Employment Programs

What is the cost of providing job accommodation? Recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) refocused attention on workplace accommodations by broadening the definition of disability. This increased attention has some employers concerned about the costs of providing job accommodations. However, a study conducted by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), shows that workplace accommodations not only are low cost, but also positively impact the workplace in many ways.

The National Technical Assistance and Research Center to Promote Leadership for Increasing the Employment and Economic Independence of Adults with Disabilities has released Collaborating and Coordinating with Employers, a brief that illustrates key research findings, outlines existing strategies and practices that are advancing the concept of disability and business collaboration, and provides resources that further illuminate effective strategies and examples of these collaborations.

This site highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities. The purpose of these stories is to share where people work and how they got there. They are meant to be read by individuals with ID/DD, their families, and employment support professionals. The goal is to increase awareness of the full range of employment opportunities and support options available.

The Job Accommodation Network represents the most comprehensive resource for job accommodations available. JAN's mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities. Their website is designed to make this happen. The site categorizes employers, individuals, and others separately and includes an Accommodation Search and Disabilities Glossary. Hot topics, Publications & Resources, What’s New? and a Website Tour also facilitate the users access to this information.

These documents are samples of evaluation forms given out at various Nevada MIG program events. One form includes sample answers. These tools helped program administrators determine the level of success and satisfaction.

In April of 2009, WIN conducted this survey, which was sent to over a thousand of its participants. WIN is a free service designed to help people with disabilities understand and use employment programs in Oregon and/or federal work incentives programs. Because it's goal is to help disabled persons navigate the sometimes differing and sometimes conflicting eligibility criteria that discourage individuals from working, this survey is centered around consumer input.

One of the biggest challenges for low-income adults with disabilities who want to work is how to keep health benefits after obtaining employment. WIN is a free service designed to help people with disabilities understand and use employment programs in Oregon and/or federal work incentives programs to obtain, maintain or advance in employment while still meeting critical needs. For this investment, Oregon gets increased tax revenue and decreased reliance on state and federal funded services.

This outcome evaluation, by The Center for Outcome Analysis, Inc., (their website is included), measures whether microenterprise participants and their direct support workers experienced changes in the qualities and quantities of work life. The results found within this study affirm that microenterprise options do offer a viable alternative to “adult day programs” and “sheltered workshops” for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Connect-Ability’s goal of enhancing and supporting employment for people with disabilities is informed in large part by the experiences of people with disabilities themselves. The Pathways to Success project collects information on individual experiences, on an ongoing basis through periodic in-person interviews. With this information, the findings will be used to inform not only state agency policy, but also potential employers, so that they may better assist job seekers with disabilities.

This is a survey of Connecticut school districts concerning transition, work experience and community participation services for students receiving special education services. This survey, focused on youth in transition; stakeholder education; recruitment, employment, and retention; transportation; and technical assistance. The results and subsequent strategic plan will be useful to the State Department of Education for continuing technical assistance and training to school districts.