Are you interested in your state's employment outcomes as compared to those of other states in your region?  A Review of Commonly-Used State Employment Measures in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services [PDF], a Policy Research Brief published by the University of Minnesota Research and Training Center on Community Living, uses publicly-available data sources to offer readers a state-by-state comparison of employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

With income tax season just around the corner, now is the time to talk with the people you serve about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families, and can be a great incentive for those who are struggling to make work pay.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has released Montana and Major Components of Healthcare Reform [PDF], an analysis of major components of the Affordable Care Act and possible impacts on the state and her citizens.

The CDC's Public Health Grand Rounds Where in health is disability? Public health practices to include people with disabilities is archived and available for viewing. A transcript of the presentation may also be downloaded.

In January, the U.S. Department of Labor's Campaign for Disability Employment released the new video public service announcement Because. The PSA highlights what people with disabilities can do when given the opportunity and was developed to increase career expectations of youth with disabilities, their parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, and future employers.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) seeks applications [PDF] for its 2013 Summer Leadership Academy. The training will take place in Washington, DC, June 9 to June 15, 2013. All expenses for the training are covered by ASAN, including travel, lodging and food. Participants will learn valuable skills in community organizing, creating policy goals and activism. Applicants must be current college students with at least one year remaining before graduation.

Two new Insight Briefs are available from Think College Publications: Federal Financial Aid for Students with Intellectual Disabilities [PDF] and Postsecondary Education and Employment Outcomes for Transition-age Youth With and Without Disabilities: A Secondary Analysis of American Community Survey Data [PDF]. 

The Social Security Administration has expanded the services available with a my Social Security account. For example, Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients can now access their benefit verification letter, payment history, and earnings record instantly using their online account.

Project SEARCH for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Increasing Competitive Employment On Transition from High School by Paul Wehman, Carol Schall, Jennifer McDonough, Alissa Molinelli, Erin Riehle, Whitney Ham and Weston Thiss, describes how Project SEARCH was used to help youth with ASD gain competitive employment. Two case studies are included.

The January 29, 2013 Wrightslaw Special Ed Advocate newsletter is devoted to transition planning and transition services. Articles address such topics as transition plan components, legal requirements, and vocational goals.

In Transitioning Youth with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities: Predicting Community Employment Outcomes (Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 2012, online ahead of print), authors Simonsen and Neubert report the findings of a study examining community employment outcomes for 338 transitioning youth with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in one state 18 months after they exited school. 57.1% of the young adults were engaged in sheltered or non-work activities, 28.7% were participating in other models of community work (e.g., enclaves, crews), and 14.2% were in integrated employment. The identified predictors of community employment included race/ethnicity, family expressed preference for paid work in the community, paid work experience, and self-management and community mobility skills.

Easter Seals Project ACTION just released Considerations for Selecting and Hiring Travel Trainers: A Compilation of Resources. This resource is intended for educators and school systems looking to hire a travel trainer for students in transition to post-school settings.

On January 25, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights issued guidance [PDF] outlining school districts' responsibilities to ensure that extracurricular athletics be offered in "such manner as is necessary to afford qualified students with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation." Because school athletics provide opportunities for skill development, social interaction, networking and more, this guidance could open the door to a whole array of new transition preparation activities for youth and young adults with disabilities.