• Rick Scott, Governor

• Mike Hansen, Director

• JR Harding Ed.D., External Affairs Manager

Agency for Persons with Disabilities5 Year Employment

September 2011

APD Employment Conference

Orlando, FL

Prepared by APD External Affiars

Overview

• National and State Employment Numbers

• APD 5 Year Employment Plan

• 5 Year Initiatives

• Q&A

• Resources/Workforce incentives

Prepared by APD External Affiars

National Data:

•The percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force is 22.3. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force is 70.1.

•The unemployment rate for those with disabilities is 14.7 percent, compared with 9.1 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

State DataAugust 2011

Prepared by APD External Affiars

Area/Region Total

1 421

2 217

3 139

4 296

SR 1044

7 259

8 178

9 236

10 241

11 523

12 124

13 205

14 76

15 153

Total: 4112

Prepared by APD External Affiars

5 Year Employment Initiative

• Goal 1: Increase the number of individuals with disabilities who are competitively employed. 1 APD will develop and implement the plan to reduce the intensity and frequency of supported employment services to clients in stable employment situations who have a documented history of at least 3 years’ employment with the same company or in the same industry.2

1Competitive employment is defined as work in an integrated setting and at minimum wage or higher.

2 Statuatory language from the 2009 Legislative Implementation Plan.

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5 Year Employment Initiative

• Goal 2: Of the individuals who are working in non-competitive employment, increase the number who have a goal of competitive employment in an integrated work setting at minimum wage or higher.

Definition of Non-competitive Employment: Work that an individual does, when the individual is paid less than minimum wage. The work may be performed in an integrated or a non-integrated setting.

• Goal 3: Increase the number of individuals who are volunteering with a goal of competitive employment in an integrated work setting at minimum wage or higher.

Definition of Volunteerism: Work that an individual does in an integrated setting, when the individual receives no monetary wage. Volunteer wok can be done in settings such as a not-for-profit, a library, a hospital, or in an internship such as Project Search. Volunteer work may not be construed as free labor for employers and must meet FLSA guidelines, and must be something in which the individual is interested.

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5 Year Employment Initiative

• Goal 4: Increase the number of individuals who are in post-secondary education with a goal of competitive employment in an integrated work setting at minimum wage or higher.

Definition of Post-secondary Education: Any classes that are taken after an individual completes high school that are offered by a recognized educational body that lead to a goal of employment.…Project stingray and others.

• Goal 5: Build a collaborative local resource network, which will support employment goals for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Strategy: Replicate the consortiums that have been established in Jacksonville and Polk County. The group shall meet quarterly and members shall include but not limited to groups such as DVR, representatives from the local school system, Disability Navigator, Employment Networks, Local Transportation Coordinator, a member of the local Family Care Council, Blind Services, Business Leadership Networks, DMD Community Liaisons and possibly providers. The consortium will decide on the make-up of the group.

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5 Year Employment Initiative

• Goal 6: Of the individuals living in a public intermediate care facility, increase the number who work in competitive employment in an integrated work environment.

Industries

• Current successes involve the following industries

Custodial

Grocery

Maintenance

Clerical

Restaurant

Retail

• Where can we make new success stories?

Prepared by APD External Affiars

5 Year Initiatives

• Overarching goal: In order to build a collaborative area resource network, which will support employment goals for individuals with developmental disabilities receiving APD services or are on the waiting list…

Question: What are desired outcomes for resource networks such as VR, FCC, BLN, and AmeriCorp, and what are strategies and timelines for accomplishing each?

• Overarching goal: In order to support APD's 5 year plan employment goals for individuals with developmental disabilities receiving APD services or are on the waiting list…

Question: What are 2 desired outcomes for the area's use of MIG funding for Disability Employment Month (October 2011) and Disability Mentoring Day, and what are 4 strategies per outcome with timelines for accomplishing each?

Prepared by APD External Affiars

5 Year Initiatives

• Overarching Goal: In order to build a collaborative area resource network, which will support employment goals for individuals with developmental disabilities receiving APD services or are on the waiting list…

Question: What are 4 desired outcomes for this resource network and two strategies for each outcome with a timeline for accomplishing each?

Prepared by APD External Affiars

Prepared by APD External Affiars

Resources

• SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO WORKThe Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched the Choose Work Website for people receiving Social Security disability benefits who want to return to work. The site contains first-person accounts by people who have used the SSA's work incentives; videos, including a Work Incentive Seminar Event; help finding local resources; and more. For more information go to http://www.choosework.net/

• GET HELP IN UNDERSTANDING WORK INCENTIVESThis web site offers a state-by-state list of contacts to help people who receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are interested in working or learning more about how working would affect their benefits. The site can be found at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate

Prepared by APD External Affiars

Resources

• GOING TO WORK: A GUIDE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND

EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (2009 EDITION)

This booklet from ICI, provides basic information about Social Security

disability and health benefit programs, discusses what happens to Social

Security disability and health benefits when a young person goes to work,

and explains how to maximize a young person's options when he or she

goes to work. For more information go to

http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=211

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Resources

• WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATE VR AGENCIES AND EMPLOYMENT NETWORKS The Partnership Plus Online Toolkit is designed to assist State VocationalRehabilitation (VR) agencies in taking advantage of the new service delivery option under the NEW Ticket to Work program. Under the new Ticket regulations, the Ticket of a beneficiary whom a State VR agency served under the traditional Cost reimbursement program (available only to VR agencies) still has value after the VR case is closed. As a result, an EN that gets the Ticket assignment after VR closes a Cost Reimbursement case can qualify for Milestone and Outcome payments as the beneficiary attains specific levels of work or earnings. To access the toolkit go to http://partnershipplus.cessi.net/

• NEW TARGET GROUP UNDER THE WORKER OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT The Employment and Training Administration has issued a training and employment guidance letter to State Workforce Agencies outlining two new Worker Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) targeted groups, one of which is disconnected youth who begin work for an employer during 2009 or 2010. To view the guidance go to http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=2800

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Questions and AnswersEvaluations

• Rick Scott, Governor

• Mike Hansen, Director

• JR Harding Ed.D., External Affairs Manager

Thank you!

Send Comments to JR Harding, Ed.D(850) 922-5220

JR_Harding@apd.state.fl.us http://apd.myflorida.com