The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebrates 20 years!
ADA was enacted in 1990 under President Bush; the long title of the Act being: "An Act to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability."
There are five Titles of ADA; Title I relates to employment. Under the equal employment provisions of the ADA it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. It is also unlawful to discriminate against an non-disabled individual because of that person's association with a disabled individual.
A qualified individual with a disability means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires. An individual is disabled under the ADA if he or she has:
- a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity (e.g., breathing, seeing, hearing, caring for self, walking);
- has a record of such an impairment; or
- is regarded as having such an impairment.
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CSS Takes on New Federal Probation and Parole Project in Virginia
CSS has always been a very nimble organization, continuously looking for underserved populations who can benefit from our employment services. Looking for these opportunities has lead us across the state of Virginia, into rural areas, the TANF population, and now to the ex-offender population.
The jail system, both on the state and federal level has traditionally been "a revolving door," with nearly two-thirds of inmates being rearrested within three years of release from jail. Low employment rates among this population are directly related to the high recidivism rates seen across the country.
There are multiple factors that contribute the low employment rates among ex-offenders. Low levels of education, limited work experience, and the lack of willingness of employers to hire someone with a criminal record. Additionally, approximately 70% of inmates have some sort of disability, either cognitive, mental, and/or physical. In fact, according to this this study people with severl mental illness are three times more likely to be in jail then in a hospital. Although CSS has never undertaken a federal project of this sort, the ex-offender population is not unlike the population we have already had years of success placing and supporting in jobs in communities throughout the state.
CSS was approached byUnited States Probation Officers across the state looking for community resources and partners. After initial meetings with senior staff it became apparent that a potential new partnership was in the making. And, it looks like it will became another make-sense way for CSS to provide support to yet another underserved population. The project is underway in the Western Region of Virginia in the Blue Ridge and Roanoke regions, while the Eastern Region is just getting the project details put into place.
Studies have shown that employers are more likely to take a risk in hiring ex-offenders when they are told of potential services from intermediary agencies. CSS will be able to provide this service to ex-offenders and potential employers alike. |
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Daylight Donuts Opens TOMORROW! 
Daylight Donuts, located at 10260 W. Broad Street, Glen Allen, VA and will be opening tomorrow, June 12, 2010. You are invited to come in and enjoy coffee, sausage rolls, and of course, DONUTS! Daylight Donuts will be an innovative marriage between a community employer and an ESO. CSS is developing an in depth job analysis, and task analysis for each job duty. This process will revolutionize situational assessments. Additionally, Daylight Donuts will be an image enhancing employer of several of our customers with disabilities. We thank you for your support. |
