Employment Programs

How is Nebraska using its MIG grant to address the needs of those struggling due to brain injuries? Through a screening tool, and a follow-up questionnaire, the state is working to diagnose these individuals so they may effectively rejoin the workforce. The forms, could serve as a template for other states who wish to do the same, and are available here.

What is The Brain Book™ System? It is one resource Nebraska is making available to its brain injury population, as part of its MIG grant. This System is an educational program that teaches persons with brain injuries how to use a customized life manager/day planner, specially designed to meet their needs - at home and at work. It is a system that is being used all over the country and could be a good resource for other states with similar employment goals for their brain injured citizens.

How can teachers of students with severe disabilities incorporate employment training into their curriculum? Utah used its MIG funding to provide training to these teachers. A presentation containing an overview of types of employment training in schools and myths about employment of people with disabilities is available here. Presented at a State conference, this presentation could provide valuable information and examples to other states addressing these same concerns.

This training tool was presented to students in the Projects With Industries training program, whose purpose is to create and expand job/career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. It provides an overview of Ticket to Work, work incentives, and other work supports. Whether interested in similar training programs, or the details of the programs themselves, this presentation could be a valuable resource to other states looking to allocate or initiate MIG funding for training purposes.

How well are employment agencies and service providers addressing the needs of the disabled community? Funded by the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, Work Ability Utah has developed a presentation to provide a general overview of disability etiquette and work incentives to these agencies. This presentation could be a helpful example for other states and is provided for download here.

Promoting work incentives for the disabled is one way that Utah is using it's MIG grant to expand it's employment possibilities for its disabled population. They did so through a variety of programs, including Utah Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (WIPA / BPAO) and Employment Personal Assistance Services (E-PAS). A detailed list of Utah's various work incentives, with helpful program information could be useful to other states and is available for download here.

As part of its MIG grant, New Hampshire has been working to address issues affecting the employment of people with disabilities. One way this was done was by creating questionnaires for organizations to fill out themselves as well as to give employers. Two examples of these are provided, one to assess how employment-focused an organization is, and one to assess the needs of businesses and employers. These forms can be used as templates for organizations in other states.

Looking for an example of a business model that incorporates the recruitment, employment and training of those with disabilities? First Course is an intensive culinary training program in Keene, New Hampshire. Their curriculum is designed to provide individuals with a solid foundation in the food service and hospitality industry. A link to their website, a list of food service jobs and tasks, along with the Professional Development Plan and Student Performance Log forms, are provided here.

How has New Hampshire used its MIG funds to support the career goals of individuals with disabilities? One approach was to develop training tools for job developers and administrative staff who are interested in hiring, training and supporting employees with disabilities. The following examples include a survey, staff certification information and a brochure for a series of workshops. These are available here for other states who have, or are interested in implementing similar programs.

Since 2001 the State of New Hampshire has utilized MIG funds to improve its infrastructure for providing employment supports to its citizens with disabilities. Through this grant, New Hampshire has built a comprehensive strategic plan to address systemic barriers to creating a lasting transformation of its service system. The Granite State Employment Project(GSEP) and its subsequent evaluations, could serve as a valuable resource for other states. Both are available for download here.