Resource of the Week

NAMI-San Francisco Monthly Membership Meeting
http://www.namisf.org/meetings.html

NAMI-San Francisco sponsors a free monthly membership that is open to the public and features speakers addressing issues relating to mental illness, including research, medications, social security benefits, and job-training programs.

From the NAMI-San Francisco website: NAMI-San Francisco is one of more than 1,000 local affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, known by its acronym NAMI. It is a self-help organization of family members, mental health consumers, friends, professionals and other interested citizens, united to provide support, education and advocacy for persons with severe mental illness.

The next upcoming meeting is:

"Out of synch and Out of sorts: Schizophrenia"
Wednesday, November 19th
Family Service Agency
1010 Gough (at Eddy), San Francisco
6:30pm-9:30pm

Presented by: UCSF faculty: Dr. Daniel Mathalon, PhD, MD, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Judith Ford, PhD, a neuroscientist.

For more information, call 415-905-6264 (905-NAMI). There is no registration required to attend.

Meet the new DPN Librarian!

There is a new face on the DPN team and her name is Cristina Mitra. She is the new DPN Librarian. Her main job is to help you -- the San Francisco One Stop staff. Each Friday, you'’ll receive a "Resource of the Week" email in your inbox from Cristina that will point to to this blog. On the blog, you will find an organization, program, campaign, or service that might help you better serve job-seeker with disabilities. Usually, this will be a resource from the San Francisco Disability Resource Library (sfDRL), which you should be able to access.

She will also help you by:

• Keeping the sfDRL up-to-date with the most current info while adding new resources every week. Have a question about the database? Cristina can help!
• Visiting the One Stop centers each month with the DPN and also outreaching to employers, job-seekers, non-profits, and other organizations.
• Helping coordinate trainings on a wide range of topics to help you do the best job possible.
  

She will be in the office part-time from Wednesday through Friday each week. Contact her at disabilityprogramnavigator@gmail.com or 415-544-0124. She is also bilingual in Spanish.

Disability Resources Guide Launch

This week the DPN is launching its online Disability Resources Guide!

This web-based guide is your One Stops' personal library of disability and employment information. It was created by the Disability Program Navigator for SF One Stops in order to centralize information on services for individuals with disabilities.

Each One Stop must provide a permanent email address to serve as your site's username.

Orientation sessions will be held:
Fri, August 21, 3-4pm
Wed, August 26, 3-4pm
Fri, August 28, 3-4pm

LOCATION: CVE office, Computer Lab, 1425 Folsom St., San Francisco

Please let us know if you will attend.
disabilityprogramnavigator@gmail.com
510-544-0124 office

Resource of the Week

Quick and Easy Guide to SSI and SSDI
This free booklet answers common questions about SSI/SSDI benefits, definitions of disability, how to apply, how to appeal, amount determinations, and In Home Support Services. Published in 2007, it is available in English, Spanish and Chinese from the Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF). ILRCSF runs Latino and Chinese outreach programs, workshops, support programs, and special services for individuals with hearing loss.

With budget constraints ILRCSF is not currently able to provide free printed copies of their publications, so we have posted this Quick and Easy Guide to SSI and SSDI, along with several other ILRCSF pubs, on the DPN's new Disability Resources Guide (launching this week). Contact the DPN to access the database and sign up for an orientation session.

To preview this publication in English, click here.

Resource of the Week

This week we're focusing on screen readers, a form of accessible technology to help users with low-vision or blindness. Screen reader software can also be very helpful for users with learning disabilities or cognitive problems caused by medication, illness or brain injury.

Introduction to Screen Readers
JAWS is the most common and robust screen reader. It is also the most costly ($1000). For One Stops, JAWS may be more powerful than necessary. Below is a comparison of free screen readers compiled by Jane Berliss-Vincent at the Center for Accessible Technology. These will be the most useful for One Stops.

View the screen reader comparison here.

Additionally, the following software also has audio features that can help users with vision loss or learning disabilities:

• ZoomText Magnifier/Reader ($500)
• EasyTutor from Dolphin Computer Access ($335), or Kurzweil 1000 (for the visually impaired, $1000 and up) and Kurzweil 3000 (for those with reading difficulty, $2000 and up)

Resource of the Week

Access for All Customers: Universal Strategies for One-Stop Career Centers
http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=268
Institute for Community Inclusion, January 2009

The One-Stop system is required to be “universally accessible” to all members of the public, including people with disabilities. The use of universal design strategies can be a major component in such efforts. Beyond helping to meet these mandates, the use of universal design can simply enable the One-Stop to provide easier access, a welcoming atmosphere and better customer service. This guide presents both principles and practical examples One Stops can follow.

Download PDF here.

Impact of the New ADA for People with Major Illness

Check out this interesting article from the Workplace Fairness blog:

The Potential Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Individuals with Disease
http://www.todaysworkplace.org/2009/07/20/the-potential-impact-of-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-on-individuals-with-disease/

Resource of the Week

Creating a Roadmap out of Poverty for Americans with Disabilities
http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/197953_DeptLabor.pdf


A Report on the Relationship of the Employment and Training Administration's Workforce Development System and Local Asset-Building Coalitions. New strategies are being pioneered across the country that address both the challenges of advancing employment options for individuals with disabilities. Collaboration between One-Stop Career Centers, the Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) and Asset Building Coalitions are reaching out to low-income workers with disabilities to help them to utilize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), financial education, and other savings and asset building options. This report focuses on three cities that have greatly assisted people with disabilities to: Break down barriers to employment; Understand the benefits available through tax credits and tax deductions; Obtain free tax preparation; and begin the journey to self-sufficiency.

Resource of the Week

One Stops often need to help participants find local services, shelters, clinics or counseling. Making these referrals requires an up-to-date directory. This week's RESOURCE includes three good choices you can use.

San Francisco Community Services Directory
http://sflib1.sfpl.org:83/search
A comprehensive listing of community organizations and the services they provide to people in San Francisco. Search for local resources by keyword, subject, or neighborhood. Maintained by the SF Public Library. All info is updated at least once per year. Also available in Spanish.

San Francisco Homeless Resource Wiki
http://sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/San_Francisco_Homeless_Resource
This site provides online access to the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) Resource Manual, commonly referred to as SF's "resource Bible." It includes a near-complete list of shelters, food programs, health clinics and other resources for homeless, low-income and disabled residents. Start searching by clicking: "Categories Displayed By Subject." The online manual is jointly managed by HAP, Revival Ministry, Local Parks Council and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board. Users can submit their own edits and additions.

California 2-1-1
http://www.211bayarea.org/search.php
2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number connecting people with important community services, including transportation, emergency and healthcare options for people with disabilities. 2-1-1 phone service is free, confidential and available in over 150 languages. You can also search the database online. Maintained by the United Way.

Resource of the Week

Following up on last week's legal requirements training for One Stops, this week's RESOURCE provides more detailed information on the ADA Amendments Act (effective Jan. 1, 2009).

Accommodation and Compliance Series:
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/bulletins/adaaa1.htm

On January 1, 2009, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 2008 went into effect, making some major changes to the way the definition of disability has been interpreted in the past. This publication from the Job Accommodation Network covers what you need to know about the amended ADA, accessibility in your One Stop, compliance among local employers, and participants' right to reasonable accommodations.

Download a PDF version here.


Related resource:
Notice Concerning The ADA Amendments Act of 2008

See also, the free seminar hosted by Goodwill on ADA Title 24 compliance. July 17 at 10am or 1pm. RSVP to business-services@sfgoodwill.org.