Disability Employment Grants Meeting
May 29-31, 2002
WORK INCENTIVE AND
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GRANTS MEETING
Washington Court Hotel
Key Web Sites of Interest
The following represents selected web sites mentioned during the conference that may be of use to individuals who are involved in systems change activities within the workforce development system.
LAW, HEALTH POLICY & DISABILITY CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF LAW
The Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center is an emerging leader in law, technology, education and research. The Center is focused on improving the quality of life for person living with disabilities. Based at the University of Iowa College of Law, with a satellite office in Washington, D.C., the center concentrates on public policy and its impact on persons with disabilities, with an emphasis on employment, self-determination and self-sufficiency.
The Center's unique location in a college of law and its partnerships with colleges of education and public health promote multidisciplinary approaches to research, education and outreach. Using a seminar and team approach with real-world projects, we educate the next generation of legal, rehabilitation, and public health professionals who will influence public policy through their work.
The Center collaborates with:
- Professionals in law, health care, public health, rehabilitation, and workforce development
- Policymakers at the federal and state levels
- Non-profit philanthropic organizations interested in disability, health care, and employment issues
- Major global corporations and small businesses
- Disability-related organizations and Centers for Independent Living
Work at the Center includes basic research, education, training, technical assistance, and outreach. Our knowledge utilization activities include web-based dissemination, and public speaking. We publish in both non-reviewed and peer-reviewed journals, to share our research outcomes.
Center staff specialize in:
- Examining the full spectrum of public policy from initial conceptualization to later interpretations in the courts and reformulation
- Studying, evaluating and providing assistance in the passage of laws, the regulatory process, and the implementation at federal, state and local levels
- Evaluating the impact of public policy on business practices in the hiring and accommodation of persons with disabilities
- Conducting research studies to improve understanding of the relationship of selected federal and state policies on the social and economic independence of persons with disabilities
- Using accessible technology to disseminate findings, conduct research, and provide training
DISABILITY AND BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS (DBTACS)
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has established ten regional centers to provide information, training, and technical assistance to employers, people with disabilities, and other entities with responsibilities under the ADA. The centers act as a "one-stop" central, comprehensive resource on ADA issues in employment, public services, public accommodations, and communications. Each center works closely with local business, disability, governmental, rehabilitation, and other professional networks to provide ADA information and assistance, placing special emphasis on meeting the needs of small businesses. Programs vary in each region, but all centers provide the following:
- Technical Assistance
- Education and Training
- Materials Dissemination
- Information and Referral
- Public Awareness
- Local Capacity Building
DBTAC Regional Centers:
Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
New England DBTAC
Adaptive Environments Center, Inc.
374 Congress Street, Suite 301
Boston, MA 02210
617-695-0085 (V/TTY)
Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI)
Cornell University
107 ILR Extension Building
Ithaca, NY 14853-3901
607-255-6686 (V/TTY)
607-255-2763 (Fax)
Region 3 (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV)
Mid-Atlantic DBTAC
TransCen, Inc.
451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 607
Rockville, MD 20850
301-217-0124 (V/TTY)
Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, MS, TN)
Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA) at Georgia Tech
490 Tenth St.
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-385-0636 (v/tty) 404-385-0641 (fax)
Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
Great Lakes DBTAC
University of Illinois/Chicago
Department on Disability & Human Development
1640 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
312-413-1407 (V/TTY)
Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
Southwest DBTAC
Independent Living Research Utilization
2323 South Shepherd Boulevard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
713-520-0232 (V/TTY)
Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE)
Great Plains DBTAC
ADA Project
University of Missouri/Columbia
100 Corporate Lake Drive
Columbia, MO 65203
573-882-3600 (V/TTY)
Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
Rocky Mountain DBTAC
Meeting the Challenge, Inc.
3630 Sinton Road, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
719-444-0268 (V/TTY)
Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV, Pacific Basin)
Pacific DBTAC
California Public Health Institute
2168 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 301
Berkeley, CA 94704-1307
510-848-2980 (V)
510-848-1840 (TTY)
Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA)
Northwest DBTAC
Northwest ADA/IT Center
P.O. Box 574
Portland, Oregon 97207-0574
(503) 494-4001
AT YOUR SERVICE: WELCOMING CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES WEB COURSE
Welcome to "At Your Service: Welcoming Customers with Disabilities." The objectives of this course are to:
- Increase understanding of the needs and experiences of people with disabilities
- Present how to adjust general customer service standards to meet the needs of the customer with a disability
- Develop basic etiquette for interacting with a customer who has a disability
- Show how to comply with statutes regarding service to people with disabilities, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508
NATIONAL CENTER ON WORKFORCE AND DISABILITY
The National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult is a resource for One-Stop Career Centers, state and local Workforce Investment Boards, and policymakers to enable them to increase employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
Access for All: A Resource Manual for Meeting the Needs of One-Stop Customers with Disabilities (June 2001)
This comprehensive, 300-plus page manual is designed to assist One-Stop systems in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities.
WORK WORLD
WorkWORLD© is decision support software for personal computers designed to help people with disabilities, advocates, benefit counselors, and others explore and understand how to best use the work incentives associated with the various Federal and State disability and poverty benefit programs. It automates the computation of benefits, and takes into account the complex interaction of income, benefit programs, and work incentives.
THE STATE PARTNERSHIP SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE
Under a March, 1998 Executive Order the President created the National Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities. The first initiative under this executive order was establishment of The State Partnership Systems Change Initiative (SPI). The purpose of SPI is to support Project States in the development of innovative effective service delivery systems which increase employment of individuals with disabilities, such as: Employer Partnerships, Customer Driven Services, Waivers & Buy-In, State Policy Change Initiatives, Benefits Assistance, Employment Supports and Programs.
The SPI Project Office located at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) provides support to the Project States. Spiconnect.org has been designed to serve as an information outlet for highlighting the activities of the State Partnership Systems Change Initiative States, as well as, a central source of information and resources on the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, benefits assistance, Medicaid buy-in programs and employment resources.
TICKET TO WORK
A comprehensive site about the Social Security Administration Ticket To Work program. The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is the centerpiece of new legislation signed by Former President Clinton on December 17, 1999 under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. It is a nationwide initiative designed to bring major positive change to the lives of individuals with disabilities. This comprehensive national initiative is also designed to assist people with the training and support they need to go to work by increasing their choices. SSA beneficiaries with disabilities can find employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other support services from public and private providers.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION
disABILITY EMPLOYMENT AND INITIATIVES UNIT
The mission of the disAbility Employment and Initiatives Unit is to:
To provide leadership in the development of national policy related to programs and services under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 that impact individuals with disabilities;
To provide guidance on accessibility issues and accommodations in One-Stop Center systems;
To facilitate the integration and coordination of WIA partnering agencies, especially those designed to serve individuals with disabilities, into the new workforce development system;
To represent ETA in collaborative multi-agency design and policy formulation on issues of employment and training for this target population, including working closely with the President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities; and
To design, develop, and administer innovative grant programs that further career and competitive employment goals of individuals with disabilities and/or support integration of One-Stop Center system.
REHABILITATION ENGINEERING AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT (RESNATA)
The Technical Assistance Project was funded to provide assistance to the AT Act Grantees to assist them reduce barriers and increase access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services for consumers with disabilities of all ages. This project will also provide technical assistance in the areas related to universal design, state procurement actions, and funding of AT. The Project's plan for the delivery of technical assistance has four major components:
- Capacity Building and Advocacy Activities
- Program Management
- Communication and Collaboration
- Continuous Quality Improvement
State AT Projects
Includes information on state AT projects including contact information.
WORK SUPPORT
The purpose of this center is to identify factors that enhance or inhibit businesses from tapping into a pool of potential employees. It provides a gateway to information, resources, and services regarding the employment of people with disabilities.
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Work Incentive and Disability Employment Grants Meeting: Key Web Sites