NTAC e.News — September 2010

Asian/Pacific Islander Words of Wisdom

Huna - Secret Hawaiian Wisdom; teachings of the ancient Hawaiian people

Huna, in Hawaiian, means "secret." Huna, in its purest form is ancient knowledge enabling a person to connect to his or her highest wisdom within. Understanding and utilizing the fundamentals or "seven principles" of Huna is intended to bring about healing and harmony through the power of the mind. This healing art and earth science is spiritual in nature, experiencing its concepts gives us the opportunity to integrate mind, body and spirit. One might acknowledge Huna teachings as one of nature's tools helpful in development of inner knowing and enhancing innate psychic abilities.

Seven Principles of Huna:

1. IKE - The world is what you think it is
2. KALA - There are no limits, everything is possible
3. MAKIA - Energy flows where attention goes
4. MANAWA - Now is the moment of power
5. ALOHA - To love is to be happy with
6. MANA - All power comes from within
7. PONO - Effectiveness is the measure of truth

Source: http://healing.about.com/cs/holistictherapies/a/huna.htm

Announcements: National and International

Advancing Disability Employment: A Labor Day Call-to-Action

For many, Labor Day signals the beginning of autumn and the end of summer. And those of us in the disability arena can look back on the summer of 2010 as an especially momentous one. Assistant Secretary Kathy Martinez' Labor Day blog entry is now available.

Positions Available

Internship Opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution

Learn what is involved and how to apply to be an intern at one of the Smithsonian's 17 museums, research facilities or offices. Youth 16 and older with at least two years of high school are eligible. Internships are from one month to one year. Applications are accepted year round and have summer, fall and spring deadlines. Other internships are available for undergraduate and graduate students. The Smithsonian's Access to Opportunities program also has paid internship opportunities specifically for college students with disabilities.

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.

Recent Products

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

Resources

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Alliance Partner Launches Disability Employment Resource Web Page

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which signed a new Alliance Agreement with ODEP in late 2009, has launched a Disability Employment Resource Page. SHRM created this resource page with employers in mind to offer resources, articles and information to help recruit, hire and retain people with disabilities. The new resource page also includes videos of experts in the field of disability employment.

Entrepreneurship Frequently Asked Questions

Find information, resources and answers to the most common questions that the Job Accommodation Network receives about entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. Includes information about the differences between self-employment, a small business, entrepreneurship and a microenterprise.

U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy Announces Nearly $1 Million in Continued Funding for Youth Center

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy announced that it will award nearly $1 million to continue funding the Youth Technical Assistance Center through the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth. NCWD/Youth helps state and local workforce development systems to better serve youth with disabilities and their families in the areas of education, employment and independent living.

Institutes / Conferences

Natational Association of Job Training Assistance (NAJA) 2010

The 2010 NAJA conference will be held in Las Vegas Nevada this year. It will occur on October 25th through the 27th. Visit their website at NAJA.org to learn more.

Research / Publications

Highlights of a Forum: Actions That Could Increase Work Participation for Adults with Disabilities

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) convened a forum on March 16, 2010, to explore policy options and actions that could be taken to help adults with a current or past work history improve their participation in the workforce. Participants included experts and officials representing a variety of views. Prior to the forum, GAO surveyed a larger group of experts to help inform the discussion. Read the document here>.

Kessler Foundation/National Organization on Disability 2010 Survey of Americans with Disabilities

The 2010 Survey of Americans with Disabilities is the sixth effort over the past 24 years to assess the quality of life of people with disabilities on a wide range of critical dimensions, to measure the gaps between people with and without disabilities on these indicators, and to track them over time. This year, three new indicators were added: technology, access to mental health services, and overall financial situation. While there has been improvement in a few areas, the implication of the indicators is that twenty years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act there has not been significant progress in most areas. A summary of the survey results is also available.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Program Guidance for Program Year 2010

Provides guidance on the use of the Workforce Investment Act's Youth Program based on information learned during the 2009 youth summer employment program that was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. The Recovery Act's funding enabled states to create and expand summer employment for eligible WIA youth. This link opens a PDF document.

Highlights of a Forum: Actions That Could Increase Work Participation for Adults with Disabilities

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) convened a forum on March 16, 2010, to explore policy options and actions that could be taken to help adults with a current or past work history improve their participation in the workforce. Participants included experts and officials representing a variety of views. Prior to the forum, GAO surveyed a larger group of experts to help inform the discussion. The Report is available in PDF format as the Highlights Page and as the Full Report. It is also available in Accessible Text.