Employment Programs

In an effort to understand the services and strategies that sustain employment, the state of Washington conducted an evaluation of Washington’s Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities Program. This program is the state’s version of Medicaid Buy-In, and the results show that enrollees are working more hours, earning more money, paying health insurance premiums, contributing more in taxes relying less on food stamps.

This assessment is designed to answer important questions about the population eligible for DVR services that live in Maine and their vocational rehabilitation needs. Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) assists eligible individuals with disabilities to prepare for, achieve and retain employment in integrated community settings. The goal is to provide services to all eligible consumers at the time that they need them to achieve competitive, community-based employment.

Do you currently employ anyone with a physical or mental disability? Business owners and decision-makers across the state of Maine were asked questions regarding the employment of people with disabilities in that state. This is the summary of the 432 surveys collected.

Review this sample of an MOU between the Alaskan Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Alaskan Division of Behavioral Health. It addresses providing equal access to employment, not just as a fundamental right for those affected by behavioral disabilities, but as an essential step towards better behavioral health. Use this sample MOU as a template if your program were trying to craft a similar document.

This employee survey captures the consumer’s level of disability and if and how it is being addressed in the workplace. The survey is specific to those employed by the state. Use this tool as a template to designing a questionnaire in your program.

Transition to adulthood can be difficult for young people with disabilities, and changes in public policy are needed to give them the support to find meaningful work, stay employed, and reduce their dependency on federal and state benefits. This brief highlights the importance of improving policy, reviews lessons from research, and considers transformative policies and why such changes might be tested. It also discusses an example of the Transition to Economic Self-Sufficiency (TESS) program.

The Medicaid Buy-In program is a key component of the federal effort to make it easier for people with disabilities to work without losing health benefits. This issue brief, the ninth in a series on workers with disabilities, examines the prevalence and characteristics of Medicaid Buy-In participants who leave the program as well as their participation status in other public programs and their employment outcomes after disenrollment.

With the issuance of revised Ticket regulations, State VR agencies and ENs have expanded options for meeting the employment and training needs of Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities and new options for seeking financial compensation from SSA. This Toolkit provides information and tools that will help agencies successfully implement the Ticket program and take advantage of new options. It also provides examples to the new regulations and changes to VR Provider Handbook.

The ODEP has released a brochure addressing employer concerns from a survey of 3,797 businesses across 12 industry sectors and various company sizes. Respondents reported on their beliefs about and strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing employees with disabilities. Concerns addressed in the brochure include issues with supervision, accommodations, worker’s compensation. Additionally, the brochure and technical report includes tools and resources for employers.

Variables that affect supported employment are profiled. The authors examine sociodemographic, health, and income characteristics of participants. They also look at employment-related activities and expectations, traits of those seeking jobs, what kinds of jobs are held, and reasons for not seeking or keeping employment. This report is the second in a series that make up the fifth Ticket to Work evaluation report.