Employment Programs

How is Nebraska educating its disabled population on the utilization of work incentives? Find two presentations on the state's Ticket To Work program, Easter Seals Nebraska. The presentations offer tools and ideas about engagement and forming partnerships.

Wisconsin was one of four state based projects authorized by the SSA to begin testing a proposed benefit offset feature for the SSDI program. The pilot program was able to organize and implement its activities much as had been planned, however there were serious implementation problems at the Social Security Administration, according to this report which presents findings from both a process evaluation and the analysis of participant employment related outcomes.

The percentage of individuals with disabilities in the federal government has not increased since 1994, according to this report. Read highlights of a forum where participants, by prioritizing practices offered by subject matter experts, identified eight steps that agencies could take to help the federal government become a model employer for people with disabilities.

DB101 provides online tools, resources and information on health coverage, work and benefits for people with disabilities and those supporting them. Four states (California, Minnesota, Michigan and New Jersey) have their own sites, which include benefits calculators to help individuals understand how a job may affect total income and health coverage, or whether they may qualify for specific state programs. The resource is a product of the Employment and Disability Benefits Initiative.

How are states educating Disability Services providers and other project stakeholders on their MIG plans? Attached are two diagrams of the components and status of MIG projects and activities used in the District of Columbia during planning meetings. These graphic descriptions may be replicable by other states looking to present similar information.

How can we raise awareness that hiring individuals with disabilities makes good business sense? The mission of the DC Metro Business Leadership Network is to engage and inform regional businesses about the benefits of and resources available for active employment outreach to qualified individuals with disabilities. Attached are outreach materials created by this network.

Unemployment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) continues to be a significant public policy concern. This report looks at statistics over a 20-year period from several national data sets that address the status of employment and economic self-sufficiency for this population, and contains an overview of national trends, an in-depth perspective on how states collect and use employment data, and an Appendix with individual state and national profiles.

How is California disseminating information to its disabled college students and newly graduated college students about work incentives and who to connect to in the community to obtain assistance? The California Ambassadors Program hires and trains disabled college students to provide outreach and education for fellow disabled peers. Attached, find a multitude of resources, presentations, and trainings put out by the state of California regarding this important program.

How is the state of California teaching its consumers with disabilities about ways of working and maintaining health benefits? Through a slide presentation, Facebook update, video update, and newsletter, California reaches out with information and resources on career planning, job training, job hunting and workplace support for job seekers. Attached are replicable MIG program materials for states seeking ways to provide similar information.

Service definitions that focus on employment outcomes are an important component in communicating expectations and building system capacity to increase opportunities for people receiving HCBS services to participate in the general workforce. This document contains the State Employment Leadership Network’s recommendations to CMS on service definitions and related issues that reflect current practice in reinforcing a strong focus on integrated employment.