NTAC e.News — May 1, 2009

Asian/Pacific Islander Words of Wisdom

“'A'ohe pu'u ki'eki'e ke ho'a'o 'ia e pi`” - Hawaiian Phrase: No cliff is so tall that it cannot be scaled.
Explanation: No problem is too great when one tries hard to solve it.
Source: http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/heavensent.html

Announcements: NTAC

PacRim 2009

There is still time to register- at the On-Site rate for the Pacific Rim International Forum 2009: "Securing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: A Focus on Poverty." The forum will be held on May 2nd and May 3rd at the 2009 Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, which will be held on May 4th and 5th at the Honolulu Convention Center. You can also enroll in the Post-Pac Rim Capacity Building Institute --"Addressing Diversity and Disability in the Postsecondary Classroom: Universal Design and Beyond," which will be held on May 6th at the Ala Moana Hotel. For more information, please see: http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/

Announcements: National and International

March 2009 Disability Employment Statistics Released

In March 2009, the percent of people with disabilities in the labor force was 22.8 compared with 70.9 for persons with no disability. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 13.1 percent, compared with 8.9 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted Click here to read about the March Disability Employment Statistics Click here to read Commonly Used Terms in BLS Employment Statistics.

Disability Awareness Segment Now on NBC's The More You Know

During the Spring/Summer of 2008, ODEP staff worked with the producers of NBC's The More You Know public service campaign to develop a script for the disability awareness segment of the campaign. NBC secured Meredith Vieira to be the spokeswoman and launched the disability piece this spring. Click here for The More You Know

JAN Extends Invitation to Social Networking Venues

ODEP's free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), recently entered the social networking space. Social networks are those online communities that work together to share and disseminate information. Click here to read more about JAN and Social Networking

Positions Available

Program Manager/Specialist - (AUCD)

Coordinate, plan and carryout a range of technical assistance and information exchange activities to support the State Disability and Health Programs through a cooperative agreement with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Program Manager will work under the supervision of the AUCD-NCBDDD Project Director. The position title will depend on work experience and education related to position competencies and responsibilities

Those interested are required to submit a letter of interest, resume of relevant experiences and names and contact information for three references to:
Laura Martin, Director of Operations AUCD
1010 Wayne Ave, Suite 920
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Email: lmartin@aucd.org, Tel: 301-588-8252 ext 206

For questions, please contact:
Sue Lin, NCBDDD-AUCD Cooperative Agreement Director
Same address, Email: slin@aucd.org, Tel: 301-588-8252 ext 212

Recent Products

For a complete list of NTAC products, please visit the Products section of our Web site.

Research / Publications

New Disability Employment Resource for Employers Released

To meet the need for employers who are looking to recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities, ODEP just released its new Four-Step Reference Guide. The online version of this valuable resource, which covers various topics. It also provides a wealth of links and other resources. The print version will be available later this year.

Federal Employment of People with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) concluded that current efforts to employ people with disabilities in the Federal Government have not worked well, but makes recommendations for reversing this trend.

Online Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Information for Individuals with Disabilities

This website includes information and resources including training modules written for high school students with disabilities preparing for transition from high school to college, a module for parents, a tool kit for guidance and career counselors, and a module for college/university professionals.

2009 Red Book - A Guide to Work Incentives

The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities.

The Massachusetts Disability Employment Initiative (MA-DEI):

A Plan to Maximize Employment for People with Disabilities in Massachusetts http://www.nasuad.org/sites/nasuad/files/hcbs/files/153/7629/MA-DEI_Strategic_Plan_Revised_021309.pdf (strategic plan)
http://www.nasuad.org/sites/nasuad/files/hcbs/files/153/7630/MA-DEI_Strategic_Plan_Appendices.pdf (appendices)
Here is the strategic plan guiding a statewide public-private partnership meant to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The document reviews the current state of employment, the planning process, mission, priorities, and implementation and evaluation plans.

ODEP Releases Roadmaps II for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology

Roadmaps II is a report that looks at the issue of AT and employment from the perspective of AT service providers and disability stakeholders who work directly to assist individuals with disabilities. Roadmaps II is a result of the work of the AT Collaborative - a group of national organizations funded by ODEP and CESSI to address AT issues and provide policy recommendations related to the employment of individuals with disabilities. Roadmaps II follows the January 2008 release of Roadmaps I, which is a report on the consensus Roadmaps developed by participants in the 2007 Business Dialogue on Accessible Technology and Disability Employment for how best to enhance the hiring, retention, and advancement of persons with disabilities and others through accessible technology.

Read more about the Roadmaps here

AFP Announces First in a Series of Webinars on Employment

The Alliance for Full Participation has recently launched a major initiative to improve the employment infrastructure, services and outcomes for people with developmental disabilities. To bring awareness to the cause of increasing employment for people with developmental disabilities, The Alliance is hosting a series of quarterly webinars. The first of these webinars will be held Thursday, May 7 at 4:00 pm ET. Participation is free, however, participants must register beforehand. For more information on AFP, visit www.allianceforfullparticipation.org, or call 301-706-6252.