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Category Archives: Disability Inclusion

Supplemental Current Population Survey on Disability Employment Issues

the white house americans with disabilitiesThe Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy is seeking information from the public regarding a supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS) on disability employment topics, which will be conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau in collaboration with the Department’s Chief Evaluation Office, and is expected to be fielded in 2024.

The Department is publishing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather information to aid in revising this CPS Disability Supplement and to inform its general disability employment research agenda.

The RFI can be downloaded from Regulations.gov.  Individuals and/or organizations with an interest in this subject are encouraged to review the RFI and provide comments via the Regulations.gov comment button.

Your input is important to the Department and we encourage a wide range of stakeholders, researchers, and disability advocates to comment..

Link for the Federal Register Notice:  Request for Information on Current Population Survey Disability Supplement 2024

Link to provide comments:  CPS Disability Supplement Survey Revision Comments

OSERS Issues 2022 State Implementation of IDEA Determination Letters

the white house americans with disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education issued its 2022 determinations for states and territories on their implementation of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) releases determinations each year, on behalf of the Secretary of Education, based on states and territories’ State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR).

A state or territory’s SPP/APR evaluates its efforts to implement the IDEA’s requirements and purpose and describes how it will improve IDEA implementation.

The IDEA details the Secretary’s four categories for state determinations, which are:

  • Meets the requirements and purposes of IDEA;
  • Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of IDEA;
  • Needs intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA; or
  • Needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA.
  • Part B determinations address the requirements of IDEA Part B, which serves students with disabilities, ages 3 through 21. This year, 22 states or territories met requirements, three states need assistance (one year), 35 states or territories need assistance (two or more consecutive years), and no state or territory received a determination of needs for substantial intervention.

 

Part C determinations address the requirements of IDEA Part C, which serves infants and toddlers from birth through age 2. This year 30 states or territories met requirements, nine states need assistance (one year), 17 states or territories need assistance (two or more consecutive years), and no state or territory received a determination of needs for substantial intervention.

OSERS OSEP will publicly release state and territory APR documents at the end of July on the IDEA website.

White House Office of Public Engagement, Disabled Stakeholder Calls for Disability Pride Month

the white house americans with disabilities Happy Disability Pride Month!

Thanks to all of those who were able to join yesterday’s stakeholder call for Americans with disabilities. Below, you will find the materials and resources referenced.

During the month of July, we will meet weekly to hear from leaders from across the Administration about the work that they’re doing to ensure access, inclusion, and equity for people with disabilities. These calls are closed press but otherwise open to the public. ASL and CART will be provided.

Thursday, July 7th at 2pm ET
Thursday, July 14th at 2pm ET
Thursday, July 21st at 2pm ET
Thursday, July 28th at 2pm ET

Register Here
Full Link: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_RudJxj1NRumTQb02gT5dew

Onward!

Emily Voorde
Associate Director
White House Office of Public Engagement
@Voorde46

Upcoming Meeting of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

 

Upcoming Meeting of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

 

Thursday, July 28 | 12:00 – 4:00 pm ET
Register for the meeting.

The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) will host a virtual meeting for its members to identify emerging topics to examine in the Committee’s Report to the President. All the PCPID meetings, in any format, are open to the public. This virtual meeting will be conducted in a presentation and discussion format. View more details published in the Federal Register notice.

Stakeholder input is very important to the PCPID. Comments and suggestions, especially from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are welcome at any time. If there are comments or feedback you would like to share with the PCPID as it begins to prioritize its work, please share them through this form on ACL.gov .

Hiring People with Disabilities Pays Off for All Involved

standing tall on wheels blog article by jeff vandykeFor me, growing up as child and eventually into an adult living with Cerebral Palsy, a wheelchair user, with a severe panic disorder, I always knew this goal was attainable for others, but I’d be lying if I said I thought I would ever find myself in that position.

After all, here I was a full-grown adult quickly approaching his late 20’s, a degree in hand, years of volunteer service, an artistic background, and most importantly a heart driven to make a positive difference. Yet, the one strike against me was that I had no official prior work experience. To make matters worse, every organization I had reached out to for help with finding employment turned me down… so, how can that change, if no one will give you an opportunity?

The answer for me was hidden within a single phone call and the belief in me from a group of, at the time, total strangers, which has changed the course of my life forever. After reaching out to Michigan Rehabilitation Services and explaining my situation, I was eventually matched up with Disability Network West Michigan, where I initially took part in what I only know how to describe as introductory meetings and from there not only did become a volunteer where I completed all different types of tasks such as designing, phone calls, sorting paperwork, etc.

Along with that, I also participated in programs known as ‘Job Club’ and ‘My Choice My Voice’, which helped me begin to learn about various topics that I had never been shown or worked on before such as resume building, community resources, and interview skills, but most importantly helped me work on developing my self-confidence as an individual. Over the course of the year, I continued to develop my skills as a volunteer. I even received the Steven Silky Volunteer of the Year Award for my efforts, and was eventually hired as Disability Network West Michigan’s Graphic Design Specialist.

Overall, while it may not have happened overnight and there were definitely some difficulties along the way, which can be expected with any major life change… it’s all been worth it. Even on those days when I felt myself begin to slip throughout this process, I had an amazing team of individuals (now fortunate enough to call them friends) there to support me. Not because they had to, but because they genuinely wanted to see me succeed and I can’t begin to express how empowered that support can make someone feel. I truly feel like I experienced all the trials and tribulations I have, not only to better prepare me for where I am today, but to have more tools at my disposal to help others who might be on/or about to start this same journey. Just because people living with disabilities might do it differently, use an alternative approach, or require an accommodation of some kind, doesn’t mean we can’t be just as effective (if not more so) than any other perspective hire.

Last, but not least, if I could leave you with any advice… it’s that if I can, you can. I know, it sounds overly simple, but it’s true. Success is rarely ever a straight path, but that’s okay, so long as it’s your path. Keep going, you never know where life is going to take you!”

New opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy outdoor recreation

Let’s help the Village of Shelby make this project the best and most inclusive that it can be as this playground will be an asset to your community and Oceana County for years to come.

Join us on April 11 at 6:playground image with accessible swings00 pm

Location: Shelby Village Hall, 218 N Michigan Avenue, Shelby, MI

The Village of Shelby will be submitting a grant application to purchase and install a *Universally Accessible Playground at Getty Park. The Village of Shelby is doing their due diligence to ensure that Getty Park is designed for all users and will create new opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy outdoor recreation. At the writing of this invite, the Village is still finalizing the revision of the park’s master plan for this project. But I am happy to report the master plan is not only planning to install the universal playground, but there is a splash pad being planned, a gazebo, restrooms, picnic pavilion with a gas fireplace, seating areas with companion seating, accessible picnic tables, natural landscaped areas, as well as basketball, tennis, and pickle ball courts.

We hope that you will join us on Monday, April 11th, at 6:00 pm to help us support the Village’s efforts with the renovation plans for Getty Park. Once completed Getty Park will become a destination for you and many other people to recreate and enjoy these universally designed park amenities.

Should you not be able to attend the meeting, please check out the conceptual renderings of the playground attached to this communication. We would then encourage you to write a brief letter expressing your support of a universal playground and the benefits of this park with accessible park amenities for your family. Those letters can be sent to the Village of Shelby at the address below.

Please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns. We look forward to our time together.

Sincerely,

Disability Network West Michigan & The Village of Shelby