NTAC e.News — June 2010

Asian/Pacific Islander Words of Wisdom

“Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.”

- Confucius

Source: http://hunch.com/quotations/#s2.

Announcements: National and International

U.S. Labor Department Releases New Online Tool to Help Employers Understand Responsibilities under Disability Nondiscrimination Laws

The new online Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor helps employers quickly and easily determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization and their responsibilities under them. The law advisor asks users to answer a few questions to take into account variables such as the nature of an organization, staff size and whether the business or organization receives federal financial assistance. Based on responses provided, the law advisor generates a customized list of federal disability nondiscrimination laws that likely apply, along with easy-to-understand information about employers' responsibilities under each of them.

Positions Available

Employment Opportunities Posted on AUCD.org

Several new jobs with locations all across the country have been posted on the AUCD website. To view them, click here.

Fellowship for Mid-Career Professional from another Country at USICD

The United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD), in partnership with Atlas Corps, has made available one fellowship position to work with USICD in Washington, DC for one year, beginning in September 2010. This is an exciting opportunity for a mid-career professional from another country, working in the nongovernmental sector, to spend a year working in Washington working and learning with our organization in areas such as advocacy, program development and nonprofit administration.

Recent Products

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

Resources

New Tool Helps Small Businesses Understand Disability Laws

When it comes to having a workplace welcoming of all qualified individuals, most business owners want to do the right thing. But understanding responsibilities under nondiscrimination laws and regulations can be daunting, especially for small businesses without dedicated human resource or legal functions. Click here to learn more about this valuable resource.

Institutes / Conferences

Summer Symposium for Change: Eliminating Disparities for People of Color with Significant Disabilitiesor Support Needs

Held in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the TASH Summer Symposium for Change is a two-day program aimed at eliminating access, service and outcome disparities for people of color with disabilities.To learn more, click here.

2010 AUCD Annual Meeting and Conference

AUCD is pleased too announce and invite you to their annual meeting which will be held in October. To receive the latest information about the 2010 AUCD conference, you can join their list serve by going here.

Aligning Disability with the Bottom Line: Talent, Market Share, and Supplier Diversity

The 2010 USBLN(R) Annual Conference & Expo Aligning Disability with the Bottom Line: Talent, Market Share, and Supplier Diversity is the preeminent national employer-to-employer event that taps into the vast economic potential of people with disabilities. This conference brings corporate, government, disability-owned businesses and BLN affiliates together to create workplaces, marketplaces, and supply chains where people with disabilities are fully included as professionals, customers and entrepreneurs.

Research / Publications

The Cultural and Linguistic Competence Family Organization Assessment

National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), at the Georgetown UCEDD developed this assessment to be a useful resource for the array of grants and activities that are family led and directed which address the interests and needs of individuals who experience disability, special health care needs, and emotional/behavioral challenges.

Project SEARCH: Opening Doors to Employment for Young People with Disabilities

This brief considers this work immersion model designed to help students with significant disabilities transition from school to work. Findings suggest that the model presents a promising approach but the author recommends a thorough evaluation and cost-benefit study to determine whether the outcomes are sufficient to justify the program's high cost.

The Maryland Supported Employment Promising Practice Brief

The State of Maryland promotes using evidence-based practices (EBP) in supported employment through a partnership between the State Mental Health Authority, the State Medicaid Agency, and the Public Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. The state provides a payment for EBP services and monitor fidelity to EBP. Training, technical assistance, and small, time-limited grants have assisted providers transitioning to EBP. More than two-thirds of Maryland's supported employment providers either have adopted EBP or are implementing these practices.

Employment and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Challenges and Strategies for Success

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have the ability and desire to work, but there are still several obstructions. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates disappointing employment outcomes for this group. This article is from the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, and was written by Dawn Hendricks.

SSDI Beneficiaries Reentering the Workforce

"How Many SSDI Beneficiaries Leave the Rolls for Work? More Than You Might Think." Su Liu and David Stapleton, April 2010. This issue brief presents longitudinal employment and exit for work statistics for SSDI beneficiaries followed for 10 years from when they first received their award.

HVRP Factsheet #10: Customized Job Development for Homeless Veterans with Disabilities

The more significant an individual's disability, and the more complex a person's life, the more robust any job development effort must be. Most homeless veteran's circumstances certainly pose complex barriers to employment, so traditional competitive approaches often prove ineffective.