As of last December, 3.6 million Americans avoid or are unable to leave their homes because of travel-limiting disabilities (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2018). While an increasing number of services, including mental health care and retail delivery, are now available with the push of a button, many people with disabilities have critical needs that must still be met through in-person appointments. These individuals are also less likely to own a vehicle. In 2018, 20% of non-workers and 12% of workers with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64 lived in households without a vehicle (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2018), while the national percentage of households without a vehicle in 2017 was 7.9% (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2017).
Continue reading “Ride-Share Platforms Continue Expansion into Medical Transportation”SEED Initiative Recognized During National Disability Employment Awareness Month
By Jorden Jones, Policy Fellow
Approximately 56.7 million Americans live with a disability and a significant percentage of these individuals continue to have difficulty finding, securing and retaining employment, despite the unemployment rate hovering at a 50-year low. National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) highlights the expertise and skill sets people with disabilities possess and the vital role they play in America’s economy.
Continue reading “SEED Initiative Recognized During National Disability Employment Awareness Month”State Medicaid Buy-In Programs for Workers with Disabilities
By Sydney Geiger
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”Washington Pilot Program Helps Individuals with Disabilities Return to the Workforce
By Trent Patrick
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”Uber Expands Paratransit Options for Eight Cities
By Sydney Geiger
Boston, Chicago, D.C., Las Vegas, Toronto, San Francisco and New York City are improving their paratransit options through an Uber initiative. Since Uber’s launch, the company has invested in ensuring that its features and technologies are accessible to all users. In November 2018, Uber, a CSG Associate member, announced plans to widely expand paratransit for individuals using wheelchairs and other motorized mobilization devices.
Continue reading “Uber Expands Paratransit Options for Eight Cities”CSG Webinar Explores Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Strategies
By Shawntaye Hopkins
The Council of State Governments’ recent Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work webinar explored policies that help people in the workforce following disability or injury incurred on or off the job. The webinar also reviewed ways in which policymakers can use the CSG Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Toolkit as a resource.
Continue reading “CSG Webinar Explores Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Strategies”Industry-Led Apprenticeships Emerging as a Pathway to Employment
By Sydney Geiger
Apprenticeships are an avenue of education and training that allow people to receive valuable knowledge and job skills without attaining a college degree.
Continue reading “Industry-Led Apprenticeships Emerging as a Pathway to Employment”States Launch Pilot Projects to Retain Workers with Disabilities
By Sydney Geiger
Eight states have launched projects aiming to provide opportunities for people who experience mid-career disabilities to remain in and return to the workforce. After a competitive selection process, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in partnership with DOL’s Employment and Training Administration and the Social Security Administration awarded eight states with funding for RETAIN Demonstration Projects.
Continue reading “States Launch Pilot Projects to Retain Workers with Disabilities”Hawaii Hosts “Reverse” Job Fair for People with Disabilities
By Sierra Hatfield
State legislators and government agencies from Hawaii hosted an “Empowering All Abilities” Job Fair for persons with developmental disabilities on Oct. 30 at the Hawaii Capitol. During the fair, each job seeker had a table set up with a presentation board that showcased their interests, strengths and abilities. Prospective employers visited each job seeker’s booth. The idea came from Hawaii state Reps. John Mizuno and Lynn DeCoite, who wanted to create an environment where employers had the responsibility of appealing to potential employees – a “reverse” job fair.
Continue reading “Hawaii Hosts “Reverse” Job Fair for People with Disabilities”CSG to Launch Workforce Development Toolkit
By Sydney Geiger
During the 2018 National Conference, CSG will release the Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work (SAT/RTW) Toolkit. The U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability collaborated on the toolkit. It was designed to provide states with policy options, best practices and implementation strategies to aid efforts in increasing employment retention and labor force participation of employees who acquire, or are at risk of developing, work disabilities.
Continue reading “CSG to Launch Workforce Development Toolkit”