Workforce Solutions Cameron: Disability Program Navigator
Maria Roussett email: maroussett@camwksinc.org
Disability Navigator Initiative
OUR MISSION: INCREASED ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS WITH DISABILITIES
- Build workforce system capacity - assist and train staff to more effectively serve job seekers with disabilities; foster sustainable business practices
- Strengthen collaborative relationships with community partners to promote integrated, coordinated services
- Provide information and support to businesses to increase their capabilities of hiring, retaining, and promoting employees with disabilities
THE BENCHMARKS:Center Accessibility – programmatic, physical, communication
- Increased use of Workforce Solutions services/offices by job seekers with disabilities
- Trained staff expanded available resources and Auxiliary Aids and Services, ADA, Job Accommodation Services.
- Integrated resource team approach to facilitate coordinated services
- Strengthen interagency partnerships with DARS, DARS Blind Services, DADS,Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Workforce Center Business Services, Rio Grande Valley State Hospital, Easter Seals, Amigos del Valley, Lower Rio Grande Development Council, 211 Community Recourses, Health and Human Services Border Affairs, Homeless Coalition, Anos de Oro.
- Marketing & outreach to disability community on work opportunities for Persons
with Disabilities
- Information to/for business to promote hiring, retention, and promotions
- Referral policies and processes; tracking results by providing monthly reporting
- Customer satisfaction and continuous improvement through information from our
partner organization
- Plans for sustainability and continuing the initiative’s vision
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has released disability employment statistics for January showing that the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 20.1. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 69.5. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 13.6 percent (down from 15.2 percent a year ago), compared with 9.7 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted. For more information click here:
Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) builds on effective practices of the DPN initiative look in To find out more about the DEI visit:https://disability.workforce3one.org
“Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities.” Announcement: 2011 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Theme Announced“ Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities.”
ODEP Assistant Secretary Kathy Martinez unveiled the official theme of the October 2011 National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme, "Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities," promotes the contributions of workers with disabilities and serves to inform the public that these workers represent a highly skilled talent pool that can help employers compete in a global economy. Read the press release on the early announcement of this year’s theme: (READ)
US Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy announces 2011 theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month “Return on investment means hiring the right talent,” said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. “Workers with disabilities represent all skill sets and are ready to get the job done. This year’s theme focuses on improving employment opportunities that lead to good jobs and a secure economic future for people with disabilities and the nation as a whole.”Disability Disclosure and the Workplace: Why, When, What, and How
(Click for article) This link will take you to an article on the Office of Disability Employment Policy website, a division of the US Department of Labor.
Job Accommodation Network’s Employees Practical Guide to Requesting and Negotiating Reasonable Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act at http://askjan.org/EeGuide/. The Job Accommodation Network is a free service of the US Dept. of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. To speak to a JAN consultant please call (800)526-7234 (Voice) (877)781-9403 (TTY) or email jan@askjan.org
Positive Mental Health from Birth: Today and Everyday
by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Team
Each year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's
(SAMSHA) National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day raises awareness about the importance of positive social and emotional development from birth and how, as a country, we should be caring for every child’s mental health.For more mental health resources visit: https://www.disability.gov
Social Security’s Commitment to Americans with Disabilities
Many Americans with disabilities make valuable contributions to the U.S. workforce every day. The Social Security Administration is evaluating the BOND project to help more people return to work and earn more, helping them take steps toward a better quality of life. American Federation for the Blind: AFBCareerConnect® is a free resource for people who want to learn about the range and diversity of jobs performed by adults who are blind or visually impaired throughout the United States and Canada. AFB is based in New York, and maintains the AFB Center on Vision Loss in Dallas. Whether you are a student exploring careers, a job seeker investigating work options, an employer planning to diversify your workforce, a professional working with visually impaired people, or a friend or family member assisting someone who is blind or has low vision, this website can help you! Follow this link: www.afb.org
Rules and Laws ADA Final Rules:
Highlights of the Impact on One-Stops ADA Final Rules: qualified individual with a disability shall be: denied participation, denied benefits, services, or goods, denied access to programs or activities, subject to discrimination, Equal Opportunity: ADA provides equality of opportunity, but does not guarantee equality of results. Opportunity must be equal to and as effective as the opportunity provided to others. Effective communication: Must take appropriate steps to ensure as effective. Include provision of necessary auxiliary aids and services. It’s time to start thinking about employers, entrepreneurs, local committees and professionals in the field of disabilities that deserve “Above-and-Beyond” recognition for the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities 2011 Employment Awards. Please take a bit of time to think about folks in your community who are deserving of the award and either nominate them yourself, or send them the info and ask them to self-nominate. We have updated and simplified the nomination forms
Governors Committee on Disabilities Employer Awards Categories
For Businesses: http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com
BusinessCase: http://www.askearn.org
Serving People with Psychiatric Disabilities in Centers for
Independent Living: A Fact Sheet
The national network of Centers for Independent Living increasingly serves individuals with mental health challenges or a combination of mental health and physical/sensory disabilities. This new 20-page publication from the Temple University Collaborative provides CIL staff with clear and current information to help them better respond to the needs of people in recovery from mental illnesses.
Developed in conjunction with CIL staff and mental health consumers from around the country, the Fact Sheet provides brief responses to twelve frequently asked questions (e.g., what is mental illness? where can people with psychiatric disabilities turn for clinical care and rehabilitation services? what impact is the mental health consumer movement having on MH system services? how can CIL staff respond to the needs of mental health consumers?) as well as online linkages to websites with more detailed information and instruction for each topic. The publication is designed both for individual CIL staff and for use in CIL staff training programs focusing on this growing portion of the CIL consumer base. Serving People with Psychiatric Disabilities in Centers for Independent Living: A Fact Sheet can be downloaded at no cost from the Temple University Collaborative's new website. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) created a web-based resource page with employers in mind. There is a wealth of resources, articles and links to help businesses source, recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities, a pool of talent too often overlooked by employers. A selection of videos features experts in the field of disability employment who have been interviewed by SHRM. Each begins with a brief audio description so that those with visual impairments can "see" the video, while scrolling text next to the video image enables those with hearing impairments to "hear" the video. Individuals who have reading-related challenges can simply ignore all the text and enjoy the audio/video portions of each presentation. Check out the website at: http://www.shrm.org
Local Links: Cameron County Mental Task Force: www.cameroncountymentalhealth.org
211 Texas Connecting People and Services Information and referral Services RioGrande Valley Inc. 211texas.org
Lower Rio Grande Development Council: The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council is a voluntary association of local governments in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties focused on promoting coordinated on transportation, Services for Aged and Disabled. www.lrgvdc.org
Amigos del Valle, PURPOSE: Amigos del Valle is a community wide service project. Our purpose is to provide services to senior adults who wish to remain independent. http://www.advrgv.org
ADA Paratransit Service is a service for persons with disabilities whose eligibility has been determined by a certification process. To be eligible to use the ADA Paratransit Service, individuals must apply for a determination of eligibility. Individuals applying must meet at least one of the following three eligibility criteria: 1) Unable to board, ride or disembark independently from any readily accessible vehicle on the regular fixed route system. 2) Unable to access existing accessible fixed route transportation because that transportation is not available at the needed time on that route. 3) Unable to get to pick up and drop off locations of regular fixed route system. Contact, ADA Coordinator, at (956) 541-4881.
Campaign for Disability Employment has produced a public service announcement that showcases the workplace skills and talents of people with disabilities. View it yourself and help spread the word about this important campaign: http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org
