State Spotlight: Ohio

Ohio has been actively exploring ways to implement universal design principles to improve the state's workforce development system, including education and training services, to better meet the diverse needs of job seekers and adult learners, whether they are adults with disabilities, older workers, TANF recipients or others. In May, the NTAR Leadership Center and the Ohio Initiative for Persons with Learning Disabilities facilitated an event, for the state's Adult Basic and Literary Education (ABLE) program, Rehabilitative Services Commission and Job and Family Services staff that introduced them to the concept of Universal Design and its application for adult learners and job seekers. The Program Manager of Ohio's Disability Program Navigator Initiative, Gwen Ivory, and Sharon Reynolds, the Director of Ohio's Center/Southeast ABLE Resource Center at the Edward Stevens Center for the Development of Literacy and Language, both sat down with the NTAR Leadership Center to discuss their state's work with Universal Design.

• Listen to the podcast with Gwen Ivory, Disability Program Navigator
• Read a transcript of the podcast

State Spotlight: Alaska

The State of Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education is undertaking a number of promising and innovative initiatives to increase the employment of people with disabilities throughout the state, including a customized entrepreneurship project, START-Up/Alaska (part of the START-Up/USA Initiative). Governor’s Council Executive Director Millie Ryan has over 20 years of experience in disability employment and has previously worked in the vocational rehabilitation field for the state and for multiple nonprofits that provide residential and vocational services to people with disabilities. She spoke with the NTAR Leadership Center about Alaska’s experiences.

• Listen to the podcast with Millie Ryan, Executive Director, Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education
• Read a transcript of the podcast
• Follow the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education on Twitter
• Read more about START-Up/Alaska

State Spotlight: District of Columbia

The District of Columbia has been working to create a strong and sustaining “Employment Alliance” to promote better employment outcomes for DC residents with disabilities. Under the leadership of Judith Heumann, the Director of the Department on Disability Services (DDS), the District has been busy bringing together leaders in workforce development, economic development, the business community, and disability organizations to establish better linkages for residents with disabilities to jobs available in the federal government, with federal contractors, and in high-growth industries in the area such as health care, hospitality, and professional services.

To this end, District officials are actively engaged in a number of initiatives, including

1. Creating a “community of excellence in customized employment” designed to build the capacity of DC government and private provider staff to effectively use customized employment practices,
2. Sponsoring a Project Search model for transitioning youth in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and, soon, other federal agencies,
3. Enhancing collaborations with local employers through a partnership with the District of Columbia's Business Leadership Network,
4. Strengthening its labor market "intelligence" through development of a process to better educate vocational rehabilitation counselors and others on how to access and use Labor Market Information, and
   
5. Putting in place new strategies to increase the number of training and ”to work” options available to residents such as internships, through sector-based job training and/or small business development.
   

Listen to the audio podcast interview with Judith Heumann, Director of the District of Columbia’s Department on Disability Services

Read the transcript of the interview

View a PowerPoint presentation about Project Search, the District's school-to-career project for youth with disabilities, and a collaborative program with the U.S. Department of Labor. This program is the first of its kind in the federal government.

State Spotlight: New Mexico

Focusing on Abilities is New Mexico’s initiative that works to better coordinate and enhance a more comprehensive and coordinated system of employment services and supports for New Mexicans with disabilities. Its 26-member leadership board is comprised of federal and state government agency representatives (e.g., human services, workforce, education/vocational rehabilitation, Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, etc.) as well as people with disabilities, advocacy organizations, and business leaders. Most recently, New Mexico has stepped up its efforts to better align state economic development activities and the business community with its “to-work” efforts for individuals with disabilities. To this end, the leadership board is working closely with the New Mexico Business Leadership Network (BLN) to lead the charge in "creating best practices as next practices in disability employment through a collaborative effort and a mutual understanding of needs, goals, and resources." To kick off this new direction, the New Mexico BLN recently brought in John Kemp, Executive Director of the USBLN, to join high-ranking state workforce, small business, and economic development officials; employers; and members of the Focusing on Abilities leadership for a discussion about next steps in partnering. “There is something wonderful happening here in New Mexico,” stated John Kemp, “and the nation deserves to hear about it.” A significant part of their activities includes working closely with the federal government, a major employer in the state, to gain access to the system of federal hiring at such locations as Kirtland Air Force Base and the U.S. Forest Service, Region 3.

Read about New Mexico's efforts from Guest Blogger Michelle Gonzalez from Verizon Wireless and member of the New Mexico Business Leadership Board of Directors

Listen to the audio podcast interview with Randy Richardson from Jobing.com and member of the New Mexico Business Leadership Network Board of Directors

Read the transcript of the interview with Randy Richardson

Listen to the audio podcast interview with John Kemp, Executive Director and General Counsel of the U.S. Business Leadership Network

Read the transcript of the interview with John Kemp