Resource of the Week

The 411 on Disability Disclosure
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/411-on-disability-disclosure-for-adults

We learned about this resource from an esteemed colleague, Lisa Jordan, workforce development and disability expert. Many of the One Stop staff were able to benefit from Lisa's expertise last year when she facilitated the  popular Legacy Training on Disability Awareness in Fall 2009. Lisa is a wonderful resource and maintains the Disability Facts Blog, which is full of relevant resources.

This week we explore disclosure in a workbook created by the The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD). We're a huge fan of this organization and many of their resources can be found on this blog and in our disability resource database. Although this workbook was created with youth with disabilities in mind, it definitely applies to adults.

In particular, please check out Chapter 8: Disclosure on the Job…Why, When, What, to Whom, and How? (page 8-1) for some indispensable key tips on the value of disclosure and when to or when not to disclose a disability. The main idea here is "that the process of learning how to disclose disability-related needs effectively and to develop an accommodation plan is extremely valuable" (p. 8-3).

There is even a section about visiting the One Stop Centers with a checklist of steps to take to learn more about the centers. Check out the list (p. 8-13) of steps. Would you be ready to serve a job-seekers in each of these steps?

Resource of the Week

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Webcasts
http://prod.askjan.org/webcast/registration.cfm

Gather your One Stop staff together in a room for live, in-service training from the experts in job accommodation: The Job Accommodation Network. Educate yourself, management, and other employees on disability etiquette, assistive technologies, management techniques, and the latest on accommodations and the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). From October 2010 to August 2011, JAN offers insightful professional development opportunities for all segments of the One Stop system.

All Webcasts begin at 2 pm Eastern (11:00AM Pacific) and are 1 hour. You must register to attend. One registration is equivalent to one login. Worried that your computer won't be able to handle the Webcast? JAN offers an overview of computer requirements needed to participate in the Webcasts.

These are just some of the upcoming Webcasts for the remainder of 2011:

10/25/2010 - 2:00 pm Eastern
Effective Practices - The Bender Model
Joyce A. Bender, the CEO and founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., will discuss effective practices related to recruiting and hiring people with disabilities in the public and private sectors, who are trained in the information technology, engineering, finance/accounting, human resources, and general business areas.
Joyce will discuss the benefits of creating competitive employment and career opportunities for people with disabilities.

11/09/2010 - 2:00 pm Eastern
Veterans Issues
JAN will showcase best practices in hiring and accommodating our returning wounded service members.

12/14/2010 - 2:00 pm Eastern
Customized Employment
Join Dr. Suzanne G. Kitchen and a special guest for a lively discussion about Customized Employment and the success it can bring to individuals with significant disabilities. In this session, strategies and suggestions will be provided, including identifying natural workplace supports, using assistive technology, and negotiating employment tasks, to help you best serve individuals who have typically been excluded from the traditional workforce.

Resource of the Week

Return-To-Work Toolkit
http://www.dol.gov/odep/return-to-work/

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has launched a new toolkit that helps employers and employees understand the return-to-work process. It's an amazing collection of resources to help get employees who experience an illness or injury back on the job quickly and smoothly. 

The employee toolkit includes information about:

• job accommodations
• preparing for a job interview
• resume writing
• self-employment
• employment-related laws

The employer toolkit has information about strategies such as 

• employment laws
• telecommuting, modifying work duties or schedules
• as well as resources that can help employers retain the talents of older workers

We will be featuring portions of this toolkit on the blog throughout the next month, but take a look today -- even if you only have 5 minutes -- because we're sure that you'll learn something new. Remember that all of these resources are specifically targeted for people with disabilities. For example, the resume-writing guide is a printable flyer from Earnworks.com. This could be a great flyer to distribute to staff or to post in your One Stop Center.

Resource of the Week

Choose Work - The Ticket to Work website
www.choosework.net

Do you know what Ticket to Work is? It's an important program to know about because your customers may enter the One Stop with a Ticket to Work voucher. This is a Social Security Administration program that offers people with disabilities an opportunity at achieving financial independence by enabling more choice in employment-related support services, and access to meaningful work.

A first step in learning about this program through the through the Choose Work website.

This website includes resources and information on:
• Ticket to Work
• Work Incentives Seminar Events
• Resources Map (find employment resources by state)

The site also provides targeted resources for: Beneficiaries, Providers and Employers.

You may also refer customers to the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program for San Francisco: The Independent Living Resource Center or call (415) 543-6222. You can always call the DPN for more information on this and any other Resource of the Week.

Video Watch!

The National Disability Institute (NDI) held an American Dream video contest, in which NDI asked Americans with disabilities to create a video that tells the story of their American Dream and how they are working toward that dream. Sixty people shared their stories and individuals from all across the country shared your support. Kenzi Robi from San Francisco is the winner of the contest! Kenzi will receive $1,000 towards the achievement of his dreams and for a trip to Washington, D.C. Congratulations, Kenzi!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

Happy October 1st! Our "Indian Summer" seems to have come and past in San Francisco. Colder weather, pumpkins, warm soup and Halloween seem to be on the mind of everyone. The arrival of October not only marks these traditional images, but also the designated month when our country celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities during the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

Read the reflections of Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, on the significance of NDEAM 2010. Assistant Secretary Martinez will be speaking next Wednesday, October 6th, at CVE's Legislative Breakfast via teleconference from Washington, D.C.
 
Download NDEAM 2010 posters and print to hang in your One Stops today! For the first time, the posters are also available as downloadable versions in six additional languages: Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French, and two Native American languages: Navajo, Lakota.

How will you celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities this month?

Local News

Did you know that October 2010 is the last month for the disabled sticker from SFMTA? And, not only that, but starting November 2010, disabled public transportation riders must local their discounted monthly pass to a Regional Transit Connection (RTC) discount photo card. If your customers come to you with questions about these changes, feel free to refer them to us for information and guidance.

For blind or low vision customers, you may want to mention that the self-serve Add Value Machines have earphone/headphone jacks on the left side. Also, the Clipper website (www.clippercard.com) is designed to work with screen-reader software.

Clipper brochures, which explain how to use the new Clipper Card, are available in large print, Braille or CD. Contact Clipper Customer Service at (887) 878-8883 or TTY/TTD 711 or (800) 735-2929 to request these accessible formats.

We also have the application for customers with disabilities to apply for the RTC discount card.

"DPN Recommends"

In helping people with disabilities find a job, it can be important to have a very positive attitude about the possibilities that lie ahead. Today, we share a link from Psychologydegree.com -- a website dedicated to educating the public about the value and options that a psychology degree offers -- that will hopefully inspire such a positive attitude. Patricia Duggan, one of the co-founders of the site, recently contacted the DPN to share a post on the site about 50 Famously Successful People Who Are Dyslexic. Take a browse, and learn about some famous people who have a learning disability because they are dyslexic.

Video Watch!

Confused about how the new health reform law really works? This short, animated movie -- featuring the "YouToons" -- explains the problems with the current health care system, the changes that are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014.

http://healthreform.kff.org/the-animation.aspx

Resource of the Week

It is a momentous time for health care reform. The new Affordable Care Act -- whose reforms went into effect yesterday, September 23, 2010 -- has some important new provisions that positively affect people with disabilities. This is great news for job seekers with disabilities who have the added pressure of finding a job in order to secure health insurance through an employer's group plan. Too often, people with disabilities seeking individual health care plans face discrimination based on pre-existing medical conditions. By 2014, this type of discrimination will be against the law.

To learn about other provisions that can positively impact individuals with disabilities, watch this week's Resource of the Week: a video from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services about the Affordable Care Act. The information you learn may be crucial to helping ease the concerns of job seekers that you are interacting with at your One Stop Centers. Who knows? You may learn some information that helps you or someone you care about as well.



For more information about the new the Affordable Care Act, visit Healthcare.gov. The new law helps seniors, young adults and the general population as well.