Vocational Rehabiliation video

The Institute’s Center on Community Living and Careers (CCLC) has released a Spanish version of its popular video, “Working with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services.” The video, originally published in English in 2015, is illustrated in “quick draw” style, which takes viewers through the VR referral, eligibility, and application process. CCLC created both videos for Indiana VR to help Hoosiers with disabilities and their families as they learn new skills, look for a job, or start a career. Indiana’s VR counselors, secondary transition teachers, job coaches, employment service providers, and human resource professionals are using the videos at job fairs, conference exhibits, parent nights, and as they work with their individual job seekers.

The Spanish version, Servicios de Rehabilitacion Vocationales de Indiana includes new voiceover, translated on-screen text, and Spanish captions and is available to watch and share on YouTube.

View the YouTube video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8pdsQJk3w

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It's a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues. The image above is a poster created by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Department of Labor. To learn more about it and to order or download the poster, please visit:
https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/

Did you know that CeDIR has a topic guide that covers the issue of employment for people with disabilities? There you will find books, videos and online resources to help you learn more about getting jobs, supporting employees, the state of employment for people with disabilities and policies influencing employment options for people with disabilities. Visit the guide at:
http://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/cedir_employment

FSSA Resource Guide

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has put together a resource guide of services in the state containing information about programs provided and administered by FSSA.  The guide also gives direction on how Hoosiers qualify to receive state assistance from a variety of programs including:

• Early Care & Education

• Employment

• Financial Services

• Food / Nutrition

• Health Coverage

• Home- & Community-Based Services for the Aged, Blind and Disabled

• Mental Health / Addictions

• Transportation

• Housing

The guide can be found in its entirety at:

http://www.in.gov/fssa/files/FSSA_Resource_Guide.pdf

New Employment Specialist Trainings for 2016

The Indiana Institute’s Center on Community Living and Careers has scheduled four new Indiana Employment Specialist Trainings (EST) for 2016. EST provides training and expertise for Indiana employment professionals supporting people with disabilities who are seeking community employment. All Employment Specialist Trainings combine online integrated content with two in-person, face-to-face meetings where participants have the chance to receive essential support from experts in the field as well as their colleagues-in-training from around the state.

The first training of 2016 will be:

February 1 – March 28, 2016 (access to online content)
February 1 and March 1, 2016 (in-person meetings) 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, at Easter Seals Crossroads, 4740 Kingsway Dr., Indianapolis.

EST prepares participants for the APSE Certified Employment Specialist Professional Exam. Trainings are intended for new professionals in the field - employment consultants, job coaches, job developers, mental health professionals, vocational coordinators, and WorkOne staff. The deadline for registration is January 27, 2016. Registration fee is $200.00 per participant.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/styles/iidc/defiles/CCLC/employmentspecialisttraining/EST%202016%20Feb%20March%20Registration.pdf.

To access a list of additional 2016 training dates, visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/styles/iidc/defiles/CCLC/employmentspecialisttraining/EST%202016%20Save%20the%20Date.pdf.

Way leads on to way: Paths to employment for people with intellectual disability

Way leads on to way: Paths to employment for people with intellectual disability looks at the current status of our efforts to achieve the goal of meaningful employment by examining the following areas: emerging best practices in employment, the return-to-work process for disability beneficiaries, transition planning, vocational assessment and preparation, supports in competitive employment, postsecondary education, service learning, and planning and supporting employment.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Assistive Technology 101

Introduction to Assistive Technology:

Assistive Technology 101

June 3, 2015

9:00 a.m. to noon

Looking for a free training that will introduce you to new technology, equipment, and services for people with disabilities? High-tech and low-tech solutions will be shown to help increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact AgrAbility Coordinator Linda Tarr at 812.849.4447 or ltarr@hoosieruplands.org

Your rights in the workplace

This edition of Your rights in the workplace is completely updated to provide the latest legislation and case law that affects employees in all 50 states, including changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), new rules on COBRA continuation of health insurance, and the new Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). This book also addresses HIV/AIDS, privacy rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Careers in Computing

AccessComputing, a National Science Foundation funded project, aims to increase the participation of people with disabilities in computing careers by providing mentoring and funding for career development activities for students with disabilities computing-related fields.

Want to learn more about this project? Please visit:
http://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/get-involved/students/join-accesscomputing-team

Employment Specialist Training to Begin November 4th

Registration is underway for the final Indiana Employment Specialist Training for 2014. This six-day, face-to-face, basic training guides job developers, employment specialists and other professionals as they train, place, and include individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

Participants must attend and complete both parts of the training (all six days) to obtain ACRE certification. Training will take place at Easter Seals Crossroads, 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis.

Dates are:
     Part One: November 4-6, 2014
     Part Two: December 2-4, 2014

Employment Specialist Training instructors are members of the Indiana Supported Employment Training Team, which has now trained over 3,000 Indiana employment specialists. The trainings are coordinated by IIDC’s Center on Community Living and Careers.The registration deadline for this training is Friday, October 24.

To see the flyer for this training, please visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/styles/iidc/defiles/CCLC/ISETT%20Nov%202014%20F2F%20EST%20form.pdf

Disability employment statistics

The U.S. Department of Labor has released disability employment statistics for July 2014. The statistics show that the unemployment rate among people with disabilities has dropped over the last year.

See the table at:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm

Reading-free vocational interest inventory 2

Want to gauge the vocational interests of teens or adult with disabilities? The R-FVII:2 measures the vocational interests of special populations by offering pictures of individuals engaged in different occupations to measure the vocational likes and dislikes of students and adults who have intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, adult with other disadvantages, or those enrolled in alternative or vocational/career training programs. It is appropriate for use by teachers, psychologists, counselors, or other vocational and educational personnel in junior high, senior high, vocational/technical schools, sheltered work centers, and other job training and work placement career centers.
Ages: 13 years through Adult Testing Time: 20 minutes

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

FEMA and Disability Integration

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently disbursed its monthly newsletter, the Disability Integration Update. If you didn't get one, the newsletter is "a monthly compilation of news, events and resources related to disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities by and for people with disabilities or access and functional needs." It is meant to offer information for FEMA Region V partners interested in inclusive emergency management. Stories in January's issue include:

• Home Heating Safety
• FEMA Hiring Disability Integration Advisor Reservists
• US Department of Justice Publishes New Technical Assistance Documents
• Federal Hiring of People with Disabilities Increases

Want a copy? Comments, questions and requests for alternate formats can be directed to Jessica Mitchell, Region V Disability Integration Specialist, at 312-408-5499 or Jessica.mitchell@fema.dhs.gov.

Out Of Step Provides Economic Opportunities

Press release
SEATTLE, Wash., May 23, 2013 -The one in four Americans with a disability now have a new opportunity for economic success. Introducing Out of Step, www.outofstep.com, a free website where people with disabilities can sell products or offer services or upload their resumes to connect with employers.

Out of Step is an innovative solution for the growing number of people with disabilities who struggle to find work and earn money. Only 17% of persons with a disability were employed full-time in 2011, and those with a disability are much more likely to be self-employed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. On Out of Step, members can promote an existing business or start a new one, or search for employment.

To read the entire press release, please visit: http://www.outofstep.com/articles/press-releases/out-of-step-press-release/

Skills for Independence, Transition, and Employment

"The S.I.T.E. program (Skills for Independence, Transition, and Employment), based at Indiana University- Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI), is a 2-year college campus and community-based transition program for students with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 18 and 21 following their high school education. The program is designed to create and support a daily schedule personalized to the student's interests and needs in an adult-oriented environment."

CeDIR has a copy of S.I.T.E.'s DVD which is an overview of their program. Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this video.

Mental Health and Employment Support

"Employment is the highest priority for many people with severe mental illness and it is a central aspect of recovery." So begins the book description of Individual Placement and Support: An Evidence-Based Approach to Supported Employment, a book that is written for professionals and researchers working with those with psychiatric disabilities and those in mental health and social service settings.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Life Beyond the Classroom: Transition Strategies for Young People with Disabilities

From the book description:
"For more than two decades, the trusted Life Beyond the Classroom text has shaped the practices of thousands of professionals helping students make a smooth transition from school to adulthood. Now this landmark textbook is in a NEW fifth edition updated with the cutting-edge information professionals need in today's changing world, as young people with disabilities face unprecedented financial, family, employment, and educational challenges."

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Schools and IUPUI collaborate in Indy

The IUPUI SITE (Skills for Independence, Transition, and Employment) program has a new website. A collaboration of the Indianapolis Public Schools and IUPUI, SITE enables individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate in postsecondary programming on the IUPUI campus. Click here to find out more about the young men and women who are changing their lives through SITE.

SITE is expanding in the 2012-13 academic year to include the school districts surrounding Indianapolis. The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 to create the Indiana Partnership for Education and Careers project. A key component of the project is partnering with the SITE program at IUPUI.

The project is also interested in establishing additional programs at other institutions of higher education to expand opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Visit Think College Indiana for more information.

Free Webinar: Employer Engagement Strategies for Indiana Employment Service Providers

On Wednesday, August 29th, the Center for Community Living and Careers is sponsoring a free webinar from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The title of this webinar is "Employer Engagement Strategies
for Indiana Employment Service Providers."

"This webinar will provide you with information on how to engage employers so you can understand their needs and expectations, gain insights into what they consider qualified candidates, and develop relationships that go beyond just a “placement.” We’ll also preview a new web‐based, contact and knowledge management system that allows you to store all the intelligence gained from employers, resulting in stronger relationships, expedited employment opportunities, and a positive impact on your bottom line."

For more information, contact Susan Henning-Harris at skharris@indiana.edu or call 812-855-6508 and ask for Susan. To register for this webinar, visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3571

Registration will close at 4:00 p.m. on August 24th.

Disabilities at work: Successful job hunting for people with disabilities: Effective job search

Disabilities at work: Successful job hunting for people with disabilities: Effective job search is a three-part series of DVDs that will help people with disabilities gain the confidence, awareness, search tools, and interview strategies that they will need to become successful at the job search. This 3-part series runs 23-28 minutes for each DVD.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Conversations on Citizenship & Person-Centred Work

Conversations on Citizenship & Person-Centred Work is a collection of interviews of top professionals in the field of community inclusion and person-centered planning. These interviews were conducted between April and July of 2010. The eight contributors, one of whom (Connie Ferrell) is a former staff member here at the Indiana Institute, were asked questions around the idea of what makes a person a citizen. Each offers their own insight into this area of "community" inclusion.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu.