcast includes discussion about individualized learning plans, experiential learning and career readiness opportunities such as higher education, certificate programs, vocational rehabilitation and workforce development. This is the first webcast in a four-part series presented by the National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Workforce Development for People with Disabilities: Career Readiness & Employability
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m. EDT
Part one of a four-part FREE CSG eCademy Webcast series

Download the slides in PDF. 

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US Department of Education Issues Guidance on Behavior Supports for Students with Disabilities

By Elizabeth Whitehouse

Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) issued guidance in the form of a Dear Colleague Letter emphasizing the requirement that schools provide positive behavioral supports to students with disabilities who need them.  The guidance also clarifies that repeated use of disciplinary actions may suggest that many children with disabilities are not receiving appropriate behavioral interventions and supports.  The Department voiced concern over the possibility of schools failing to consider and provide for needed behavioral supports through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which could result in a child not receiving the free appropriate public education to which they are entitled under federal law.

Current law allows educators to remove students with disabilities from their classrooms if they violate a code of conduct.  Data indicates students with disabilities are disciplined at far higher rates than their non-disabled peers.  The letter includes two resource documents to assist teachers and school leaders: the Department is providing supports to assist teachers with classroom management strategies and assist schools in implementing school-wide behavioral efforts to create safe and effective environments where all students are given an opportunity to positively engage in their education.  

To better address school discipline and to shine a spotlight on inequities, the Department will update its #Rethink Discipline web page.  The page contains data, graphics, and other information on the prevalence, impact, and legal implications of suspensions and expulsions; resources on effective alternatives; and ways to effectively create positive school climates.  The page also highlights the disproportionate rate at which black students, particularly black males, receive out-of-school suspensions, and data on suspended preschool students, by race and gender.

In February 2016 The Council of State Governments (CSG) convened a National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures and in collaboration with the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.  On December 8th, 2016 at the CSG National Conference a final report with suggested policy options for state leaders will be released as part of a full day Policy Academy to highlight the issue of Workforce Development for People with Disabilities. This report and the Policy Academy will include a focus on ideas for K-12 education. 

To sign up for the Policy Academy and learn more please visit: CSG National Conference

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Nebraska Prepares to Open ABLE Accounts to Residents of Other States

By Debra Miller

A new federal law allows persons with disabilities to save for their futures through tax-advantaged  savings accounts set up by states. These accounts — called ABLE — are much like 529 college savings plan. 

On February 23, Nebraska Treasurer Don Stenburg announced plans to make his state’s plan available nationwide.

Nebraska is one of 34 states that have passed legislation to implement the December 2014 ABLE law. (See this February 2016 CSG Research Brief for more on ABLE accounts.) The federal law allows persons with disabilities to save for their futures through tax-advantaged  savings accounts set up by states. These ABLE accounts are much like 529 college savings plan.

With a recent change in federal policy, persons are not required to use an account in their home state, but instead can shop around.  

Nebraska’s Enable plan is expected to be one of the first plans on the market under the new federal law, according to the Lincoln Journal Star. The state has reason to be optimistic that the account will be successful. The state’s 529 college savings plan has 243,000 accounts, only 70,000 of which are held by Nebraskans.

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Top 5 Issues for 2016: Workforce Development

By Elizabeth Whitehouse

CSG Director of Education Policy Elizabeth Whitehouse outlines the top five issues in workforce development policy for 2016, including Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act implementation, employment issues for people with criminal records, engaging people with disabilities in the workforce, veterans’ employment issues, and career pathways for students.

Continue reading “Top 5 Issues for 2016: Workforce Development”
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Achieving a Better Life Experience Act

By CSG Committee on Suggested State Legislation

Achieving a Better Life Experience Act

The Act establishes ABLE savings trust accounts to be administered by the Virginia College Savings Plan to facilitate the saving of private funds for paying the qualified disability expenses of certain disabled individuals. Under the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, Congress authorized states to establish ABLE savings trust accounts to assist individuals and families in saving and paying for the education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology and personal support services, health, prevention and wellness, financial management and administrative services, and other expenses of individuals who were disabled or blind prior to the age of 26. Earnings on contributions to ABLE savings trust accounts are exempt from federal income tax.  Because Virginia conforms to the federal income tax laws, earnings on contributions to ABLE savings trust accounts will also be excluded from Virginia taxable income. 

Submitted as:

Virginia
HB 2306
Status: Signed into law on March 17, 2015.

Achieving a Better Life Experience Act

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In Wisconsin, new programs aim to help students with disabilities transition out of high school

By Katelyn Tye-Skowronski

A year after they have left high school, 58 percent of Wisconsin students with disabilities report that they have not yet worked, participated in a job-training program or taken a postsecondary course. Rep. Robert Brooks, a first-year legislator in the state Assembly, believes the state and its schools can do better for this population.

His plan, introduced at least initially as a budget resolution, calls for new pay-for- performance incentives for school districts to improve their career- and college-readiness programs for students with disabilities.

Districts would be rewarded with a $1,000 payment for each student with an Individualized Education Plan who graduates and, the following year, is either employed or enrolled in a postsecondary school. (School districts and the state already collect this data.)

Schools would use these payments to expand their programs — for example, providing students with transportation to jobs, paying for specialized staff training, or developing college-prep courses for students with disabilities.

“The initiative was something [disability rights groups] already had on the table,” Brooks says. “I decided to get going on it.”

If the plan isn’t adopted with the budget, Brooks plans to then introduce it as a stand-alone bill in the fall. The Department of Public Instruction estimates the program would need $5.8 million in its initial year.

Brooks says his new approach complements existing state programs, including Gov. Scott Walker’s Better Bottom Line plan, which seeks to improve the job market for people with disabilities. Wisconsin is also home to the Let’s Get to Work initiative, a federally funded project overseen by the state’s Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. The program aims to improve employment outcomes for students with disabilities as they transition out of high school.

Each of the project’s 12 pilot schools has developed and implemented recommendations to improve services and outcomes. One strategy, for example, has been to provide access to courses that relate to the students’ interests and career goals.

In the project’s first year, the number of students with disabilities who had paid jobs tripled. After three years, more than 60 percent of the students from these pilot schools were working.

Stateline Midwest May 2015