Grantee produced

The Minnesota MIG program, Pathways to Employment, created a PowerPoint presentation to serve as a primer on employment for individuals with disabilities. The primer covers the topic areas: work incentives and benefits counseling, workforce centers, vocational rehab services, and specialized services.

The Center for Health Policy and Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School produces a quarterly newsletter entitled “Disability Issues”. The newsletter, which has been published for 25 years, discusses current issues surrounding disabilities in Massachusetts and beyond. The newsletter includes articles, information briefs, Q&A’s and more.

The Massachusetts MIG, CommonHealth, created an informational brochure describing how the program works and resources for individuals with disabilities living in Massachusetts who want to work and still receive their Medicaid benefits. The brochure also includes a survey requesting the reader’s thoughts on the usefulness of the brochure itself.

With the passage of Chapter 570, H.P. 1351-L.D. 1910: “An Act to Create Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities” by the Maine State Legislature in 2006, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Labor presented a report that identified resources, successes, and challenges in building supports that aid to increase employment for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Maine MIG program, MaineCare, created an informational brochure describing the how the program works, who qualifies, and other resources for individuals with disabilities living in Maine who want to work and still receive their Medicaid benefits.

The State of Maine’s Commission on Disability and Employment, Department of Labor, and Department of Economic and Community Development issued a report to the State legislature that identifies marketing campaign strategies that will increase awareness and promote employment of individuals with disabilities living in Maine. The report identifies the need for the campaign, strategies for development, and the estimated cost.

Each year the Maine Jobs Council’s Commission on Disability and Employment produces an annual report which is presented to the State legislature. The 2006 annual report was submitted in January 2007 and summarized accomplishments of the Commission like the release of a strategic plan to maximize the employment of people with disabilities and the establishment of and progress toward six major priorities that hope to expand options for individuals with disabilities who want to work.

The Kansas MIG produces a quarterly newsletter entitled “Working Healthy”. The newsletter, which has been published since the inception of the MIG program in 2001, highlights the successes and challenges within the program, offers brief on issues like eligibility and Medicare Part D, and contains special features like FAQs, resources, and the Benefits Specialists’ Corner column. The Working Healthy website contains links to all newsletters published since 2001.

Hire Abilities Hawaii, Hawaii’s MIG program, produced multiple fact sheets in 2007, informing consumers with disabilities of the services available to them through State programs. The fact sheets address topics such as One-Stop Career Centers, Career Development, Working While Maintaining Benefits, Tips for Filing and Free Tax Preparation, and Information for People with Disabilities entering the job market. The fact sheets also identify resources like the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

The State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) is sponsored by Hawaii’s MIG program to improve employment outcomes for people with developmental disabilities. The SELN developed a work plan which outlines the objectives, barriers, processes, persons responsible, and target dates for completing goals within the disability employment arena.