disability: does this apply to me and my work?
DESCRIPTION
Have you ever wondered about how having a disability impacts working? Do you know all of the agencies available to help people with disabilities? Have you ever wondered what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can do to help you? Then this webinar is for you. Presented by Karen Prince, the Ticket to Work/Social Security Administration Cost Reimbursement Claims Coordinator at Colorado’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, this 40-minute introductory webinar will provide an overview of the concepts of disability and how areas of society view them. We will cover an introduction to the ADA, Workforce Centers, Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Security Administration, Independent Living Centers and the Veteran’s Administration as they relate to disability and employment issues. Plus, you will get additional resources to follow up with to find even more valuable information. Managing the resources available for those with disabilities can often be confusing. Whether the disability is your own, someone you know, or someone you work with, this webinar will teach you where to turn for help and personal empowerment.TRANSCRIPT
Disability:Does This Apply to Me?
What About Work?
Karen Prince, MA
Traditional Definition of Disability
Biomedical model – pathology, disorder, dysfunction, or deformity (Smart, 2009).
noun \ˌdis-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\: a condition (such as an illness or an injury) that damages or limits a person's physical or mental abilities
the condition of being unable to do things in the normal way : the condition of being disabled
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disability
Is That The Only Perspective?
No. There are lots of ideas:
– Americans With Disabilities Act (1990)
– Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
– Social Security Administration
– Independent Living Centers
American with Disabilities Act (1990)
A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.
– Includes individuals who have a record of such an impairment
– Includes individuals who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability.
The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability.
http://adata.org/faq/what-definition-disability-under-ada
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
A person whose disability results in impairments to finding or keeping employment.
Social Security Administration
"Disability" under Social Security is based on inability to work. A person is disabled under Social Security rules if:– They cannot do work they did before;– The person cannot adjust to other work because
of medical condition(s); and– Disability has lasted or is expected to last for at
least one year or to result in death.http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm
Independent Living Centers
Sociopolitical Model – disability is the result of difficulties experienced from reduced opportunity, lowered expectations, and being perceived as a member of a stigmatized category (Smart, 2009).
People with disabilities are underprivileged, unemployed, uneducated, and segregated not because of disability but due to societal and institutional barriers (O’Day, 2006).
So That’s It?
Not really. Disabling conditions are a normal human condition
that can occur in one or many areas:– Mental (examples: IQ level, reading difficulties, learning
difficulties)– Emotional (examples: depression, anxiety, autism)– Physical (examples: asthma, amputation, chronic pain,
mobility impairments)
So Everyone’s Disabled
Sort of All humans are
individuals who are different and excel and struggle in different areas
The environment plays a huge part in how the person is effected
What Does It Matter to Me?
There is a high probability that at some time in life you will become a person with a disability or have a close relation who is a person with a disability.
So What Do I Do About It?
Depends on what you want to do
If you have a disability and have a job and need accommodations to help you handle the job, you are entitled to them under the ADA as long as they do not cause an undue hardship to the employer.
Accommodations
Are wide and varied Resource for
accommodations– Job Accommodation
Network – http://askjan.org/– Disability and Technical
Assistance Centers– http://www.adainformatio
n.org/
Looking For Work
If you are a person with a disability that is interfering with your work or finding work, there are resources available to you.– Vocational Rehabilitation programs– Workforce Center programs– Independent Living Centers– Private Community Rehabilitation programs– Social Security Administration (if receiving benefits)– Veterans Administration (if a veteran)
Looking for Employees
– Vocational Rehabilitation programs
– Workforce Center programs
If you are an employer looking for employees and interested in disability issues there are resources for you as well.
Federal Employment
The Federal government has recognized the need to hire individuals with disabilities and there are several initiatives and special hiring practices.
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/
https://www.disability.gov/
Executive Order 13548 -- Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-increasing-federal-employment-individuals-with-disabilities
Federal Employment
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment against individuals with disabilities and requires them to take affirmative action to recruit, employ, train, promote, and retain individuals with disabilities.
Among other things, the Final Rules published in September:– Establish a 7% utilization goal for individuals with disabilities;– Require contractors to invite applicants and current employees to
voluntarily self-identify as an individual with a disability; and– Require contractors to maintain several quantitative measurements and
comparisons for the number of individuals with disabilities who apply for jobs and the number of individual with disabilities they hire in order to create greater accountability for employment decisions and practices.
The Final Rules are effective March 24, 2014,
Employment Services
If you are involved with assisting people to find employment and have questions about how to assist people with disabilities with employment issues the resources are available for you as well
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
Federally funded program available in the United States.
– The person must have a disability that impairs their ability to find or keep employment
– VR is mandated to provide services to eligible individuals
– Services are individualized to the person’s employment goal based on their skills, abilities, interests, and needs related to employment goal
– Can assist employers with accommodations
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) oversees and funds the grants for State agencies
http://rsa.ed.gov/
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (CO DVR)
Eligibility Requirements– The individual has a physical or mental
impairment; and, – The impairment(s) constitutes or results in a
substantial impediment to employment that is consistent with the individual’s abilities and capabilities; and,
– The individual requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment consistent with his/her unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice.
CO DVR Services
Evaluation & diagnostic testing for eligibility
Counseling & guidance
Physical and mental restoration
Specialized services for individuals who are blind, deaf, and deaf-blind– interpreter services– note-taking services– reader services
CO DVR Services
Rehabilitation technology services– assistive technology
devices– assistive technology
services– rehabilitation
engineering services
Placement services Supportive services
– Maintenance– Transportation– personal assistance
services– services to family
members
CO DVR Services
Training services– vocational training– academic training– personal & vocational adjustment training– job coaching– on-the-job training– job-seeking skills training– books, tools, & other training materials;
CO DVR
Referrals/Applying/Assistance You can refer a person, or apply, or seek
assistance/consultation with DVR by calling– 303-866-4150– 866-870-4595
Or by looking up and contacting the local office by zip code at: http://www.dvrcolorado.com/locations.php
CO DVR
For further information on CO DVR and to watch an introductory video, go to:
http://www.dvrcolorado.com/index.php
Workforce Centers
Available in every State in the Nation
Assists all job seekers with employment solutions
Assists employers to find employees
Colorado Workforce Centers
Workforce Centers across the state of Colorado serve job seekers, employers and employees by providing a wide array of employment and training services at no charge.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-EmployTrain/CDLE/1248095319018
CO Workforce Services
Job listings Computer & internet access Career counseling & training for job seekers Recruitment of workers, pre-screening &
referral services Tax credits and training reimbursement for
employers
CO Workforce CenterServices & Programs
Apprenticeships Career Ready
Colorado Certificate E3 Job Fair Federal Bonding E-Colorado Migrant Seasonal
Farm Workers
My Skills My Future Tax Credits Trade Act Veterans’ Services Workforce
Investment Act (WIA) Programs
Youth Employment
CO Workforce Center
For further information on CO Workforce centers and to watch an introductory video for employers or job seeks go to:
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-EmployTrain/CDLE/1248095319014
Independent Living Center
Work with individuals with disabilities in all aspects of living on their own.
– Classes on independent living– Peer support– Personal Assistance programs– Transportation issues– Housing issues– Employment
Independent Living Centers Services
Mandated by Federal law to provide:– Information & referral– Individual & systems
advocacy– Independent living skills
training– Cross disability peer
counseling http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html
Independent Living Centers Services
May also provide:– Counseling– Housing– Rehabilitation
technology– Mobility training– Interpreter & reader
services
– Personal assistance services
– Community resource guides & directories
– Transportation– Consumer
information programs
CO Independent Living Centers
For further information on CO Independent Living centers and to find your local center go to:
http://coloradosilc.org/?page_id=131
Private Community Rehabilitation Programs
Private Community Rehabilitation Programs usually provide services for a fee
What are the Services Provided by These Agencies?
medical, psychiatric, psychological, social, and vocational services
testing, fitting, or training in the use of prosthetic and orthotic devices
recreational therapy physical and occupational therapy speech, language, and hearing
therapy psychiatric, psychological, and
social services, including positive behavior management
assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs
rehabilitation technology
job development, placement, and retention services
evaluation or control of specific disabilities
orientation and mobility services for individuals who are blind
extended employment psychosocial rehabilitation services supported employment services
and extended services services to family members when
necessary to the vocational rehabilitation of the individual
personal assistance services
Social Security Administration
SSA has programs to assist individuals receiving benefits to return to work and leave SSA benefits
– Ticket to Work (TTW)– Plan to Achieve Self
Sufficiency (PASS)
Ticket to Work
TTW provides beneficiaries with the ability to ‘purchase’ services from an Employment Network (EN) to return to work
– ENs are community rehab programs who have contracted with SSA to provide services to individuals with a Ticket. ENs cannot charge their clients for services.
– State Vocational Rehabilitation programs are ENs– Some Workforce Centers and Independent Living Centers
are ENs
TTW
Benefits of using the Ticket– Protection from Medical Continuing Disability
Reviews– Medicare coverage while employed– Expedited return to benefits if unable to continue
working– Opportunity to earn more than disability payments
alone– Trial Work period
TTW
‘I receive SSA benefits but don’t have a Ticket’
– You do if you are between the age of 18 and 64 receiving cash benefits.
– You don’t receive an actual paper ‘ticket’
– To find an EN, go to http://www.chooseworkttw.net/
TTW
https://www.chooseworkttw.net/wise/jsp/wise.jsp
For additional information about participating in TTW as a beneficiary or to attend a Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) go to:
TTW – I want to be an EN
As an EN you can provide services to beneficiaries to find employment and receive payment from SSA
As an employer of a Ticket holder you can sign up to be an EN and have some of your employee cost reimbursed
TTW – I want to be an EN
Benefits of becoming an Employment Network (EN)– If you are already providing employment services
you can gain access to additional funding– You can increase your business by providing
services to people receiving SSA benefits.– You can hire Ticket holders and receive the Ticket
payments
https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/pen-why-become-an-employment-network
TTW – I want to be an EN
For additional resources and information contact:
https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/pen-home
Plan to Achieve Self Sufficiency
Individuals receiving SSA benefits are able to set aside a portion of their monthly income to use towards self sufficiency goals
– Examples:– School tuition– Transportation– http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/
pass.htm
Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs
The CO Division of Veterans Affairs has many services including specialized Vocational Rehabilitation services
http://vets.dmva.state.co.us:8000/
Veteran Affairs(VA)
The VA provides Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR & E) services to Service members and Veterans similar to State VR, but specialized to the military situations
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/
Now What?
Ok I Think I Have a Disability – Do I tell my employer or prospective employer?
– Do you need an accommodation?
Then yes, tell them and ask for the accommodation you need
– Do you need time off to attend medical appointments?
If yes, that in and of itself is an accommodation.
Remember this is your private information and is up to you to disclose or not.
Questions
Contact Information
If you have further questions or would like to provide feedback:
Karen Prince http://www.linkedin.com/
profile/view?id=106036259&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
References
Americans with Disability Act. (2013). http://adata.org/faq/what-definition-disability-under-ada Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs. (2013). http://vets.dmva.state.co.us:8000/ Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. (2013). http://www.dvrcolorado.com Colorado Workforce Centers. (2013).
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-EmployTrain/CDLE/1248095319018 Merriam Webster dictionary. (2013). http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disability O’Day, B. (2006). Centers for independent living: Advocates for disability rights. Community Development,
37, (3), 4-12. Rehabilitation Services Administration. (2013). http://rsa.ed.gov/ Smart, J. (2009). The power of models of disability. Journal of Rehabilitation, 75, (2), 3-11. Social Security Administration. (2013). http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm Ticket to Work. (2013). https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/pen-why-become-an-employment-network United States Department of Education. (2013). http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2013). http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre