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April
DisabilityInfo Connection
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In This Issue
April 2009
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Welcome to DisabilityInfo Connection, the newsletter of DisabilityInfo.gov. Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, DisabilityInfo.gov provides Americans with disabilities a direct connection to the information and resources they need to fully participate in the workforce and in their communities. This newsletter will keep you informed about new developments relating to disability programs, policies and services across the federal government. It also offers timely information about the important contributions and initiatives of the 22 federal agencies that are partners to this Web site. |
News & Events |
White House Meets with Heads of Disability OrganizationsOn April 15th Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, met with the presidents and CEOs of more than 60 disability organizations in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. During the meeting, Don Gips, Director of Presidential Personnel, announced the appointments of Christine M. Griffin as Deputy Director at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Henry Claypool as Director of the Office on Disability at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Read more about this historic meeting in the White House Blog. Social Security Economic Recovery One-Time Payments Coming in JuneThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for a one-time payment of $250 to individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits. Eligible beneficiaries should receive this payment no later than the first week of June 2009. The one-time payment will be a separate payment that will not be included in the regular monthly benefit payment. For more information about this payment, watch the video or read the fact sheet. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is also making one-time payments of $250 to eligible veterans and their survivors. Database of Almost 2,000 Job Candidates with Disabilities AvailableThe U.S. Department of Labor has made available to employers nationwide a free database of 1,921 pre-screened, qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities seeking summer or permanent employment in a wide variety of fields. Federal employers can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online through the Workforce Recruitment Program, and private sector, other government and nonprofit employers can request unlimited searches by calling the department's Employer Assistance & Resource Network at 866-327-6669. U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Starts Monthly Data Series on People with DisabilitiesOn February 6, 2009, DOL released the first official measure of the unemployment rate facing Americans with disabilities. The data will now be published on DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Web site every month. ODEP is sponsoring the collection of these data by the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through the Current Population Survey (CPS). Social Security Administration (SSA) Is HiringSSA recently received funding to hire more employees throughout the country. This hiring initiative offers a unique opportunity for individuals with disabilities who may want to work for SSA. These jobs will be at various skill levels including a number of entry-level positions. To search and apply for jobs visit USAJOBS. Month-Long Celebration Honors Fair Housing ActDuring April the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) celebrated Fair Housing Month, a series of activities and programs designed to promote fair housing and to educate people about the federal Fair Housing Act. This Act states that it is illegal to discriminate in housing based on families with children, race, color, national origin, religion, disability or sex. 2nd American Bar Association Conference on Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities Scheduled for JuneThis conference will be held June 15-16, 2009 in Washington, DC. The program aims to encourage large legal employers, particularly corporations and law firms, to sign pledges to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace with an emphasis on hiring and retaining lawyers with disabilities. |
Federal Agency in Focus |
Social Security Administration (SSA)SSA administers two programs that provide benefits based on disability - the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. For individuals whose medical conditions are so serious that they obviously meet disability standards, SSA has a compassionate allowance program to expedite the processing of their applications. SSDI provides for payment of disability benefits to individuals who are "insured" because they paid taxes on their earnings. SSI makes payments to individuals (including children under age 18) who are disabled and have limited income and resources. In 2009, nearly 51 million Americans will receive $650 billion in benefits through Social Security’s retirement, disability and survivor programs. Several work incentive programs are also administered by SSA to help people with disabilities return to or continue to work while they are receiving benefits. If you are thinking about going back to work, consider attending a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE). These are community events held by local organizations for beneficiaries to learn more about work incentives through accessible, informal, learning opportunities. Young people who receive Social Security may also want to read the publication Going To Work: A Guide to Social Security Benefits and Employment for Young People with Disabilities. |
State Program in Focus |
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD)VBPD serves as Virginia's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Planning Council. DD Councils are in every U.S. state and territory of the United States. VBPD advises the Governor, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, federal and state legislators and others on issues related to people with disabilities in Virginia. It works to create an environment where individuals with developmental disabilities can be independent, productive and included in all facets of community life. Among the Board’s many programs is the Youth Leadership Forum, which works to empower young people with disabilities to further develop their leadership skills. For information on disability-related programs and services in other states, click on the map in any of DisabilityInfo.gov’s nine main subject areas. |
Hot Topics in Transportation |
New Opportunities for Public Transit & Mobility ManagementAccording to Easter Seals Project ACTION, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has created several opportunities for improving transportation options for people with disabilities though mobility management. Mobility management focuses on service diversity and a “family of transportation services” to reach a wide range of customers. For more information on accessible transportation visit the Transportation section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Air Travelers with DisabilitiesOne of the primary goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through its screening checkpoints. To achieve that goal, TSA has established a program for screening of persons with disabilities and their associated equipment, mobility aids and devices. This program covers all categories of disabilities – mobility, hearing, visual and hidden disabilities. As part of the program, TSA established a coalition of over 70 disability-related groups and organizations in order to understand the concerns of persons with disabilities and medical conditions. Visit the Air Travel section of DisabilityInfo.gov for more resources. Trainings, Webinars & TeleconferencesAs part of its mission to increase senior mobility across the U.S., the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) and its partners sponsor many training opportunities throughout the year. Check NCST’s events calendar for information on these events, including a session on the Assessment of Bus Stop Accessibility and Safety on May 7, 2009. An assessment toolkit can be downloaded in PDF or Word formats. To learn more about transportation options for seniors, visit DisabilityInfo.gov. Travel Training for Student SuccessEaster Seals Project ACTION has developed a travel training guide for school administrators. Travel training is a set of services designed to teach people with disabilities how to safely and independently use fixed-route public transportation. For students with disabilities who are unable to obtain drivers licenses, travel training can be critical to successful postsecondary outcomes. |
Featured Tools & Resources |
Fact Sheets & PublicationsThe Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) offers an extensive library of fact sheets, brochures and posters covering many subjects including job accommodations, disability and workplace culture, and discrimination in the workplace. Visit ODEP’s publications page to learn more about these subjects, and to read the recently released Roadmaps II for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities through Accessible Technology, which is available in PDF and Word formats. Making Home AffordableThis new Web site, MakingHomeAffordable.gov, offers information and assistance for America's homeowners, including self-assessment tools to help them find out if they can benefit from refinancing. The site can also help you find a HUD-approved housing counselor to talk to about your situation and help you decide what mortgage options are best for you. Watch the captioned video Getting the Help You Need for more information about this program. For resources on making your home accessible visit DisabilityInfo.gov’s Housing section. Universal Design for Learning: Policy Challenges & RecommendationsThis report, released in April 2009, was prepared by Project Forum at National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) under a cooperative agreement funded by the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework for guiding educational practice that provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged. UDL also helps reduce barriers in instruction, provide appropriate accommodations, supports and challenges, and maintain high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities Toolkit for Guidance & Career CounselorsThis resource guide, Guidance and Career Counselors Toolkit: Advising High School Students with Disabilities on Postsecondary Options, is from the HEATH Resource Center. It contains answers to counselors' most frequently asked questions about postsecondary opportunities for students with disabilities. Students and their families are also encouraged use the toolkit to help guide their transition planning for college and careers. For more resources on this subject visit DisabilityInfo.gov’s Education section. Share Your Ideas on Health ReformRecommendations from more than 3,200 health care community discussions are included in a report called Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions. Through HealthReform.gov, the Obama Administration continues to seek the public’s input on this subject. Share your thoughts about why we need health reform. For more information about health care visit DisabilityInfo.gov’s Health section. |
In Your Community |
Find a Health Center Near YouThe Health Resources and Services Administration is the main federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured or medically vulnerable. Over the next two years, a total of $2 billion in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding will be invested in Community Health Centers to support renovations and repairs, investments in health information technology and critically needed health care. These health centers provide primary and preventive health and dental care to people of all ages, whether or not they have health insurance or the money to pay. To find a health center near you or to learn more about health centers, visit the Health Center Program Web site. State & Local Resources for Veterans & Service MembersLast year the U.S. departments of Labor, Defense and Veterans Affairs launched the National Resource Directory to connect wounded and disabled service members and veterans and their families to the programs and services they need. Find information on health care, support for caregivers, counseling services and emergency financial help in your state by clicking on the state and local resources map on the National Resource Directory’s home page. More resources for veterans and service members are also available on DisabilityInfo.gov. Find a Job, Change Careers or Upgrade Your SkillsLooking for a job? The Career One-Stop Web site’s Worker ReEmployment Portal provides access to information on employment, training and financial help during job transition. There are nearly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers around the country that can help you look for work and they also offer classes on topics such as resume writing. Most states also have a designated Disability Program Navigator whose job is to help people with disabilities "navigate” through the work support programs available at the Centers. More help for job seekers is available through the U. S. Department of Labor’s Web site, GovBenefits.gov and the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Help Understanding Work IncentivesWork Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects across the country work with Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities on job placement, benefits planning and career development. Each state WIPA project is staffed with a Community Work Incentive Coordinator who offers information and technical assistance on the work incentives that help Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries return to work. This includes helping beneficiaries and their families determine eligibility for federal or state work incentives programs, referring beneficiaries with disabilities to appropriate Employment Networks or State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and providing general information about health coverage available once they enter the workforce. More information on work incentive programs that help people with disabilities work and participate in community life is available in the Work Incentives Programs section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Grants & Funding |
Urban & Non-Urban Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) GrantsHVRP is designed to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Successful applicants will design programs that assist eligible veterans by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, supportive services and other assistance to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. The complete announcement and application package can be downloaded from Grants.gov. The application deadline is May 4, 2009. National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative Community Treatment & Services Center GrantsThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is soliciting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2009 National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative Community Treatment and Services Center Grants. The purpose of these grants is to improve treatment and services for children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events. The grants fund participation in a national network of intervention developers and service providers who work to promote effective community practices for children and adolescents who have been exposed to traumatic experiences. The application deadline is May 6, 2009. Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI)The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services' (OCS) Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program supports business development and expansion opportunities, including micro-enterprise and self-employment opportunities, in an effort to help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency. Funded projects should focus on one of the following three program strategies: (1) new business ventures, (2) business expansion and (3) self-employment/micro-enterprise projects. Grantees may provide technical and financial assistance to private employers in low-income communities in order to create employment and business opportunities. You can download the application from Grants.gov. The application deadline is May 8, 2009. State Personnel Development Grants (SPDG) ProgramThis grant program from Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) helps state education agencies (SEAs) reform and improve their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational and transition services to improve results for children with disabilities. The application deadline is May 29, 2009. Special Education Research GrantsThe Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences is soliciting applications for research projects that will contribute to its special education research programs in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education; Reading, Writing and Language Development; Mathematics and Science Education; Social and Behavioral Outcomes to Support Learning; Transition Outcomes for Special Education Secondary Students; Cognition and Student Learning in Special Education; Teacher Quality; Related Services; Special Education Policy, Finance and Systems; and Autism Spectrum Disorders. There are two rounds of competition – June and October 2009. The application deadlines are June 25, 2009 and October 1, 2009, respectively. Applications may be downloaded in PDF format from the Institute's Web site. |
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