Ticket to Work

How do you define reasonable accommodation? The process is about accommodating a qualified person with a disability; it is about problem resolution and is a key nondiscrimination requirement. Alaska MIG grantees put together a presentation to explain that not every employee with a disability is going to need an accommodation but, others are excluded because of unnecessary barriers in the workplace. Two articles are included that generate interest in the training plus a two-page FAQ fact sheet.

The West Virginia Medicaid Infrastructure (MIG) is transitioning to Comprehensive Employment Strategies (CES) Grant. The CES grant has 3 major goals: Maximizing employment for people with disabilities, Increasing the state’s labor force through the inclusion of people with disabilities, Protecting and enhancing workers’ healthcare, other benefits and needed supports. Review the presentation and overview of their strategic plan including a comprehensive workforce infrastructure.

The Rhode Island MIG project produced an issue brief, which outlined the State’s utilization of 1619(a) and 1619(b) waivers, their effect on disabled workers, the barriers these waivers present, and recommendations for eliminating barriers and other best practices.

The Pennsylvania MIG project developed the Work Incentive Planning Assistance (WIPA) Program in order to promote employment among those receiving SSI/SSDI benefits. WIPA produced the following newsletter entitled “Employment Resource Guide for Persons with Disabilities”, which sought to succinctly list services available to individuals with disabilities who wish to work. Some of these resources include Family Savings Accounts and information about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

This chart, developed by the North Carolina MIG, projects the estimated costs and enrollment in health coverage for individuals with disabilities in the workforce. The numbers are based on a cost of $1,210 per individual, per month and covers the five years of the program (2007-2012).

Employment for All, a regional initiative of the MIG project, the Granite State Employment Project, produced a slide presentation explaining their role in developing a cross-disability employment system in New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire MIG program, the Granite State Employment Project, and its programs within, Employment for All and the Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions, have held several planning meetings so far in 2007. Included below are the minutes for each of these meetings.

The Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions issued consent forms to eligible consumers to complete in order to participate in the Granite State Employment Project Consumer Forum. The purpose of the forum is to study issues regarding employment for individuals with disabilities in the Monadnock Region. The information gathered will be used in the strategic planning process for the Granite State Employment Project, the New Hampshire MIG. Also included is a list of the focus group questions.

What is Supported Employment? The following presentations, brochures and manuals explain the ways that supported employment helps consumers find and maintain meaningful jobs in the community. The Alaska MIG grantees have shared two presentations and brochure on the principles of supported employment. The manual is designed as a guide for employment specialist.

The Nebraska MIG program, in partnership with HHS, Easter Seals of Nebraska, and the Social Security Administration, held a training for the Medicaid Insurance for People with Disabilities program. The training included the following materials: flowcharts, research results, and PowerPoint presentations.