Washington Pilot Program Helps Individuals with Disabilities Return to the Workforce

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.

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State Medicaid Buy-In Programs for Workers with Disabilities

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.

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Kentucky Representatives Cross Party Lines to Develop Engage and Empower Caucus

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.

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Kentucky Paves the Way for Public Sector Apprenticeships

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]

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Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs

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.

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Pennsylvania Representative Dan Miller Hosts 7th Annual Disability and Mental Health Summit

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.

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States Prioritize Mental Health Amid COVID19 Pandemic

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.”

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COVID-19 and Impacts on Individuals with Disabilities

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.

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Prohibiting Workplace Discrimination by Employers

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.

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