Transition and Employment Projects Tidbits

Transition Tidbits

Transition News and Resources

July 2012

In This Issue

Training: MT, Online

Training: Other States

ADA Anniversary

MT News

Announcements

Employment

National News

Post-Secondary

Social Security

Technology

Transition

Web Sites

Learning Opportunities: Montana and Online

What is GettingHired.com?

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

12:00-1:00 PM MT

Learn about this free, easy to use, fully accessible resource to assist people with disabilities in finding employment.

Heading for College with Special Health Care Needs; Student Preparation for a Successful Transition

August 1, 2012

12:00-1:00 PM MT

Learn about practical considerations for a student's health care transition, in preparation for a successful adjustment to college life. Young adult panelists will also share their own experiences with college transitions.

Accessible Technology's Impact on the Employment of People with Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities

August 2, 2012

12:00-1:00 PM MT

The webinar will focus on the current state of accessible technology for those with cognitive and developmental disabilities, and will provide examples of the current and future use of these technologies in the workplace.

What's Normal? The Value of the Developmental Lens in Working with Transition-Aged Youth with Mental Health Challenges

August 7, 2012

11:00-12:00 AM MT

Participants will be introduced to the latest theory and empirical research on development between ages 18 and 29. Explore distinctions between developmental vs. mental health challenges during emerging adulthood.

Weaving the Common Core through the Strands
August 8-10 2012

Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, MT

Cost: $250 (3 days); $125 (one day)

The Common Core is here... and so are RTI, MBI, GTE, IEFA, SPED, Technology... all of these great initiatives-how do we "weave" them all together? Join us at the beautiful Salish Kootenai College campus and get ready for the new school year with workshops on common core, technology, behavior, gifted, special education, Indian Education and much, much more.

Transition for Youth with Autism from School to Adulthood: Critical Considerations
August 14, 2012

1:30-2:30 PM MT

Cost: $50 (free to Virginia participants)
This presentation will provide a brief overview of the research regarding the outcomes of adults with ASD and will discuss the primary areas of concern for this group, including employment, residential living, social interactions, and community integration.

"Knowledge is Power" Youth in Transition Workshops

August 14, 2012: Great Falls, MT

August 15, 2012: Shelby, MT

August 16, 2012: Havre, MT

Join us for a fun day of learning about resources for young people living with mental disorders who are transitioning into adult living. Youth, parents and case managers are invited. For more information or to register, contact Jane Wilson, Adult Mental Health Bureau: 406-454-6078 (jawilson@mt.gov) or Christine Huber, Children's Mental Health Bureau: 406-454-6088 (chuber@mt.gov).

Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders through a Model Public VR Program
August 20, 2012

12:00-1:00 PM MT

Cost: $25

Virginia's emerging model program for individuals with ASD may offer a solution for VR agencies facing a surge of new clients with ASD and a lack of existing research on evidenced based strategies to improve historically bleak employment outcomes.

Supported Employment Web-Based Certificate Series

August 20-November 12, 2012

Cost: $250

This is an ACRE-certified course covering important employment strategies including assistive technology evaluation and application, developing business partnerships, career development, compensatory strategies, and much more.

Supported Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness

August 20-November 12, 2012

Cost: $250

This is an ACRE-certified course covering interagency collaboration, self-employment, workplace supports/computer supports, Social Security work incentives, and much more.

Innovative Technology for Students with ID in PSE

August 27, 2012

12:00-1:30 PM MT

Learn how new technologies, including mixed-reality environments, are transforming the learning experiences of students with intellectual disability.

Career Development for Youth and Adults with Disabilities

September 11-24, 2012

Cost: $149

This 2-week, 18-hour web training focuses on developing career paths through innovative vocational assessment, career development skills, and vocational profiling for youth and adults with disabilities.

Getting Started: Developing Inclusive College Opportunities

September 17, 2012

12:00-1:30 PM MT

This webinar will provide an overview of the issues involved in developing inclusive postsecondary educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities.

Customized Employment

September 17-October 15, 2012

Cost: $100

This course will take a closer look at customized employment and how it can facilitate employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Customized Supported Self-Employment

September 24-December 17, 2012

Cost: $250

This online course is being offered by Virginia Commonwealth University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in collaboration with Griffin-Hammis and Associates. Discussion groups will be led by nationally known experts in self-employment from Griffin-Hammis and Associates.

Learning Opportunities: Other States

Transition...Reaching New Altitudes

October 25-26, 2012

Denver, Colorado

The Division on Career Development and Transition Regional Conference offers a variety of transition-related workshop strands.

Greetings!

We hope you are enjoying a beautiful Montana summer filled with family, friends, and fun. We invite you to browse the July Transition Tidbits for news and resources you can use throughout the year as you work to promote the successful transition of young Montanans with disabilities from high school to their adult lives.

Happy Birthday ADA!

July 26^th marked the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990! The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA National Network offers an Anniversary Toolkit, along with videos, training and a wealth of other resources related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions recently issued Unfinished Business: Making Employment of People with Disabilities a National Priority [PDF]. The report details the current state of employment for adults with disabilities and describes policy recommendations that could help increase labor force participation. Committee Chairman Harkin states, "When we passed the ADA in 1990, the Congress announced four public policy goals for people with disabilities: 1) equality of opportunity, 2) full participation, 3) independent living and 4) economic self-sufficiency. Those goals are as critical today as they were in 1990, and they are more within our grasp. Yet we will not realize the promise of the ADA and those policy goals if we do not get serious about boosting employment rates for people with disabilities. Now is the time to engage with leaders in government, industry, and the disability community to help America finally tap the tremendous talent pool that exists in our disability community." Toward that end, the report outlines four policy areas in which Sen. Harkin intends to introduce legislation: transition of youth to postsecondary education and competitive, integrated employment; helping disability-owned businesses compete effectively; creating incentives for states to test new models to support people with disabilities; and encouraging saving and asset development.

Montana News

"Knowledge is Power" Youth in Transition Workshops will be held in Great Falls on August 14, Shelby on August 15, and Havre on August 16. Each session will be a fun day of learning about resources for young people involved in mental health services who are transitioning to adult living. Parents and case managers are also invited. For more information contact Jane Wilson, Adult Mental Health Bureau: 406-454-6078 or Christine Huber, Children's Mental Health Bureau: 406-454-6088.

The 55^th annual Montana Association for Rehabilitation Conference will be held October 24-26, 2012 at the Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone. Sponsorship applications, exhibitor sheets, presenter forms, scholarship applications, registration forms and other materials are available on the MAR website. You may also register by email to torcutt@mt.gov. Call 1-888-279-7531 for more information.

Announcements

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently published A Guide to the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act Decision [PDF]. This ten-page policy brief describes the decision and looks ahead to the implementation of health reform.

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund website offers a clear and concise analysis of the recent Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, along with key provisions of the law for people with disabilities.

2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month posters are now available in English and Spanish. This year's theme for the October campaign is "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What can YOU do?"

Quality Mall has added a Transportation department, with information about transportation resources and supports to help people live, work, and participate in their communities.

Employment

Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcomes for Transition-Age Youth with Intellectual Disabilities [PDF] provides state-by-state data on employment outcomes for youth with intellectual disabilities as compared with older age groups of people with ID.

FindYouthInfo.gov offers information about Schedule A hiring authority for youth and young adults with disabilities. Schedule A allows individuals to apply for a Federal appointment through a non-competitive hiring process.

Resources for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities is a guest blog by Megan Totka, the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. In her article, Ms. Totka offers small business information and resources on topics such as start-up financing, professional guidance, and tax and regulatory help.

National News

In June 2012, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued Employment for People with Disabilities: Little Is Known about the Effectiveness of Fragmented and Overlapping Programs [PDF]. The report summarizes survey results from 45 programs that support employment for people with disabilities, including Vocational Rehabilitation and Ticket to Work. The GAO found that the programs often provided fragmented or overlapping services and coordination to address fragmentation and duplication was limited.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living's Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities have signed a memorandum of agreement. The agencies will work together to expand and promote integrated employment as the first employment option for individuals with significant, including intellectual and other developmental, disabilities.

In mid-July, the National Governors Association announced a new initiative to increase employment of individuals with disabilities. A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities [PDF] will focus on both the employment challenges that individuals with disabilities face and on the role that government and business can play in increasing competitive employment opportunities available to these individuals.

Post-Secondary Education

The July 24, 2012 NCWD/Youth blog The Job Search: Transitioning from College to the Workforce offers young adults tips and resources for smoothly transitioning from post-secondary education into employment.

The June 2012 Think College! E-News includes graduation stories and photos, information about scholarships for individuals with Down Syndrome who wish to pursue post-secondary education, and a glimpse into "The College Experience" photography exhibit.

Social Security

Back to Work: Recent SSA Employment Demonstrations for People with Disabilities [PDF] is a Mathematica Policy Research Center for Studying Disability Policy brief summarizing short-term impacts from four Social Security Administration demonstration projects:

Accelerated Benefits Demonstration
Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration
Mental Health Treatment Study
Youth Transition Demonstration

All the projects were designed to increase the economic self-sufficiency of Supplemental Security Income recipients and Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries. Early results from the four demonstrations include modest improvements in employment and/or the use of employment services. They also show potential for influencing other participant outcomes (for example, health).

In June, the GAO published Supplemental Security Income: Better Management Oversight Needed for Children's Benefits [PDF]. According to the report, the Social Security Administration denies a majority of children who apply for SSI. The share of children awarded SSI for mental impairments has remained stable for over a decade but the diagnoses within the mental impairment category have changed. For example, the rates of autism rose dramatically. Children taking medications for certain mental impairments are less likely to be approved for SSI. Finally, the GAO found that the number of children applying for and receiving SSI has increased due to several factors, including the rise in child poverty.

Technology

AbleData provides almost 40,000 assistive technology product listings in 20 categories such as aids for daily living, education, computers, transportation, and products for people with different disabilities.

Listen to Howard Shane, Jessica Gosnell, David McNaughton, and Sam Sennot as they discuss the use of mobile communication technologies by children with complex communication needs. Topics include:

Benefits of Mobile Communication Technology
The Assessment Process
Learning about New Apps
Intervention
Building Vocabulary and Language Skills
What's Next?
Additional Resources

The Tech Watch blog disseminates up-to-date information on AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) technology research and devices.

The AAC-RERC website offers 19 free webcasts on a variety of AAC topics, including Employment and Individuals who use AAC and Supporting Successful Transitions for Individuals who use AAC.

BridgingApps.org houses a funding source directory for iPads and other mobile devices.

The Family Center on Technology and Disability's May 2012 newsletter features Autism and the iPad: Finding the Therapy in Consumer Tech. The article explores the use of iPads as learning tools, various apps (which are useful, paid versus free, etc.), barriers to iPad use, and more.

Transition

Melody Musgrove, Director, Office of Special Education Programs, United States Department of Education, issued a written response [PDF] to questions from Disability Rights Wisconsin about the Least Restrictive Environment requirements as they apply to transition work placements. Clarifications include:

If the IEP team determines a work placement is an appropriate transition service for an individual student, it must be included in the student's IEP.
The Least Restrictive Environment provisions also apply to the employment portion of the student's program and placement.
Supplementary aids and services identified on the IEP must be provided to enable the student to participate in the work placement.

The Center on Transition to Employment for Youth with Disabilities recently released The Impact of Personnel Factors on Employment Outcomes of Urban At-risk Youth [PDF]. This Issue Brief describes some of the key variables in successful transition to employment, including community-based work experience while youth are in school. It also examines professional competencies that may positively influence transition and proposes further research in this area.

Web Sites

Disability.gov offers easy access to information about a variety of laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); Fair Housing Act; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act; and Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.

Benefits.gov was recognized by the Social Driver website blog as one of the five best government websites "that just work." Benefits.gov provides access to information about government benefits and allows the public to search assistance programs.

The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Accessibility Clearinghouse is an online information hub about innovative ways to communicate, especially for individuals with disabilities. The Clearinghouse is organized by disability, including blind or visually impaired; cognitive disabilities; deaf-blind disability; hearing, language, and speech disabilities; and mobility and physical disabilities.

Youth on the Move is a transition web site from the Institute for Community Inclusion. The site is designed "to provide information, strategies, and resources to transition navigators - teachers, counselors, family members, and community providers - to guide youth on the move."

	Please note: the Transition and Employment Projects at the University of Montana Rural Institute shares information and resources our listserv members may find of interest. We do not endorse the web sites or workshop contents or their providers, and we assume no responsibility for the validity of information provided on sites or in sessions not hosted by our agency.