Uncategorized – Page 6 – Disability Employment Policy

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020

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.

May 6, 2020

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.

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020

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]

May 6, 2020May 19, 2020

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs

By Rachel Wright | Monday, April 13, 2020 at 04:42 PM

This year marks the 100^th 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.

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020

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.

May 6, 2020August 29, 2022

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.”

May 6, 2020August 29, 2022

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.

November 21, 2019May 6, 2020

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.

October 21, 2019May 6, 2020

Ride-Share Platforms Continue Expansion into Medical Transportation

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).

October 14, 2019March 24, 2023

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.