Welcome to our (a littler bit late) October 2007 issue. Coming out of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), there were more than enough good resources to fill up this issue.

I particularly want to draw your attention to the first one - the “Empowerment for Americans with Disabilities” report from the National Council on Disability. In my opinion, this is a really important document for anyone who is really trying to get a handle on issues of disability and employment in North America. It is a uniquely comprehensive and thorough overview of the issues, it is seasoned with real-life examples, and it is reader-friendly.

Several awards were presented to individuals and organizations by the U.S. government – and others were profiled as part of NDEAM by the Office of Disability Employment Policy. I’d encourage you to set aside a few minutes to become acquainted with them. Whether you encounter an innovative program approach or an inspirational personal story, there is likely be something that will inform you and/or help to bolster your own personal efforts.

And, don’t leave this issue without taking a spin on the Wheel of Chance! Developed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, I think they hit on a brilliant and fun way to educate their members on disability issues and accommodations in the workplace.

~ Rob McInnes

AWARDS – U.S. Department of Labor

Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award recognizes non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities. The ODEP website has profile information on all the recipients.

Individual:

• John D. Kemp, Washington, D.C.

Non-profit Organizations

• Laurie Mitchell Employment Center, Alexandria, Virginia

• Positive Vibe Café, Richmond, Virginia

Business

• The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan

• Gap Inc., San Francisco, California

• Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, California

See: http://www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/2007nfi.htm

The Secretary of Labor’s SPIRIT Award is given to an individual with a disability or an organization demonstrating leadership and an unyielding commitment to achieving success. Award recipients are recognized for their qualities to inspire and enhance the ability of Americans with disabilities to enter and participate fully in the 21st century workforce.

• The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Marc A. Buoniconti

See: http://www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/spiritaward.htm 

AWARDS: EEOC – Freedom to Compete

The Freedom to Compete Award recognizes excellence in the implementation of specific equal employment opportunity practices that the Commission believes can be emulated by other employers or organizations. 2007 Recipients include:

• Emory Crawford Long Hospital – for An Employment Program for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities

• The City of Norfolk – for Pathways to Public Service, a city-wide program to increase public employment for women, people of color and individuals with disabilities.

• Abilities, Inc. – for the Experience Counts ¬program, designed to assist mature workers with disabilities or age-related limitations to regain employment

• Internal Revenue Service – for its partnership with Lions World Services for the Blind and commitment to hire qualified individuals with visual impairments referred for ¬consideration.

• Johns Hopkins Health System – for several “best practices, including its Start On Success (SOS) Program, to increase job opportunities for area youth with disabilities.

Profiles of award recipients are on the EEOC website.

See: http://www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/compete/award/2007/recipients.html 

RECRUITING: New National Job Board

Accessible Employment is a new U.S. job board that targets job seekers with disabilities. AccessibleEmployment.org was started by the New Jersey Business Leadership Network (NJ BLN), which in turn was established with generous support from the Henry H. Kessler Foundation.

See: http://www.accessibleemployment.org

ARTICLE: ADA Restoration Act

There is a growing rumbling these days about initiatives to regain the ground that the Americans with Disabilities Act has lost - as court decisions have whittled away at it and made decisions contrary to its spirit and intent. This is particularly true for the employment-related aspects of the ADA. In the e-Newsletter of Solutions Marketing Group, Joyce Bender has given a good overview of this weakening of the ADA, the need to restore it, and where to get additional information.

See: http://disability-marketing.com/newsletter/2007-09-article-bender.php4 

ONLINE VIDEO: Challenging Attitudes

 “A person with disability plus an accommodation equals a highly functioning and productive person.” This is one of the important messages in this educational 8-minute video produces by the Canadian Union of Public Employees for their members and for their broader workplaces.

See: http://cupe.ca/disability/New_video_spotlights 

  Order a free copy in disk: equality@cupe.ca 

ONLINE GAME: Wheel of Chance

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has developed an unique educational tool for its Members. The online “Wheel of Chance” both gives members insights into some common disabilities that members might acquire - and the challenges that they might present in the workplace. For each disability, there is an explanation of what the disability is, how it could affect your life experience and how fellow workers might be able to support a co-worker with this disability. Pretty cool! Go ahead… take a spin!

PROFILES: Talent for a Winning Team

In case you missed it, the US Office of Disability Employment Policy was releasing a profile-a-day on workdays throughout the month of October. Profiles were focused on organizations and people who exemplified progressive achievements and initiatives in the realm of employment for people with disabilities. The full month of profiles is still online. You might want to check them out.

See: http://www.dol.gov/odep/talent/index.htm

STUDENT LOANS – Forgiven/Discharged

People who acquire permanent disabilities while paying off student loans may be eligible to have those loans forgiven or discharged. This issue is covered in the October 2007 EQUITY e-newsletter of the World Institute on Disability.

See: WID EQUITY website 

TRAINING - Leadership Institute for Managers with Disabilities

UCLA has launched a new Leadership Institute for Managers with Disabilities. Based on its Leadership Institutes model, UCLA has launched the Leadership Institute for Managers with Disabilities, a unique institute that will examine core leadership topics through the prism of the experience of executives and managers with disabilities, and will encompass community-specific topics as well. The first institute will be held November 12-16 and will include topics such as leadership styles and skills, mentoring and personal development, and making the business case for productivity tools.

See: http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/EEPlimd.xml 

TELEWORK - The Workplace, Inc.

The WorkPlace, Inc. Offers Tools and Resources on its Telework Website.

With funding from the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the WorkPlace, Inc. developed TeleworkTools.org. This website is an introductory gateway into the world of telework for jobseekers, service providers, and employers in the United States. The website provides information, best practices, and resources and tools. It includes a section on telework for individuals with disabilities.

WEB DESIGN – Free Training (Canada)

Internet Business Development for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (IBDE) Program provides an opportunity for adults with physical disabilities to enhance their work and employability skills in a self-paced and supported work and learning environment. The IBDE program is a 6 month online, web design course including a final project where students create a live business website. The tuition is generously provided free for qualifying individuals but course supplies, computers and Internet connections are the responsibility of the student.

See: http://www.ibde.ca 

VIRTUAL MALL – Online Stores developed by Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

The Virtual Mall is a showcase of web sites designed by Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, who are selling products and services produced by Canadian businesses from their local communities.

See: http://www.virtualmall.ca 

PRODUCT PROFILE: Beyond Barriers to Passion and Possibility

This exciting new in-service training course from Denise Bissonnette  strikes to the heart of our purpose in providing employment and training services to people entering or re-entering the workforce. This training session covers essential tools and insights needed to assist people in changing their focus from their limitations and barriers to their assets and gifts.

More Information Here...

“Help wanted? Jobs wanted! MAKING the CONNECTION”

Calgary, AB November 7 – 9, 2007    

The National Supported Employment Conference is an annual conference presented by the Canadian Association for Supported Employment. This year's conference is co-hosted by the Alberta Association for Supported Employment. Our goal is to promote awareness of supported employment resources across Canada and to serve as a resource centre in this regard for people with disabilities, service providers and the business community. Sessions and workshops will cover marketing, entrepreneurship, youth and transitional services, partnerships and service innovations, and challenges and strategies in employment service delivery.

More information here