August 2019 Newsletter
Indiana’s “Work to Include” Coalition
Advancing Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
Pat Rogan, Professor, IUPUI School of Education and Co-Director, Work to Include Initiative
Susan Rinne, MPA and Co-Director, Work to Include Initiative
Work to Include - Employment First Summit
ANNOUNCING THE FIRST EVER Work to Include - Employment First Summit on November 20, 2019 from 9:00 am – 2:30 pm at the West Market Conference Center, 150 West Market St, Suite 201, Indianapolis. The Summit, held in conjunction with and the support of the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, will provide an opportunity to learn from Michigan and Ohio Employment First systems change efforts, highlight the activities of the Indiana Work to Include Coalition and its 400 members across the state, and advance Employment First in Indiana. Work to Include Team Leaders are asked to attend and report back to their local teams. Look for more information in September.
Employment First Planning Update
The Indiana Rehabilitation Commission has been tasked with coming up with a plan to increase employment in Indiana for individuals with disabilities. They have been reviewing recommendations over the past several months and including those provided by the WTI Coalition Town Halls. A final plan is due this fall and will be provided to the Coalition for discussion.
The Work To Include Website is LIVE!
Visit www.worktoinclude.org today!
Transformation to Competitive Employment Act
A new bill to help people with disabilities get real jobs for fair pay has been introduced in Congress. Called the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act, this essential bill phases out the discriminatory practice of paying people with disabilities less than the minimum wage. It also provides funding to support industries that move toward a business model that encourages competitive employment for people with disabilities.
The Transformation to Competitive Employment Act is a thoughtful approach that ends the outdated and unfair payment of subminimum wages while supporting businesses who believe in hiring people with disabilities and paying them a fair wage.
Now is the time to email your Senators and Representative and tell them to co-sponsor this vital bill. People with disabilities deserve real jobs and fair pay in the workforce. Together, we can help bring an end to this economic and social discrimination.
Raise the Wage Act
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and phase out section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Thank your representative for passing this Act and urge Senators Braun and Young to bring it to the Senate.
A National Coalition
The Coalition to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment, comprised of 20 organizations including: NDRN, AAPD, ACLU, ANCOR, AUCD ASAN, The Arc, TASH, NACDD, NASDDDS, NOD, and the National Down Syndrome Congress, is working together to promote an increase in employment for people with disabilities.
Medicaid Waiver Redesign
The state of Indiana is conducting a survey with the purpose of gathering input on proposed changed to the Medicaid Waiver. If you or a family member are on the Waiver, it is critical you let the state know what you think. The survey has a summary of feedback the state has gotten so far and right now there is nothing that references the need for more and better employment support!! It is important that they hear from a number of people about the need to focus on employment.
The survey has been completed.
Governor’s Planning Council Outcome Survey
We need your input. As part of the Governor’s Council grant report, we need to know what kind of impact your participation in Work to Include is having.
We thank you for your input. The survey has been completed.
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
