Employment Programs

With federal funding, states have worked to make One-Stop services more accessible to people with disabilities through the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) initiative. This report assesses the extent to which working age recipients of Social Security disability benefits used these services and looks at employment outcomes and differences in utilization and outcomes over time as the initiative matured in the four states studied.

What are the short and intermediate-term outcomes for beneficiaries receiving WIPA services, and what are the program variations in outputs and costs? This report presents findings on the activities of the 103 organizations receiving SSA grants under the WIPA program, established in 2006 to disseminate information on work incentives and support beneficiaries in their efforts to return to work. This is the first in a series of reports that make up the sixth Ticket to Work evaluation report.

Looking for samples of MIG program evaluations? The state of Connecticut created the attached evaluation reports for their Connect-Ability Program. These samples contain program details and the needs, experiences, and satisfaction of individuals who received services. Also included are the procedures and outcomes of nine strategic plans implemented by Local Level Pilot programs. These reports could be helpful for states interesting in evaluating similar initiatives.

Implementation of ACA will raise a number of issues for working people with disabilities currently receiving Medicaid, especially regarding how the Acts’ provisions will interact with the programs that currently provide them access to care. This brief addresses challenges such as these, succinctly delineating data-supported lessons learned by the MIG grantees in their experience with the program, and future needs associated with them.

Effective return-to-work approaches can help employees work while still recuperating, protecting their earning power and boosting an organization's output. In many instances, work itself plays an important role in the recovery process. The Office of Disability Employment Policy has developed an online toolkit to help both employers and employees understand the return-to-work process and provide resources to assist in getting employees back on the job quickly and smoothly.

Arizona has issued reports detailing work the state has done in supporting individuals with disabilities transitioning to work,and self-sufficiency with work incentives, health care coverage, benefits planning, etc. Attached are documents regarding outreach done for the Medicaid Buy-In program including which individuals were trained to disseminate the information, and data on the increase in work incentive utilization for SSI recipients.

How is Alabama providing its disabled population with important information on topics such as employment and health care? Attached are a brochure and newsletter with information on help available for individuals receiving benefits who want to work without losing their cash benefits and health care and the new health care laws' expected impact on people with disabilities.

The term Personal Assistance Services (PAS) refers to help provided to people with disabilities to assist them with tasks essential for daily living. Review a seminar developed by the State of Alabama Medicaid Infrastructure Grant designed to educate users on the usage of PAS in the workplace: how the Americans with Disability Act protects it as being a reasonable accommodation, how to combine it with assistive technology, how to secure funding, and more.

What are the major outcomes and systems improvements stemming from the activities of state MIGs? The MIG program was authorized for eleven years and expires in federal fiscal year 2011. This succinct impact statement highlights key outcomes and impacts related to health care, employment and economic outcomes, Medicaid and employment policy improvements, and service improvements.

Check out New Mexico’s Medicaid Buy-in Program (WDI) website. The program was created in 1999. Collaborative efforts of agencies, employers and consumers statewide continue to build upon the MIG initiatives for a sustainable, streamlined employment support system. See their website which includes marketing materials in both Spanish and English, applications, employment survey, policies, and much more.