Reports

The Job Accommodation Network: JAN Fact Sheet reports findings from over 1,000 employers interviewed between Jan '04 and Dec '06. Findings include the following: employers want to provide accommodations so they can retain valued and qualified employees, most employers report no cost or low cost for accommodating employees with disabilities, employers report accommodations are effective and employers experience multiple direct and indirect benefits after making accommodations.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released it annual report covering the period from Oct 1, 2005-Sept 30, 2006 and contains selected measures of agencies’ progress toward model equal employment opportunity programs, including workforce profiles of 59 federal agencies. The report finds that the participation rate for individuals with targeted disabilities (such as deafness, blindness, paralysis, intellectual disabilities, and mental illness) continues to fall.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released detailed briefing slides from a presentation on the New Freedom Program. The GAO examined the extent to which the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has implemented the program and how FTA monitors program performance. The New Freedom Program is designed to support new public transportation services and alternatives beyond those required by the ADA. Review the progress, developing policies and procedures.

The goal of NFI is to remove barriers to full integration for Americans with disabilities. This report highlights the activities in several areas: increasing access through technology, expanding educational opportunities for youth with disabilities, integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce, and promoting full access to community life. The report describes initiatives, regulations, grant programs and other efforts to improve integration for youth and adults with disabilities.

The MASS C-PASS Marketing & Outreach Subcommittee (M&O) created a Consumer Forum Series to gather information on barriers to self-direction and community integration from a community perspective. Aside from targeting elders, individuals with disabilities and their families, emphasis was placed on targeting traditionally underserved and un-served racial, ethnic, and linguistic minority groups and rural areas. This report is the narrative account and outcomes from nine consumer forums.

This report provides a systematic review of recent research (primarily since 2002) while it also identifies limitations and gaps in this research. The report reviews research in a variety of areas including supply-side factors influencing employment, employer attitudes and practices, labor market organization, work accommodations, progression of disability benefits and disability management, impact of public policy on employment, and vocational services interventions.

This report provides estimates of likely enrollments in Kentucky should the state implement a Buy-in program. The estimates are based on a statistical analysis of data from states that have implemented programs. The analysis takes into account both characteristics of the states and characteristics of the states’ programs that are likely to affect enrollments. Relevant considerations include the number of individuals with disabilities, participation rates and the state’s economy.

Indiana Works (Indiana’s Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Programs) received a MIG grant to conduct a statewide needs assessment in the disability community of the informational needs regarding state and federal programs and resources that support employment. The website contains general information about subjects and does not replace the expertise and assistance from trained benefits counselors. Also included for review are project overview and updates, fact sheets, and final reports.

The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities contracting with Valek & Co. to design and provide services relating to the recruiting, training and matching of mentors/mentorees for those interested in sharing their experience about rejoining the workforce. Included are two versions of recruitment letters, phone scripts, booklet and flyers. They received 23 mentor applications and 19 mentoree applications. Review the extensive training materials, exit surveys, and final reports.

This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief discusses the financial impact of caregiving on the caregivers themselves as well as the economic value of their contributions to society. It compares the economic value of family caregiving to other benchmarks in order to underscore the magnitude of these unpaid contributions, presents estimates of productivity losses to U.S. businesses, and highlights the critical role that family caregivers play in the nation's long-term care system.