DECEMBER
2010
|
|
Hello.
Welcome to this issue of
inclusionRX
our medicinal concoction of
insights, information,
tools, and resources designed
to cure ailing and impoverished workplaces by
increasing the opportunities
for people with
disabilities to participate equitably in
the workforce.
(We do our best to provide accurate and current
information; but please check with the sources for
validation of the information we have provided.)
PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO
INTERESTED FRIENDS & ASSOCIATES. |
 |
|
DECEMBER 2010 issue.
Hi. Welcome to this
month’s issue of inclusionRX.
As it has likely
been for most of you, it has been a hectic month for me. I
haven’t been able to set aside the time needed to write the
article that I had intended to include in this issue.
Happily my sack is full of Resources & Events this month – so you
have lots to read anyways!
It is December 31
and, just this morning, I learned that a close acquaintance
and good friend of ours had died yesterday. He was an
exceptional person and his death was sudden and unexpected.
It was sobering news in the midst of a celebratory time. I
am certain that many of you have experienced similar losses
this past year. As we enter 2011, may we all remember that
every day of our lives is a gift and it is up to each of us
to use our time wisely - to make our lives count and
matter to others.
Earlier this year another friend of
mine, one who is passionately committed to increasing
employment opportunities for people with disabilities, told
me that he regretted waiting so long to let that passion
loose in his life. He explained his experience by referring
to these lines in Bruce Springsteen’s song Eyes on the
Prize:
Now only thing I did was wrong…
Stayin' in the wilderness too long.
May 2011 be a year
when, with many others, we come further out of our own
wildernesses, set our eyes on the prize, and loose our own
passion for change! This month, my wife Denise and I have
been touched, encouraged and inspired by a song called
Today I’m Going to Try and Change the World by Johnny
Reid. I share it with you as a kind of anthem for our
personal and collective good intentions in the year ahead of
us.
~ Rob McInnes
See:
Today I’m Going to Try and Change the World
www.canada.com/videos/index.html?v=1542756589
P.S. Sorry for
the unavoidable advertisement at the beginning. Also, I
wasn't able to find a captioned version of the video online,
but the lyrics are
here.
Comment? Do you have a comment on anything in this issue?
Please send us your thoughts by email. We enjoy hearing from
our readers.
Email your feedback
on this issue...
inclusionrx@diversityworld.com
Past Issues of
inclusionRX are archived online at:
http://www.diversityworld.com/Disability/newsletter.htm
|
RESOURCES on
DISABILITY & EMPLOYMENT
 INTERNSHIPS
& SCHOLARSHIPS: Lime Connect
The following Scholarship/Intern
programs are available through the Lime Connect.
Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities –for rising juniors,
seniors and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in computer science,
computer engineering or a closely related field as a full time student in
2011-2012 in the U.S. and Canada. $10,000 USD or $5,000 CAD scholarship
(based on tuition costs) and be invited to attend the annual Google Scholars
retreat at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA in 2011. Deadline: February
6, 2011.
See:
www.limeconnect.com/google.html
The TD Finance/Lime Connect Canada Scholarship Program (Canada) for - third
year university students with disabilities who are pursuing a
finance-related degree. $2500 scholarship and 2011 paid summer internship as
a Financial Analyst. Deadline: January 9, 2011.
See:
www.limeconnect.com/tdfinancelimescholarship.html
The TD Securities Global Operations & Technology/Lime Connect (Canada)
Scholarship & Internship Program for Students with Disabilities –for
students who are graduating university in December 2011 or Spring/Summer
2012 with an undergraduate degree in business. $2500 scholarship and 2011
paid internship as a Wholesale Banking Services Associate. Deadline: January
9, 2011.
See:
www.limeconnect.com/td-securities-global.html
 OUTREACH
TOOLKIT: Campaign for Disability Employment
The Campaign for Disability Employment
is a collaborative initiative of several national organizations including
the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the United States
Business Leadership Network (USBLN). By educating employers on the value and
talent that they can bring to the workplace, it seeks to enhance employment
opportunities for people with disabilities. It has developed a full toolkit
that other organizations can use to promote this in their own communities.
Among other resources, the toolkit includes:
-
The “I Can” Public Service
Announcement (PSA)
-
The Workplace Discussion Guide as a
tool to start a conversation about the benefits of fostering a work
environment that is flexible and open to the talents of all qualified
individuals, including those with disabilities.
-
The Youth Discussion Guide as a tool
to start a conversation among youth, with and without disabilities,
about the importance of focusing on ability and talent, not making
assumptions about what people can and can’t do, and setting goals for
employment.
-
The "What can YOU do?" Poster
Series. The series is designed with many audiences in mind and includes
posters that display positive messages about disability and employment.
-
“Drop-in” Articles suitable for
newsletters, websites, etc.
-
Web and Print Ads suitable for
newsletters, websites, etc.
See:
www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/blog/index.php/toolkit/
 RESEARCH:
Students with intellectual disabilities document their college experience
Nine Massachusetts college students who
have intellectual disabilities conducted research on their experiences in
college as part of the national Think College initiative. The students had
all completed at least one full semester. They documented their experiences
in writing and through pictures and videos. Their reflections on their
experiences resulted in resulted in practical recommendations for other
prospective students. This project is documented in the November 2010 issue
of INSIGHT.
Learn more:
http://thinkcollege.net/images/stories/Insight_5__web_F.pdf
 RECRUITING:
2011 Workforce Recruitment Program
The Workforce Recruitment Program of the
US government has annually interviews and pre-screens postsecondary students
and recent graduates with disabilities from colleges throughout the country.
Representing all areas of study, they are keen to get into the workforce
through internships or permanent jobs. Annually, over 2000 students are
selected for inclusion on a searchable data base that is available to
government and private-sector employers. The 2011 data base has just been
released (December 15, 2010).
More info for Government Agencies:
https://wrp.gov
More info for Private Sector Employers:
www.earnworks.com/wrp/internship.asp
|
Visit
DiversityShop
for
Resources on Disability and Employment
Are you interested in learning more about
disability and employment issues? Are you an employer? An
educator? A service provider? A job seeker with a
disability? In our store, DiversityShop, we carry over 20 of
the best books and videos that we have found on issues of
disability and employment.
Check them out now!
Disability and Employment
Resources
|
|
 MODEL
STRATEGIES: For Recruiting & Hiring People with
Disabilities
President Obama’s Executive
Order 13548 of July 26, 2010 directed Executive departments and
agencies to enhance employment opportunities for people with
disabilities through improved recruiting, hiring, and retention
practices. In fact, the President also directed agencies to make the
Federal Government the model employer of people with disabilities.
In this context, the United States Office of Personnel Management
has issued a Memorandum to all the Heads of Executive Departments
and Agencies – setting out strategies intended to make the Federal
Government “a welcoming place for people with disabilities where
they can thrive and make the most of their talents and abilities.”
While intended for the Federal Government, these strategies are
sound and can readily modified and adapted by any company or
organization seeking to effectively increase the participation rate
of people with disabilities in their workforce. These strategies
outline how to:
-
Develop a sound
organizational and leadership foundation
-
Make the hiring process
friendly to applicants with disabilities
-
Use existing resources to
recruit talent
-
Include a focus on students
and young people
-
Become an employer of choice
for people with disabilities
-
Be innovative in offering
effective accommodations.
Learn more:
www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=3228#Attachment1
 TOOLKITS:
Students with Disabilities – The next generation of employees
The United States Business
Leadership Network (USBLN) has released three new toolkits aimed at
creating quality connections between USBLN® affiliates, employers,
and students with disabilities eager to gain the skills needed to
enter the competitive workplace. Each of these three toolkits
provides guidance on creating or expanding quality internship and
mentoring programs as well as student advisory councils to provide
direct career development to the next generation of employees. These
content-rich guides that contain actionable advice, instructions and
sample information that can be readily implemented to engage
students with disabilities today.
-
Guide To Business-Branded
Internships
-
Guide To Business-Branded
Mentoring
-
Guide To Creating Student
Advisory Councils
All three toolkits provide
comprehensive information on the tools on work and employment
readiness needed by both students with disabilities and employers.
Learn more:
www.usbln.org/programs.html#toolkits
 RESEARCH:
Disability and occupational projections
Published in the October 2010
Monthly Labor Review from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this
article asserts that, while people with disabilities currently tend
to be “underrepresented in growing occupations and overrepresented
in declining occupations”, there are several factors which could
lead to significant growth in future job opportunities, including:
-
For people with mobility
impairments, substantial growth is likely in occupations in
which many of the psychomotor and physical abilities have low or
no importance.
-
For people with limited
cognitive abilities, substantial job growth is likely in
occupations in which several of the cognitive abilities
(quantitative abilities, memory, perceptual abilities, and
spatial abilities) have low or only some importance.
-
Employment of people with
disabilities may be increased by stronger growth in occupations
with high rates of part-time and home-based jobs.
-
Most of the new jobs that
will be created between 2008 and 2018 will be in occupations in
which computer skills are important and, because computer skills
can help overcome, and even erase, some of the disadvantages
associated with many disabilities, these jobs can represent good
opportunities for people with disabilities.
-
The employment of people
with disabilities may be helped by employers’ efforts to tap
underutilized sources of workers as baby boomers retire.
Learn more:
www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2010/10/art3exc.htm
 CONFERENCE:
Six Steps to Success
We usually mention conferences
only in our Events section, but this one deserves special mention
because of the amazing line-up of presenters who will be attending.
It is being held May 26-28, 2011 in Whitehorse, Yukon. (Right next
to Alaska!) Included are such prominent leaders as:
-
Denise Bissonnette – An
internationally renowned writer, trainer and keynote speaker who
challenges her audiences to look beyond traditional concepts of
job and career development and to craft livelihoods rooted in
the individual genius of each person. .
-
Gary Karp –An author,
disability educator and popular speaker, Gary’s goal is to
enlighten society to the radical changes that have taken place
in what he terms "Modern Disability."
-
John Kemp – A principal at
the Washington, D.C. Law Firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter &
Verville, P.C., Executive Director of the United States Business
Leadership Network, and recipient of numerous awards, John is
undisputedly one of the true leaders in the movement to achieve
greater equity and civil rights for people with disabilities.
-
Richard Pimentel – Renowned
throughout North America as one of the most profound,
entertaining and convincing presenters on issues of employment
for persons with disabilities. (His life story was recently
portrayed in the Hollywood movie, Music Within.)
-
Deb Russell – Corporate
Manager for Walgreens, Deb has been a primary force in
establishing Walgreen’s outstanding leadership as a proactive
employer of people with disabilities.
-
Wolfgang Zimmerman -
Executive Director of National Institute of Disability
Management and Research who, in 2002, was the first non-US
citizen in ten years to receive the national Employee of the
Year Award from Careers and the Disabled Magazine.
Learn more:
www.sixsteps.ca
 GRANTS:
Signature Employment Grants
The Kessler Foundation seeks to
fund cutting-edge, non-traditional solutions and/or social ventures
that increase employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
These may include new pilot initiatives or demonstration projects or
other social ventures that are innovative and lead to the generation
of new ideas to solve unemployment. Deadline: February 18, 2011.
Learn more:
www.kesslerfoundation.org/sig_employ.php
 WEBSITE
ACCESSIBILITY: Government of Canada
In November 2011, the Federal Court of Canada
released a landmark decision concerning the right of Canadians with
disabilities to access government websites. Donna Jodhan wins a
landmark case against federal government to fix inaccessible
websites as Justice Kelen rules that Canada’s federal government
must deliver key websites in a useable format for blind and
partially-sighted Canadians. Ms. Jodhan, who is legally blind, first
launched her case in 2006, after struggling to access government
sites and hearing that others were having similar problems. She
eventually resorted to legal action, she says, because it was the
only way to get the government to pay attention to the problem.
“This is a victory not just for me personally but for the blind
community of Canada,” said Jodhan. “At the same time, I want to
stress that this is not about us versus them. It’s a call for
everyone to work together to do what we need to do.”
Learn more:
www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/11/29/blind-woman-federal029.html
 STATISTICS:
Workforce Participation and Earnings (Canada)
A new discussion paper by the Caledon Institute
for Social Policy advocates “A Basic Income Plan for Canadians with
Severe Disabilities”. Released in November of 2010, in large part it
responds to Canadians with severe disabilities having a “tenuous
relationship to the labour force.” It supports this position with
some convincing statistics. These include (for individuals with
severe disabilities):
-
An employment rate of 36.7 percent
-
A workforce participation rate of only 41.9
percent
-
An unemployment rate of 12.3 percent
-
68.9 percent of those employed, work for
small employers and don’t belong to a union
-
In 2006, women with severe/very severe
disabilities earned an average of $16,481 compared to $27,670
for women without disabilities.
-
In 2006, men with severe/very severe
disabilities earned an average of $24,073 compared to $44,049
for men without disabilities.
-
In 2002-2003, Canada spent $18 billion on
income security programs and tax benefits aimed at persons with
disabilities.
Learn more:
www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/906ENG.pdf
 WEBSITE:
Project SEARCH launches new website
Almost 15 years ago, the Cincinnati Children's
Hospital Medical Center developed an innovative model for generating
internship and employment opportunities for people with intellectual
disabilities. Refined throughout the intervening years, the Project
SEARCH model has been replicated at over 150 sites - in 39 states
and four countries. It has just launched a new website that “will
provide our network of programs with an outlet in which we can
connect with one another through sharing information, best
practices, and success stories with one another.”
Learn more:
www.projectsearch.us
 WEBSITE:
AFB CareerConnect
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has
developed a comprehensive source of information on career and
employment options for people who are blind or visually impaired.
CareerConnect is an information hub for a range of interested
persons including job seekers, employers, service providers, and
others. Some of the engaging features of the site include:
-
Virtual Worksites that show employers, with
diagrams and product information, how various types of worksites
can be accommodated for employees who are blind or have low
vision.
-
A “Job Seeker’s Toolkit” – a free online
tool for career exploration and job search sill training that is
accessible, self-paced, and free.
-
A series of videos for youth that focus on
career exploration through interviews and profiles of young
people and adults who reflect on their paths and experiences on
the journey to being successfully employed.
Learn more:
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=7
 INTRODUCTION:
I am NORM
In January 2010, twenty young people, with and
without disabilities, flew from various locations across the United
States to meet each other for the very first time in Washington, DC.
The youth who met that January wanted to see a change. They hoped to
raise awareness about inclusion, provide opportunities for youth to
share their ideas about inclusion, and promote inclusive practices
in schools and communities. The group developed the “I am Norm”
concept and decided to target middle school-age kids, a demographic
where the teenagers felt they could have the biggest impact. Since
then, the teens have created a series of videos challenging typical
ideas of “normal,” developed educational materials and they’ve
presented at professional conferences. Inviting other young people
to join in, the I am NORM site features a delightfully engaging and
provocative collection of videos, opinions and perspectives.
Learn more:
www.iamnorm.org
 WEBSITE:
Real People, Real Jobs
Subtitled “Stories from the Front Line”, we’ve
profiled this website before, but its content is growing and
deserves to be revisited. In narrative and video formats, it
highlights the employment successes of people with intellectual
disabilities and/or developmental disabilities who are working in
paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative,
front-line employment support practices, these folks are earning
money, forming networks, and contributing to their communities. The
stories are arranged according to the best practices that they
demonstrate. Job Creation, Job Negotiation, Funding Strategies,
Interagency Collaboration, and Job Matching are among the best
practices that are covered.
Learn more:
www.realworkstories.org
 ONLINE
COURSE: Americans with Disabilities Employment Course
This is a free self-paced course that is
focused on the employment requirements in Title I of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), including the revisions in the ADA
Amendments Act of 2008. The course takes approximately 2.5 hours to
complete. Individuals can start and stop the course at any time,
pick up where they left off or review completed topics. Human
Resources staff, supervisors & managers, job developers, job
seekers, educators and others can benefit form learning this
content. It covers such topics as; Who has obligations under the
Act? Who has rights under the Act? How to identify and provide
reasonable accommodations. Pre-employment do’s and don’ts.
Learn more:
http://tiny.cc/76r32
 WEBCASTS:
Job accommodation Network’s Free Webcasts
The Job accommodation Network (JAN)’s
Webcasts are available at no cost. Gather your employees together in
a room for live, in-service training. Educate yourself, management,
and other employees on disability etiquette, assistive technologies,
management techniques, and the latest on accommodations and the
employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
All Webcasts begin at 2 pm eastern and are 1 hour. You must register
to attend.
-
January 11, 2011: A Look at
Return to Work
-
February 8, 2011: Current
Events in Accommodation
-
March 8, 2011: Employing and
Accommodating an Aging Workforce
-
April 12, 2011:
Accommodations Ideas for Individuals with Fibromyalgia
-
May 10, 2011: SNAP! Your
Website Into Shape
-
June 14, 2011: Understanding
and Accommodating Allergies in the Workplace
-
July 12, 2011: ADA Update
-
August 9, 2011: Best
Practices
Learn more:
http://askjan.org/webcast/index.htm
 ONLINE
COURSE: Disability Awareness
Worksupport.com
has developed an online introduction to fundamental information
relating to disability and employment issues. Addressing eight topic
areas, “Disability Awareness: Increasing Employers Understanding of
the ADA, Accommodations & Other Supports in the Workplace” can be a
helpful tool to introduce people to the subject matter. In can be
helpful training for companies who want to educate their employees
or for community agencies who want to educate new staff.
Learn more:
www.worksupport.com/da/intro.cfm
READER REQUESTS: Do you have a question?
Would you like information or advice on a
particular issue related to disability & employment? Tie
into our network of over 5000 readers! Send us an email and
we will post your question in our next newsletter. Send us your question:
inclusionRX@diversityworld.com
|
EVENT LISTINGS
Is your organization holding an event that
might be of interest to our 5000+ readers? Would you like to
add your event to our listings?
To have your event listed, please see here...
|
 CANNEXUS 2011
January 24 – 26, 2011 ~
Ottawa, ON
A National Career Development
Conference designed to promote the exchange of information and
explore innovative approaches in the areas of career counselling and
career development. Designed to generate discussions for enhancing
professional development, organizational productivity and client
service effectiveness, topics include: career coaching, youth
entrepreneurship, school to work transition, aboriginal employment,
career trends, mentorship and more!
Learn
more:
www.cannexus.ca/CX/?q=en/node
 Autism
Works: A National Conference on Autism & Employment
March 3-4, 2011 ~ St. Louis, MO
Topics to be covered include:
-
Understanding the vocational
rehabilitation (VR) process
-
What VR counselors need to
know about autism
-
Job development and
work-place supports
-
Funding possibilities for
employment supports
-
Insights from working youth
with autism
-
New quality standards for
adult autism services
-
Innovative projects in
autism & employment services
Learn
more:
www.dps.missouri.edu/Autism.html
 Project
SEARCH: Inaugural Celebration of Innovations & Outcomes
March 31, 2011 ~ Minneapolis, MN
Project SEARCH is dedicated to
providing education and training to young adults with intellectual
and developmental disabilities through an innovative workforce
and career development model that benefits the individual,
workplace, and community. Entering its 15th year as a model program,
the Celebration's mission is to raise awareness for Project SEARCH
and secure resources to assist us in further developing their
Training Institute which provides education, training, and
leadership development opportunities to the teachers, job coaches,
business liaisons, and partners within their network.
Learn
more:
www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=896151
 Pacific
Rim International Conference on Disabilities
“Humanity: Advancing Inclusion,
Equality and Diversity”
April 18 & 19, 2011 ~ Honolulu,
HI
The Pacific Rim International
Conference (Pac Rim) on Disabilities has been widely recognized over
the past 25 years as one of the most “diverse gatherings” in the
world. The event encourages and respects voices from “diverse”
perspective across numerous areas, including: voices from persons
representing all disability areas; experiences of family members and
supporters across all disability areas; responsiveness to diverse
cultural and language differences; evidence of researchers and
academics studying disability; stories of persons providing powerful
lessons; examples of program providers, natural supports and allies
of persons with disabilities and; action plans to meet human and
social needs in a globalized world.
Learn
more:
www.pacrim.hawaii.edu
 Community
Futures Treaty Seven
– 4th Annual Disability Employment Symposium
“Sharing Perspectives”
May 11 & 12, 2011 ~ Calgary, AB
Once again, the Symposium will
bring together First Nations people with disabilities, the business
community, employment centres, service providers and other
stakeholders to engage with one another and share perspectives.
Learn
more:
www.t7edc.com
Six
Steps to Success Conference
“Where Disability Works”
May 26-28, 2011 ~ Whitehorse, YT
The Six Steps to Success
Conference will bring together employers, government agencies,
service providers and distinguished experts in the field of
disability and employment to create a unique opportunity to teach
and to learn. Together, attendees will build upon current best
practices and develop strategies to increase the representation of
people with disabilities in the workforce. The six themes of the
conference reflect six critical issues necessary for success that
have been identified through research into best practices in the
field of employment and disability across North America. For
delegates, the development of additional skills in these areas will
result in improved employment outcomes for job-seekers and employees
with disabilities as well as helping to address current labour
market challenges in innovative and effective ways.
Learn
more:
www.sixsteps.ca
 Annual
Conference: Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE)
June 7 – 9, 2011 ~ Halifax, NS
Across Canada, people with
disabilities experience high rates of unemployment and poverty. Join
us in exploring our collective power to Shift the Balance and ensure
an equitable system of supports for all.
The conference will bring
together service providers, advocates and educators to share tools,
resources and innovative practices in supported employment.
Learn
more:
http://supportedemployment.ca/en/conference/
 22nd
National APSE Conference
“Employment For All – Believe
It!”
June 14-16, 2011 ~ Seattle, WA
Our theme this year says it
all...Employment for ALL: Believe It, Achieve It! We have an
exciting three days scheduled for you with inspirational keynote
speakers including Lynnae Ruttledge, Rehabilitation Services
Administration Commissioner, U.S. Department of Education and
Kristin Rytter, Ph.D.
In addition, get ready for some
thought provoking breakout sessions! This years topics will include:
consumer, family, & self-advocacy, transition from school to work,
diversity, job supports, funding & public policy, autism, mental
health, assistive technology, and international disability rights &
employment.
Learn
more:
www.apse.org/training/conference.cfm
 AHEAD
2011: The 34th Conference of the Association on Higher Education And
Disability
"Sustainable Access through
Partnership"
July 11-16, 2011 ~ Seattle,
Washington
The Conference and Program
Committees and the AHEAD Staff are hard at work planning the AHEAD
2011 Conference to make sure attendees have an incredible time, get
loads of new invaluable information and resources, meet new
colleagues & friends (while reconnecting with “old” ones), and enjoy
one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Learn
more:
www.ahead.org/conferences/2011
Alliance
for Full Participation Summit 2011
 “Real Jobs – It’s Everyone’s
Business"
November 17 – 19, 2011 ~
Washington, DC
Over 1500 attendees will work
together to plan, organize and share best practices that will lead
to a substantial increase in the number of people with developmental
disabilities in integrated employment. Countless more will
participate at local viewing stations set up throughout the county.
Innovative program design will ensure that the work completed in
Washington will have a lasting impact on our society.
Learn
more:
www.allianceforfullparticipation.org/summit-2011-b
|
|
This Newsletter is published by Diversity
World, 849 Almar Avenue, Suite C, #206, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Archives of past issues are available on our website. See:
http://www.diversityworld.com/Disability/newsletter.htm We also publish the "True
Livelihood Newsletter" by Denise Bissonnette. See:
http://www.diversityworld.com/Denise_Bissonnette/newsletter.htm
NOTE: This Newsletter is available in both
plain text and HTML formats. (HTML format has colorful
pictures and graphics.) To change your format, click on the
"change profile" link below.
Was this Newsletter forwarded to you? For
your own free subscription,
click here.
|
|
(Return to Top)
|
