Recruitment and Retention

How can employers communicate effectively with people who have a disability? North Dakota's MIG program sees communication as an important part of helping facilitate the employment and retention of people with disabilities. They created a manual outlining ten communication tips, disability specific tips, people first language, and workplace strategies. A sample of this manual is attached and could also be useful as a template for other MIG states.

How is South Dakota getting the facts out to employers about hiring people with disabilities? One way is through an informational fact listing "Facts for Employers," "Tax Incentives for Employers" and "Resources for Employers". A sample is attached below and could serve as a template for other MIG grantees. 

Understanding the myriad of rules governing SSI/SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare & related work incentives for people with disabilities is essential in creating successful MIG programs. One tool the state of Virginia is using is a true/false test given to trainees at the beginning, and again at the end of a two day training session. A sample of the test is attached, along with the training agenda and table of contents for the manual used in the training.

How are states getting the word out about Work Incentives for Social Security Disability Benefits? In California, a free job fair for people with Disabilities, called Jobtoberfest is held annually. In 2009 a presentation was given with an overview of the work incentives for social security disability benefits. The presentation is attached, and could be helpful to other states interested in recruiting people with disabilities into their MIG programs.

How are states addressing MIG benefits planning? The Hawaii Benefits Information Network hosted a ceremony for Benefits Planning Certificate Training graduates and officially launched the Hawaii Benefits Information Network. The continuing education slides for this program are attached below, as well as a sample Certificate which shows certification in Hawaii Benefits Planning Certificate Training and could serve as an example for other states.

How can states more effectively accommodate employment for the disabled? One approach Florida has taken is training Supported Living Assistants in their roles and responsibilities, emphasizing working closely with employment coaches. The attached training presentation focuses on communication, maintaining benefits and reporting wages. This training tool could be useful to other MIG grantees with similar programs.

While intended to assist new participant direction partners, a wider audience may benefit from this review of directly-hired workers' characteristics, experiences, and training needs compared to agency-hired workers. This policy brief draws on research from two large scale participant-directed options for people with diverse disabilities: the Cash & Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation (CCDE) and the California In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

Connect-Ability is searching for a group of Connecticut employers of all types, all across the state, to join their Employer Designation Pilot. This Pilot is a collaborative effort that will provide employers in the public and private sector an opportunity to share ideas and learn how they can increase their organization’s recruitment effectiveness by reaching a virtually untapped employment pool – people with disabilities. Review information, including participant resources.

Getting the word out to eligible enrollees as well as service providers is key to any MIG programs’ success. This can be complicated by the fact that there are often many programs working together. One way Alabama is keeping everyone informed is by distributing brochures about their MIG program that specifically highlight the partnerships between programs and address fears about benefits and health care. Attached are two such brochures. These could serve as samples for other states.

How well are employment agencies and service providers addressing the needs of the disabled community? Funded by the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, Work Ability Utah has developed a presentation to provide a general overview of disability etiquette and work incentives to these agencies. This presentation could be a helpful example for other states and is provided for download here.