State Employment First Policy
Employment First Virtual Summit 2021
Held in conjunction with and the support of the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
The Summit provided an opportunity to learn from states that have successful Employment First systems change efforts underway. It also outlined the best practices that address employment barriers, highlight the activities of the Work to Include Coalition and its 400 members across the state, and plan for the future of Indiana’s Employment First efforts.
2021 Summit Materials
MassHealth CommonHealth:
The Massachusetts Buy-In Program to Extend Coverage to People with Disabilities
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State Policies that Work:
The Vermont Collaboration
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MedWorks: Medicaid Buy-in Across the Country
Improving Medicaid Buy-in and Work Incentive Education
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Indiana Medicaid & Employment for People with Disabilities
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Employment First in Colorado:
Lessons & Future Plans
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Indiana Department of Education Update:
Transition Planning
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Perspectives on Organizational Change:
From Facility-based to Community-based Employment Services
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Federal Policy Efforts to Advance CIE:
An Update on Efforts in the 117th Congress
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2021 Summit Videos
Indiana Employment First Plan 2020
Adopted September 11, 2020
Vision for Employment First in Indiana.
In April, 2017, Indiana passed legislation regarding the Employment First Law, meaning that employment is the first and preferred outcome for individuals with disabilities. The Employment First Act requires state agencies to effectively implement this employment first policy to advance competitive, integrated employment outcomes, including self-employment, for individuals with disabilities of working age, regardless of the nature or severity of the individual’s disability. According to the law, the Indiana Commission on Rehabilitation Services is responsible for developing a plan for advancing competitive, integrated employment. From early 2018 to November of 2019, the Indiana Commission on Rehabilitation Services worked to develop a vision for the State and specific recommendations for improvements. The following represent our long term goals for a system that supports ALL.
*Photo above by Ryan De Hamer on Unsplash
Employment First Focus Areas
Based on prior reports and feedback from Employment First Task Force members, there are six main focus areas for the Employment First Plan. The Rehabilitation Services established a vision for each area in order to set long-term goals and clearly define strategies.
1.
Collecting data to benchmark current performance and measure progress.
Indiana has the information needed to evaluate progress toward competitive, integrated employment.
2.
Finding and supporting employers to hire individuals with disabilities.
Employers have a positive attitude about seeking and hiring individuals with disabilities, know the benefits of an inclusive workforce, and utilize supports when needed.
3.
Promoting effective school-to-careers transition.
Transition services in schools support youth to prepare for life after high school and access services so that they leave school employed or enrolled in postsecondary or career technical education.
4.
Aligning government policies and funding to promote employment outcomes.
State and local government policies and funding incentivize competitive, integrated employment and self-employment for individuals with disabilities, including those with significant support needs.
5.
Developing quality employment services and supports for competitive employment.
Individuals with disabilities, including those with the most significant support needs, have access to technology, innovative employment services and other assistance they need for competitive, integrated employment and self-employment.
6.
Creating high expectations and economic self-sufficiency among individuals with disabilities.
Encouraged by their families and communities, individuals with disabilities expect to work, have access to reliable transportation and understand how to navigate work incentives.
Employment First Legislation
In April, 2017, Indiana passed legislation regarding Employment First, meaning that employment is the first and preferred outcome for individuals with disabilities. The Employment First Act requires state agencies that provide services and support to advance competitive, integrated employment outcomes, including self-employment, for individuals with disabilities of working age, regardless of the nature or severity of the individual’s disability.
The Indiana Commission on Rehabilitation Services is responsible for developing a plan for advancing competitive, integrated employment as the first and preferred option, and the plan must include:
(A)
Identification of barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities;
(B)
An analysis of federal, state, and local agency policies concerning the provision of services to individuals with disabilities, including the impact of those policies on opportunities for competitive integrated employment;
(C)
Recommendations to advance competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.
The Commission has set a vision and developed a plan and reports progress annually. Please see Vision statements for the direction the Commission has set to ensure competitive, integrated employment for all.
*Background photo by Richie Lim on Unsplash
What do People with Disabilities Say?
During 2018, Work to Include held 11 Employment First Town Hall meetings in communities throughout Indiana, involving over 400 people with disabilities, family members, and other advocates. The participants generated recommendations to address barriers to employment and established teams which are now engaged in action plans to improve employment outcomes locally. Their recommendations were provided to the Indiana Rehabilitation Commission for inclusion in its final Employment First plan.
The themes of these recommendations include:
Ensure competitive, integrated employment is the first and preferred outcome of publicly funded services in Indiana.
Develop comprehensive, accessible, affordable, and reliable transportation options for individuals with disabilities.
Increase employment of, and reasonable accommodations for, people with disabilities in Indiana workplaces through employer education and partnerships.
Collect and share service provider employment outcomes for the individuals they serve.
Invest in school to adult life transition services and track student employment outcomes.
Expand knowledge of all who work with individuals with disabilities about work incentives available through public assistance programs.