Disability: Does this apply to me and my work?

Disability:
Does This Apply to Me?
What About Work?

Karen Prince, MA

Traditional Definition of Disability






Biomedical model –
pathology, disorder,
dysfunction, or deformity
(Smart, 2009).
noun ˌdis-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē: a
condition (such as an illness
or an injury) that damages
or limits a person's physical
or mental abilities
the condition of being
unable to do things in the
normal way : the condition of
being disabled

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disability

Is That The Only Perspective?


No. There are lots of
ideas:
–
–
–
–

Americans With
Disabilities Act (1990)
Vocational Rehabilitation
Programs
Social Security
Administration
Independent Living
Centers

American with Disabilities Act (1990)


A person with a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or
more major life activity.
–
–



Includes individuals who have a record of
such an impairment
Includes individuals who do not have a
disability but are regarded as having a
disability.

The ADA makes it unlawful to
discriminate against a person with a
disability.

http://adata.org/faq/what-definition-disability-under-ada

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs


A person whose
disability results in
impairments to finding
or keeping
employment.

Social Security Administration
 "Disability"

under Social Security is based on
inability to work. A person is disabled under
Social Security rules if:
–
–
–

They cannot do work they did before;
The person cannot adjust to other work because
of medical condition(s); and
Disability has lasted or is expected to last for at
least one year or to result in death.

http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm

Independent Living Centers
 Sociopolitical

Model – disability is the result
of difficulties experienced from reduced
opportunity, lowered expectations, and being
perceived as a member of a stigmatized
category (Smart, 2009).
 People with disabilities are underprivileged,
unemployed, uneducated, and segregated
not because of disability but due to societal
and institutional barriers (O’Day, 2006).

So That’s It?



Not really.
Disabling conditions are a normal human condition
that can occur in one or many areas:
–
–
–

Mental (examples: IQ level, reading difficulties, learning
difficulties)
Emotional (examples: depression, anxiety, autism)
Physical (examples: asthma, amputation, chronic pain,
mobility impairments)

So Everyone’s Disabled





Sort of
All humans are
individuals who are
different and excel and
struggle in different
areas
The environment plays
a huge part in how the
person is effected

What Does It Matter to Me?
 There

is a high probability that at some time
in life you will become a person with a
disability or have a close relation who is a
person with a disability.

So What Do I Do About It?



Depends on what you want to
do
If you have a disability and
have a job and need
accommodations to help you
handle the job, you are entitled
to them under the ADA as long
as they do not cause an undue
hardship to the employer.

Accommodations



Are wide and varied
Resource for
accommodations
–
–
–
–

Job Accommodation
Network
http://askjan.org/
Disability and Technical
Assistance Centers
http://www.adainformation.org/

Looking For Work
 If

you are a person with a disability that is
interfering with your work or finding work, there
are resources available to you.
–
–
–
–
–
–

Vocational Rehabilitation programs
Workforce Center programs
Private Community Rehabilitation programs
Social Security Administration (if receiving benefits)
Veterans Administration (if a veteran)

Looking for Employees
 If

–

–

Vocational
Rehabilitation
programs
Workforce Center
programs

you are an
employer looking for
employees and
interested in
disability issues
there are resources
for you as well.

Federal Employment
Federal
government has
recognized the need
to hire individuals
with disabilities and
there are several
initiatives and special
hiring practices.

https://www.disability.gov/

 The

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/
Executive Order 13548 -Increasing Federal Employment
of Individuals with Disabilities

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/e

Federal Employment




Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits federal contractors and
subcontractors from discriminating in employment against individuals
with disabilities and requires them to take affirmative action to recruit,
employ, train, promote, and retain individuals with disabilities.
Among other things, the Final Rules published in September:
–
–
–



Establish a 7% utilization goal for individuals with disabilities;
Require contractors to invite applicants and current employees to
voluntarily self-identify as an individual with a disability; and
Require contractors to maintain several quantitative measurements and
comparisons for the number of individuals with disabilities who apply for
jobs and the number of individual with disabilities they hire in order to
create greater accountability for employment decisions and practices.

The Final Rules are effective March 24, 2014,

Employment Services
 If

you are involved with
assisting people to find
employment and have
questions about how to
assist people with
disabilities with
employment issues the
resources are available
for you as well

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs


Federally funded program available in the
United States.
–
–
–

–



The person must have a disability that impairs
their ability to find or keep employment
VR is mandated to provide services to eligible
individuals
Services are individualized to the person’s
employment goal based on their skills, abilities,
interests, and needs related to employment goal
Can assist employers with accommodations

The Rehabilitation Services Administration
(RSA) oversees and funds the grants for State
agencies
http://rsa.ed.gov/

Colorado Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation (CO DVR)
 Eligibility
–
–

–

Requirements

The individual has a physical or mental
impairment; and,
The impairment(s) constitutes or results in a
substantial impediment to employment that is
consistent with the individual’s abilities and
capabilities; and,
The individual requires vocational rehabilitation
services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain
employment consistent with his/her unique
strengths, resources, priorities, concerns,
abilities, capabilities, interests and informed
choice.

CO DVR Services
 Evaluation

&
diagnostic testing for
eligibility
 Counseling &
guidance
 Physical and mental
restoration

 Specialized

services
for individuals who
are blind, deaf, and
deaf-blind
–
–
–

interpreter services
note-taking services
reader services

CO DVR Services
 Rehabilitation

technology services
–
–
–

assistive technology
devices
assistive technology
services
rehabilitation
engineering services

 Placement

services
 Supportive services
–
–
–
–

Maintenance
Transportation
personal assistance
services
services to family
members

CO DVR Services
 Training
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

services

vocational training
academic training
personal & vocational adjustment training
job coaching
on-the-job training
job-seeking skills training
books, tools, & other training materials;

CO DVR
 Referrals/Applying/Assistance


You can refer a person, or apply, or seek
assistance/consultation with DVR by calling
–
–



303-866-4150
866-870-4595

Or by looking up and contacting the local office by zip code
at: http://www.dvrcolorado.com/locations.php

CO DVR
 For

further information on CO DVR and to
watch an introductory video, go to:
 http://www.dvrcolorado.com/index.php

Workforce Centers





Available in every State
in the Nation
Assists all job seekers
with employment
solutions
Assists employers to
find employees

Colorado Workforce Centers




Workforce Centers across
the state of Colorado serve
job seekers, employers and
employees by providing a
wide array of employment
and training services at no
charge.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-EmployTrain/CDLE/124809

CO Workforce Services
 Job

listings
 Computer & internet access
 Career counseling & training for job seekers
 Recruitment of workers, pre-screening &
referral services
 Tax credits and training reimbursement for
employers

CO Workforce Center
Services & Programs
 Apprenticeships
 Career

Ready
Colorado Certificate
 E3 Job Fair
 Federal Bonding
 E-Colorado
 Migrant Seasonal
Farm Workers

 My

Skills My Future
 Tax Credits
 Trade Act
 Veterans’ Services
 Workforce
Investment Act
(WIA) Programs
 Youth Employment

CO Workforce Center
 For

further information on CO Workforce
centers and to watch an introductory video
for employers or job seeks go to:
 http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-Employ

Independent Living Center


Work with individuals with
disabilities in all aspects of living on
their own.
–
–
–
–
–
–

Classes on independent living
Peer support
Personal Assistance programs
Transportation issues
Housing issues
Employment

Services
 Mandated

by Federal law

to provide:
–
–
–
–

Information & referral
Individual & systems
advocacy
Independent living skills
training
Cross disability peer
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/ed
counseling

Services
 May
–
–
–
–
–

also provide:

Counseling
Housing
Rehabilitation
technology
Mobility training
Interpreter & reader
services

–
–
–
–

Personal assistance
services
Community resource
guides & directories
Transportation
Consumer
information
programs

CO Independent Living Centers
 For

further
information on CO
Independent Living
centers and to find
your local center go
to:
 http://coloradosilc.org/?pa

Private Community Rehabilitation
Programs


Private Community
Rehabilitation
Programs usually
provide services for a
fee

What are the Services Provided by
These Agencies?











medical, psychiatric, psychological,
social, and vocational services
testing, fitting, or training in the use
of prosthetic and orthotic devices
recreational therapy
physical and occupational therapy
speech, language, and hearing
therapy
psychiatric, psychological, and
social services, including positive
behavior management
assessment for determining
eligibility and vocational
rehabilitation needs
rehabilitation technology











job development, placement, and
retention services
evaluation or control of specific
disabilities
orientation and mobility services for
individuals who are blind
extended employment
psychosocial rehabilitation services
supported employment services
and extended services
services to family members when
necessary to the vocational
rehabilitation of the individual
personal assistance services

Social Security Administration


SSA has programs to
assist individuals
receiving benefits to
return to work and
leave SSA benefits
–
–

Ticket to Work (TTW)
Plan to Achieve Self
Sufficiency (PASS)

Ticket to Work


TTW provides beneficiaries with the ability to
‘purchase’ services from an Employment Network
(EN) to return to work
–

–
–

ENs are community rehab programs who have contracted
with SSA to provide services to individuals with a Ticket.
ENs cannot charge their clients for services.
State Vocational Rehabilitation programs are ENs
Some Workforce Centers and Independent Living Centers
are ENs

TTW
 Benefits
–
–
–
–
–

of using the Ticket

Protection from Medical Continuing Disability
Reviews
Medicare coverage while employed
Expedited return to benefits if unable to continue
working
Opportunity to earn more than disability payments
alone
Trial Work period

TTW


‘I receive SSA benefits
but don’t have a Ticket’
–

–
–

You do if you are
between the age of 18
and 64 receiving cash
benefits.
You don’t receive an
actual paper ‘ticket’
To find an EN, go to
http://www.chooseworkttw.net/

TTW
 For

additional
information about
participating in TTW
as a beneficiary or
to attend a Work
Incentive Seminar
Event (WISE) go to:

 https://www.chooseworkt

TTW –
I want to be an EN
 As

an EN you can
provide services to
beneficiaries to find
employment and
receive payment
from SSA

 As

an employer of a
Ticket holder you
can sign up to be an
EN and have some
of your employee
cost reimbursed

TTW –
I want to be an EN
 Benefits

of becoming an Employment
Network (EN)
–
–
–

If you are already providing employment services
you can gain access to additional funding
You can increase your business by providing
services to people receiving SSA benefits.
You can hire Ticket holders and receive the Ticket
payments

https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/pen-why-become-an-employment-network

TTW –
I want to be an EN
 For

additional resources and information
contact:
 https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/pen-home

Plan to Achieve Self Sufficiency


Individuals receiving
SSA benefits are able
to set aside a portion of
their monthly income to
use towards self
sufficiency goals
–
–
–
–

Examples:
School tuition
Transportation
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm

Colorado Division of Veterans
Affairs
 The

CO Division of
Veterans Affairs has
many services
including specialized
Vocational
Rehabilitation
services

 http://vets.dmva.state.co.

Veteran Affairs(VA)
 The

VA provides
Vocational Rehabilitation
& Employment (VR & E)
services to Service
members and Veterans
similar to State VR, but
specialized to the military
situations

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/

Now What?


Ok I Think I Have a
Disability – Do I tell my
employer or prospective
employer?
–

Do you need an
accommodation?


–

Then yes, tell them and
ask for the accommodation
you need

Do you need time off to
attend medical
appointments?


If yes, that in and of itself
is an accommodation.



Remember this is your
private information and is up
to you to disclose or not.

Contact Information





 If

you have further
questions or would
like to provide
feedback:

Karen Prince
http://www.linkedin.com/profi
le/view?
id=106036259&trk=nav_res
ponsive_tab_profile
karenkp@msn.com

References















Americans with Disability Act. (2013). http://adata.org/faq/what-definition-disability-under-ada
Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs. (2013). http://vets.dmva.state.co.us:8000/
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. (2013). http://www.dvrcolorado.com
Colorado Workforce Centers. (2013). http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLEEmployTrain/CDLE/1248095319018
Merriam Webster dictionary. (2013). http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disability
O’Day, B. (2006). Centers for independent living: Advocates for disability rights. Community Development,
37, (3), 4-12.
Rehabilitation Services Administration. (2013). http://rsa.ed.gov/
Smart, J. (2009). The power of models of disability. Journal of Rehabilitation, 75, (2), 3-11.
Social Security Administration. (2013). http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm
Ticket to Work. (2013). https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/pen-why-become-an-employment-network
United States Department of Education. (2013). http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2013). http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre

Disability: Does this apply to me and my work?

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

En vedette

En vedette (6)

Similaire à Disability: Does this apply to me and my work?

Similaire à Disability: Does this apply to me and my work? (20)

Plus de Donna Shannon

Plus de Donna Shannon (20)

Dernier

Dernier (20)

Disability: Does this apply to me and my work?