May 2021 Newsletter
Indiana’s “Work to Include” Coalition
Advancing Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
The Work to Include Virtual
Employment First Summit at A Glance
May 25, 26, and 27, 2021.
The Work to Include Coalition is planning our second Employment First Summit on May 25-27, 2021 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm daily. The primary audience for the WTI Employment First Summit is individuals with disabilities, families, employment service providers, advocates/advocacy organization members, legislators, state agency personnel, and educators. All Coalition members are invited to attend.
On May 25 (Day 1) we will hear updates on Employment First in Indiana from state agency leaders. Our own Lieutenant Governor, Suzanne Crouch will provide an overview of Indiana's efforts toward disability-inclusive hiring. Bob Lawhead, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, will provide an example of how Colorado has put their money where their plan is and how that is working. Julie Christensen, the Interim Executive Director of APSE will tell us about how the Biden Administration is approaching Employment First and pending federal legislation.
On May 26 (Day 2) we will hear from individuals with disabilities, community agency leaders, and the state of Vermont on why services need to change and how to do that. We will discuss this with WTI Team Leaders, Kelli Mitchel of SIRS, and three representatives from the Vermont state government: Bryan Dague, University of Vermont, Jennie Masterson, Vermont DD Agency, and James Smith, VRS.
On May 27 (Day 3) the participants will learn about Medicaid Buy-In and how Benefit Counseling can be provided to those receiving Medicaid Waiver Services. In addition to representatives from Indiana Medicaid. We will hear from two experts on Medicaid Buy-In across the country, Beth Waldman and Annette Shea. Additionally, Acacia McGuire Anderson, Oregon Department of Health, will tell us how Oregon is working to provide benefit counseling to those receiving Waiver services in that state.
Senate Resolution on Employment First Study Group
Senate Resolution 51 is a reality!! This is our opportunity to help legislators understand the barriers that people with disabilities face going to work in our state. Now that the resolution is passed, we need to make sure the study committee is held this summer. You can help.
Please contact members of the Indiana Legislative Council to discuss and advocate that they assign the topic of Employment First to an interim study committee. Let them know it is important that Indiana puts EVERYONE back to work.
Rep. Todd Huston, Chair, h37@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9677
Senator Rodric Bray, Co-Chair, senator.bray@iga.in.gov or s37@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9416
Federal Legislation Pending
APSE is an organization working hard at the federal level to promote Employment First. They monitor federal policy and legislative related efforts. If you are not currently a member, it would be great to consider joining. Currently there is LOTS happening to promote community, integrated employment. Several pieces of legislation have been introduced in the 117th congress including:
Disability Employment Incentive Act (S 630)
National Apprenticeship Act (HR 447)
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
(HR 2373)
We have an opportunity to make great changes in benefits, access to training on the job, and organizational transformation. Plan to attend the EF Summit and learn more from Julie Christensen of APSE on May 25th.
#INCLUSIONWORKS
Organizational Change
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and Medicaid Home and Community-based Services legislation and regulations, along with U.S. Department of Justice settlements with states have provided an impetus for sheltered workshops and non-work day programs to transform their service delivery approaches to competitive integrated employment. Community service providers are the primary source of day services and supports for individuals with disabilities, and many providers across the U.S. have successfully completed an organizational transformation process. However, the majority of providers continue to offer facility-based services, despite the fact that there is growing dissatisfaction with segregated day services among individuals with disabilities and family members. Join us on Wednesday, May 26th to learn how service providers can shift from sheltered to integrated employment services and supports.
Busting Benefit Barrier
One of the biggest concerns individuals with disabilities and families have about going or returning to work is how it will impact the safety net of support they have worked hard to put in place. Jeopardizing health care, Social Security or Supplemental Security Income is a huge issue for those who need those services to be successful on the job. At this year’s Summit, we will highlight how state policies can be changed to make this less concerning and to help Hoosiers with disabilities be more aware of work incentives available to them. We will highlight programs in Oregon to provide benefit counseling under the Medicaid Waiver, as a service. Additionally, we will look at how other states have set up Medicaid Buy In to expand its availability to workers with disability. Join us to design next steps for Indiana.
#INCLUSIONWORKS
CHECK US OUT…
Please help get the word out! Go to our Facebook and LinkedIN pages and share them widely. We hope you enjoy the access to employment-related content and are sure others will, too. Thanks!
HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS STORY YOU ARE WANTING TO SHARE?EMAIL SRINNE60@GMAIL.COM. SHORT, SWEET AND A PICTURE WOULD BE WONDERFUL!
Thank you!
For more information please contact our Co-Directors,
Pat Rogan, Professor, IUPUI School of Education at progan@iupui.edu
or
Susan Rinne, MPA at srinne60@gmail.com
