August 2021 Newsletter
Indiana’s “Work to Include” Coalition
Advancing Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
The Work to Include Virtual Employment First Summit
Thanks to all who made the Employment First Summit a success. We reported on the Summit outcomes last month and would really love to hear from you about how you thought it went and how to improve it for next year.
Regional Coordinators
We are excited to welcome Karen Ricci and Ray Montgomery to the Work to Include Team. They will be working to support several communities each and provide assistance to all project activities including employer outreach, community development, and Employment First advocacy.
Karen Ricci
worked in disability advocacy in Louisville, KY, and learned a great deal regarding legislative advocacy by being involved on stakeholder committees that helped pass the KY ABLE Act and an Adult Abuse Registry to protect vulnerable adults, as well as serving on multiple boards, including KY Protection and Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities. She notes that she has experienced her own disabilities throughout life, parented a child with multiple challenges, and is looking forward to seeing all that we can accomplish together.
Raymond Montgomery
A graduate of Purdue University with a BA in communications. He is an advocate for change, championing equality, inclusion, and independence for those in the disability community, and a father of three boys.
Celebrating The Americans with Disabilities Act:
31th Anniversary
written by Karen Ricci
I remember that day very well as I was a young adult and I had already had several challenges around employment due to my disabilities. I was extremely excited for what this day held for myself and many others with disabilities of all kinds. Here we are today 30 years later having made much progress in many areas, but still, much progress to be made in others.
Today I want to highlight some of the things that you may not be aware of as it pertains to the ADA and employment.
Did you know that...President George H.W. Bush was the one who signed the ADA into law on July 26, 1990?
Did you know...that the ADA was one of the biggest pieces of Civil Rights Legislation passed since the 1964 Civil Rights Act at that time. Giving freedoms to many millions of Americans and breaking down barriers of unprecedented types and opening doors that had never been opened for many individuals with disabilities. For the first time in history putting the emphasis on our abilities instead of our disabilities!
Did you know...That when the ADA first came out that many employers did not want it to be enacted.
Read our Ten Employment Myths employers had regarding the ADA by visiting our Job Seeker page on the WorkToInclude.com website.
#INCLUSIONWORKS
Announcing the Work to Include Job Seeker Page
In May we launched a page directed to those looking for employment. There is information there on Transportation options, Benefits, Accommodations, and more. The most exciting addition is the blogs that are written by and for people with disabilities. We thought we would share a couple with hopes that you will go to the page and join in the dialogue. You can comment on them and talk to the author to get even deeper into the subjects. Check it out here!
Blog Articles Include
Accommodations: What Exactly Are They and How Do I Ask for Them?
written by Loren Pilcher
Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), almost all businesses are required to provide “reasonable accommodations” for disabled employees and job candidates. An “accommodation” is simply any change to the way a job is done, any change to a work environment/schedule, or any changes to the hiring process. Under the ADA, accommodations are “reasonable” if they aren’t significantly expensive or difficult to put into place. Did you know, though, that the majority of accommodations cost nothing and the rest typically cost employers $500 or less?*
A lot of folks think of accommodations as installing a ramp, putting in an accessible front door, or other physical modifications to a workspace. However, there is a lot more to accommodations than just changing a building. < read more >
Tools for Financial Empowerment
written by Ben Trockman
As a person with a disability who relies on Medicaid to cover the cost of many of my healthcare needs, I understand how scary it can be to enter the workforce with even one hint of a possibility of losing Medicaid eligibility. Lucky for me, and many other Hoosiers with disabilities, there are options to safely enter the workforce without losing those vital medical coverages.
“Lucky for me, and many other Hoosiers with disabilities, there are options to safely enter the workforce without losing those vital medical coverages.” — Ben Trockman
You may have been told that you can only make a certain amount of money each month without jeopardizing your eligibility for Medicaid. While your income per month is limited, there is a Medicaid buy-in program called MED Works in Indiana, where you can pay a small premium each month, which allows you to increase your monthly income from what you have likely been told is your current monthly limit. The MED monthly premium is an excellent investment to provide flexibility for your hours at work, and the amount of income you can receive each month! < read more >
WTI Disability Employment Awareness Campaign Kickoff Webinar
August 13, 10 am to 11 am
For the second year in a row, Work to Include is providing local communities with materials and activities to help businesses learn the advantages of hiring Talent with Disabilities. This webinar on August 13 at 10 am will review the background of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and highlight the activities of one community, Fort Wayne, and their disability inclusion efforts. Join Jeff Scherer, WTI Team Leader, Kevin Morse with the Greater Ft Wayne Chamber, and the entire Fort Wayne WTI team to learn how to make sure, EVERYONE WINS WHEN EVERYONE's IN!
#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
