The Council of State Governments
ByTrent Patrick | Monday, September 9, 2019 at 03:59 PM
The focus on helping individuals with mid-career disabilities stay in or return to the workforce is emerging in the economic and health sectors of the public policy arena. This focus comes from the drive to retain good employees in the workforce, which benefits state governments, employees and employers.
Continue reading “Washington Pilot Program Helps Individuals with Disabilities Return to the Workforce”By Trent Patrick | Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 10:16 AM
There have been many innovative and diverse ways for coalitions to form in state legislatures. As the groups of people who participate in the political process change, one such innovative legislative tool to ensure all voices are heard would be a legislative caucus.
Continue reading “Disability Caucuses in State Legislatures”By Sydney Geiger | Monday, September 23, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Fear of losing Medicaid coverage can deter people with disabilities from entering the labor market. Medicaid buy-in programs allow workers with disabilities to purchase Medicaid coverage that enables them to participate in the workforce without losing health care benefits. A large majority of states such as Colorado, Illinois and Ohio, amongst others, are participating in or pursuing these kinds of programs.
Continue reading “State Medicaid Buy-In Programs for Workers with Disabilities”By Sydney Geiger | Friday, November 1, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Two Kentucky representatives — Rep. Al Gentry and Rep. Brandon Reed — have crossed party lines to co-chair a caucus focused on issues facing people with disabilities. The bipartisan caucus is currently comprised of nine republicans and nine democrats.
Continue reading “Kentucky Representatives Cross Party Lines to Develop Engage and Empower Caucus”By Sydney Geiger | Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 10:49 AM
Kentuckians work for the government at a rate slightly higher than the national average — 16.2%. Based on application trends, however, that percentage might decrease. According to a report from the National Association of State Chief Administrators, the number of applicants for state government jobs has decreased by 24% from 2013 through 2017.[1]
Continue reading “Kentucky Paves the Way for Public Sector Apprenticeships”By Rachel Wright | Monday, April 13, 2020 at 04:42 PM
This year marks the 100th anniversary of federal-state vocational rehabilitation programs and services. The 1920 Smith-Fees Act, also known as the Civilian Rehabilitation Act, put forth the necessary funding for states to provide prosthetics, vocational guidance, training, occupational adjustment and placement services to individuals with disabilities.
Continue reading “Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs”By Sydney Geiger | Monday, April 13, 2020 at 02:44 PM
Pennsylvania Representative Dan Miller hosted his seventh annual Disability and Mental Health Summit in Pittsburgh at the beginning of March. The event highlights a variety of critical issues faced by people with disabilities. Over 2,000 legislators, advocates, youth, and practitioners were in attendance.
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Representative Dan Miller Hosts 7th Annual Disability and Mental Health Summit”By Sydney Geiger, Policy Analyst
As the current state with the largest outbreak of COVID-19, New York is prioritizing the mental health of its citizens. Over 6,000 volunteers have donated their time to staff a free online mental health hotline. Discussing the hotline, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “No one is really talking about this. We are all concerned about the immediate critical need. The life and death of the immediate situation which is right. But don’t underestimate the emotional trauma that people are feeling and the emotional health issues.”
Continue reading “States Prioritize Mental Health Amid COVID19 Pandemic”By Dina Klimkina, Program Manager
Twenty six percent of adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. These disabilities may impact mobility, cognition, the ability to live independently, hearing, vision or the ability to care for one’s self. Nearly one in four women have a disability, and half of all individuals with a disability are over the age of 65.
Continue reading “COVID-19 and Impacts on Individuals with Disabilities”By CSG Committee on Suggested State Legislation
Prohibiting Workplace Discrimination by Employers SSL Draft
Summary:
This Act generally makes it unlawful for employers to refuse to hire or fire people, or otherwise discriminate against employees, because of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, color, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, or domestic or sexual violence victim status. It requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees who are victims of domestic or sexual violence if those do not cause undue hardship to the operations of the employer. It allows employers to request verification of employees’ continued status within specified time frames. The Act creates a civil remedy for employee-victims denied reasonable accommodations.