Ticket to Work

What is California offering its Spanish speaking population in terms of marketing material for its MIG programs? A Spanish "Talent Knows No Limits" Program Brochure outlines the program and resources in both Spanish and English. This sample could be helpful to other MIG grantees marketing to their Hispanic population.

How is California using online training to help instruct interested people about work incentives? Through webinars, the CHIIP staff are able to train people located anywhere in California. Find archived webinars on the "Talent has No Limits" Website. Corresponding PowerPoint presentations for the “Work Incentive Programs and Building Financial Assets for People with Disabilities” and the “250% Working Disabled Program and Options” webinars are also included.

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.

What types of agency collaborations can benefit youth and those transitioning from school to work? The attached presentation has California asking this question as part of a multi-agency collaborative effort working to remove barriers to employment and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities. Focusing on The CHIIP program and efforts geared to empowering youth, this presentation was given at the CAPED Conference Workshop and could be helpful to other MIG grantees.

How is Hawaii supporting its disabled population and its art community at the same time? Hawaii’s MIG sponsored VSA arts program promotes inclusive educational and professional arts and creative industry pathway opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities, and youth and adults who are otherwise disadvantaged or at risk. The attached presentations and document showcase the program, artists' event successes, and the Arts @ Work for Teens Program.

What leads you to want to go back to work? This is just one of many questions asked at Consumer, Family & Youth Conference, where Hawaii introduced its Benefits Information Network in 2009. Designed for the panelist discussion, this series of questions and introduction to the Benefits Information Network, emphasizes the importance of work incentives information available to the public. This document could be used by other states interested in starting a MIG grant program.

What are the benefits of being part of the Employment Networks Program in Hawaii? The Ticket to Work program and the Employment Network are explained in this presentation to Developmental Disabilities Division case managers, administrators and waiver providers. The information includes defining what can be part of the employment network, how it works and how it benefits the consumer and the agency, which can be helpful for agencies and other states with MIG grants.

How is Hawaii teaching its consumers, agencies and case managers about benefits information in Maui? In the attached slide presentations, Maui Benefits Information Outreach covers, disability programs, SSI, SSDI, medicaid, medicare & work incentives and Ticket to Work. These presentations for Hawaii’ s MIG program could be useful to other states with a similar program, or thinking about implementing one.

What are you going to do after High School? As part of its MIG grant, Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities asked this question in a presentation to disabled teenagers about to graduate high school. By presenting a need for qualified workers, the importance of work on self-esteem and the resources to facilitate this transition, Florida is working to get more of its young disabled population into the workforce. This could be helpful to other states interested in this demographic.

The first Ticket to Work Mental Health Summit was held in New Orleans, LA on November 15–17, 2009. Mental and behavioral health decision makers engaged in presentations, networking experiences, and the opportunity to learn how the Ticket to Work program can help people with a severe mental illness with recovery through work. The archived web site holds presentation materials, Power Point slides, speaker biographies, links to speaker webcasts, and other helpful resources.