Grantee produced

Is telecommuting a viable option for the disabled? The state of Vermont sent its’ Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors a self assessment asking just that, as well as a document outlying the risks of direct selling and multi-level marketing. The information in these documents provide counselors with a tool to help disabled workers find and retain work, and provide a general outline of information, including links to national online resources, which could be useful to any state.

The Vermont Offset Pilot Demonstration is one of four state pilots initiated as a first step in preparing for the BOND demonstration. It's purpose is to test whether changing SSDI rules to provide a glide ramp off SSDI cash benefits would encourage more beneficiaries to work at a high enough level to reduce or eliminate cash benefit payments. The findings provide invaluable information on the issues of implementing such a complex federal project within widely variable state systems.

The Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities in Vermont is working towards "Promoting the employment of Vermont citizens of all abilities". Here you will find an archive of the committees' newsletter "Abilities," which focuses on programs and resources on a number of topics having to do with the employment of people with disabilities.

Ohio's Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD) was created to enable Ohioans with disabilities to work and still keep their health care coverage. An application for this program, translated into Spanish, could be useful to consumers as well as state’s with similar needs. The application is provided here.

Choices about employment and lifestyle are often made without full understanding of the many rules. The State of Utah wants its service providers and teachers to understand all the options so they can inform and empower people with disabilities to have increased earnings and improved quality of life. The attached presentations are training materials detailing Medicaid Work Incentives. One presentation is directed at agency and provider personnel, and the other to future teachers.

An alternative to the traditional care delivery system, Arkansas’ IndependentChoices was the first program nationally that offered participant directed care as an option to its’ Medicaid population. Arkansas serves as a model for other states interested in implementing similar programs. This in depth procedures manual outlines the history, philosophy and detailed procedures for the program. Review examples of these enrollment and operating policies.

Part of the Cash & Counseling effort, IndependentChoices is a Medicaid program that allows the consumer to direct their own personal assistant services. Because Arkansas was the first state to have a program like this, their experiences and materials are a good resource for other states looking to implement similar programs. This handbook was created as an introduction for new enrollees. Also see samples of their marketing materials: Brochure, Appointment Card template and Decal.

This evaluation report provides the reader with an overview, as well as a detailed description of the evaluations completed in 2007 of Freedom to Work Project activities in South Dakota. It collects evidence from those involved in the project (using surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups, etc.) to obtain a documented, shared understanding of the project’s effectiveness. These findings could be helpful to states with similar projects, or those considering implementing new ones.

Washington states' Alderbrook 2007 was a “discussion” among some 150 people, about current attempts to implement The Working Age Adults Employment policy in communities statewide with the goal of learning from each other about how to do it better. This paper explores “what’s working” and how to improve and expand its' implementation. It's a discussion with wide reaching implications for any state interested in improving or implementing similar policies.

The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. The goal for each student is competitive employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youths with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. Review an article from the DCS newsletter and accompanying pamphlets that outline this program.