Grantee produced

How are states empowering youth with disabilities? Through the Youth Organizing Disabled and Proud Seminar, California is working to connect youth with disabilities to each other, organizations, resources and opportunities. Attached are some of the training materials and resources from the Seminar. See also "Disability History Week-Activities" for sample training activities and "Disability History Week-Surveys" for surveys and permissions samples from this seminar.

How is Hawaii marketing its Hire Abilities MIG grant program? One way is by posting sponsored events on their YouTube channel. The following link is for their video which highlights Artists Mean Business, promoting the work of artists with disabilities. This event, posted on the Hireabilities's Channel, is an innovative way of marketing the program and could be useful to other MIG grantees.

Review an evaluation of the Johnson County and Linn County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) pilot sites. The evaluation assesses the process and outcomes of establishing a standardized entry point to long-term care supports and services, with emphasis on the role of the Options Counselor (OC) at both sites. Copies of surveys and interview techniques used are included.

Providers play a key role in the success of MIG grant programs. Their understanding of how the MIG grant works and who to contact is essential in keeping services running efficiently. Florida provided training information to its providers, explaining MIG values, functions and important resources. The attached presentation is part of this training and could be helpful to other states with MIG grants.

Diversity Training is key to providing an inclusive climate in the workplace for disabled workers, as well as for creating these opportunities in the first place. The attached presentations are part of Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities training curriculum. Intended to highlight the positive impacts working has on the disabled and on the workplace, these presentations are for employers and could be useful to other MIG grantees as well.

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.

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.

How can states better engage the public and the disabled about employment issues for the disabled in their communities? A unique approach Hawaii has taken is to host a monthly Disability Perspective TV show on public television. Meant to educate the public on employment barriers for people with disabilities and the work incentives available for them, this program covers different topics and personal experiences relating to MIG grant programs. Online streaming of the show is available.

It’s not just a matter of semantics or being “politically correct”. The language we use reflects how we feel about disability. The words you use can create either a positive view of people with disabilities or it can reinforce common myths. In this training document developed as part of Florida’s MIG grant program, communicating with people with disabilities is discussed in-depth and could be applicable to employers and service providers alike.

An individuals’ transition to an employment pilot project can involve a tracking system outlining the different programs and the particular enrollment status. The District of Columbia created a data spreadsheet for NCC Conversion to their Employment Pilot Project, financed by the MIG grant. This information is a “snapshot” of a client's status at the first of the month. A draft of this form is attached, which could be helpful to other states looking to start a similar program.