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Maryland
“This publication illustrates Maryland’s successful job placement and training activities for the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, as required by U.S. Department of Labor’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 5-18.”
Currently displaying 193 records.
Virginia Equal Opportunity Pilot – COVID-19 Related Learnings
December 22, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center works in partnership with DOL’s Civil Rights Center and Office of Disability Employment Policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination projects. COVID-19 has required services to shift to a virtual format across the country, which is ...
LEAD Webinar: Registered Apprenticeship: Job Seekers with Disabilities Please Apply!
December 22, 2020 | story
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway. Employers develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential. For job ...
Disability-Related Reporting in the Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL)
September 09, 2020 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states to report a number of key elements related to disability. These data elements, if properly understood and collected, can help states improve the quality of reporting and services for ...
The Top 10 Reasons for Visiting the DRIVE Website
June 29, 2020 | story
WIOA Disability-Related Reporting: DRIVE is the only website where you can retrieve WIOA Reporting data related to people with disabilities in your state, county, or Employment & Training Administration (ETA) region. National Disability & ...
On the Horizon
April 01, 2020 | story
Webinar: Financial Strategies for Workers with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Webinar: How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Webinar: Equal Opportunity Webinar I ...
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
April 01, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center developed The ABLE Act and Employment brief to demonstrate how provisions in the ABLE Act can be combined with federal benefits to further increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. The brief contains a list of ...
Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool
April 01, 2020 | story
There are 10 disability-related reporting elements required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). How comprehensive is your reporting? Use the new interactive Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool to help you investigate the data that your ...
Updated WIOA State Profiles: DRIVE Disability Employment Activities
April 01, 2020 | story
The Data and Resources to Inspire a Vision of Employment (DRIVE) website provides “one-stop-shop” access to disability employment statistics at the national and state level, and access to state disability employment policies. The site features resources ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
April 01, 2020 | story
The March 10th webinar, Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways, explores strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. Topics include how collaboration can be ...
Providing a National Perspective at Maryland Works
April 01, 2020 | story
On November 14, 2019, Dr. Rebecca Salon, LEAD Center Co-Project Director, presented at the Maryland Works Seminar on the State of the State: Employment of People with Disabilities. Dr. Salon provided the national perspective as part of a panel of experts on ...
LEAD Center Financial Capability Online Training Continues to Impact the Field
March 20, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center’s Financial Capability Training series is part of a strategic effort by VA DARS to equip current staff, including Work Incentives Specialist Advocates (WISA's) and other DARS staff and vendors, with the education and resources ...
Guided Group Discovery – Veterans and Youth Editions
March 17, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center created two new versions of Guided Group Discovery materials–one for veterans and the other for youth. Both include a Facilitator Guide; the youth version has an added supplemental slide deck. These materials complement LEAD Center’s ...
Maryland Works - The State of the State - Employment of People with Disabilities: A National Perspective
March 12, 2020 | resource
This powerpoint presentation gives a national perspective on Maryland Works and the employment of people with disabilities.
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
March 11, 2020 | resource
This brief discusses how provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (Public Law 113-295)1 can be combined with federal benefit services and other federal programs and initiatives to further competitive integrated employment for people ...
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 23, 2019 | resource
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document. ACL, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ...
Guided Group Discovery - Veterans Edition - Facilitator Guide
May 22, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide - Veterans Edition. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the ...
Guided Group Discovery - Youth Version - Facilitator Guide and Supplemental Slide Deck
May 20, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the foundation for competitive ...
Financial Capability System Innovation Brief: Building a LADDER to Financial Empowerment in Louisville
May 14, 2019 | resource
Since 2014, LEAD Center has worked with Bank On Louisville, in collaboration with the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, to identify opportunities for universally designed services and supports that advance financial capability ...
System Innovation Brief: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: Virginia’s Cross-System Accessibility Taskforce Addresses Equal Opportunity and Access
March 29, 2019 | resource
The State of Virginia began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) in 2016. Leadership from key agencies, charged with developing and implementing the state’s ...
Customized Employment Systems Innovation Brief: Implementing Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery in a Variety of Settings and with a Variety of Partners
March 29, 2019 | resource
Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery are approaches that serve as the first step in the process known as Customized Employment (CE). Customized Employment is a strategy for helping people who haven’t been successful with a more traditional job ...
LEADing to Employment Brief: Implementing the Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Section 188)
March 19, 2019 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 reaffirms the role of a customer focused one-stop delivery system, with a focus on enhancing coordination among key employment, education, and training programs. Section 188 of WIOA (29 CFR Part ...
Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities: Tips and Lessons Learned for State Government Leaders Interested in Promoting Gainful Employment as a Public Policy Goal
February 28, 2019 | resource
Holding a leadership role in state government is not for the faint-hearted. Whether state officials assume their role on a short-term basis or intend to make a career as a leader in state government, the expectations are high, the challenges are many, and the ...
New Promising Practices In Achieving Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
February 22, 2019 | resource
This Section 188 Disability Reference Guide provides updated information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements for ...
System Innovation Brief: Missouri’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity: Using WIOA’s Section 188 to Create a Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
February 22, 2019 | resource
The State of Missouri began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) Center in 2015. Their State Equal Opportunity Officer was seeking support to implement the Equal ...
Road to Inclusive Career Pathways
February 21, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap is an interactive online tool that provides workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency. Start your journey on the Inclusive Career ...
Joint System Innovation Brief: WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice to Better Serve Individuals with Disabilities
January 17, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center, Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) and Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Centers (WINTAC) joined forces in the new Joint System Innovation Brief on WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
December 10, 2018 | story
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
December 09, 2018 | story
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
The Empowering Nature of Work
October 31, 2018 | blog
As we close out another National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we, at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) are heartened to see the many and creative ways individuals and organizations helped bring this year’s theme, “America’s ...
New E-Logic Courses
October 17, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a ...
Community of Practice Meeting Adult and Continuing Education: Options and Resources to Promote Inclusive Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes
October 03, 2018 | event
All Career Pathways partners should be aware of the substantial resources and collaboration opportunities that exist in their regions with career, technical and adult education programs. Join this interactive webinar to learn about the LINCS website and ...
Customized Employment Helped Me Get a Job I Love
September 28, 2018 | blog
Every day, many people apply for jobs they are interested in, and many are lucky enough to get them. Often though, people with a disability are not lucky enough to even be considered for jobs they might like and be good at because they might not be able to do ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 6
September 26, 2018 | story
As LEAD Center finishes its sixth year, we are proud of our many accomplishments. We designed LEAD Center’s activities to improve competitive integrated employment (CIE), economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities, and inclusive ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | resource
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
LEAD Center’s Statewide Youth Employment Project in Oregon Highlighted at Federal Briefing
September 26, 2018 | story
On August 8 and 9, 2018, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted Employment First Federal Briefings on School-to-Work Transition, Provider Transformation, Interagency Coordination, and Mental Health practices that have been shown to promote ...
LEAD Center Releases Neurodiversity Brief
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center recently released the brief, Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment. This brief discusses actions ...
LEAD Center Brief on Ways to Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | story
LEAD Center released the brief, Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community, authored by Alison Barkoff from the Center for Public Representation. This brief can be shared with others who are interested ...
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 26, 2018 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” National Disability Employment ...
Oregon Update: Youth Guided Group Discovery
September 26, 2018 | story
As fall begins and students are returning to school, LEAD Center has already met with the transition network facilitators at our Oregon Guided Group Discovery pilot sites. Sites are gearing up to offer Guided Group Discovery (GGD) again at their schools, and ...
New LEAD Center Self-Paced Trainings Now Available!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a completion ...
City of Louisville Continues to Support Financial Empowerment
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by the Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services in the Office of ...
LEAD Conference Update
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center sponsored an exhibit booth at the 2018 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed Mobilize: Resistance through Action. The theme was befitting of a conference that included a group of hundreds of people with disabilities marching through ...
LEAD Partner: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
September 26, 2018 | story
What is SETA? The Sacramento Employment & Training Agency (SETA), an agency that works in the City and County of Sacramento, was formed in 1978. From its inception, SETA has been an effective force in connecting people to jobs, business owners to ...
LEAD People – The SETA Team
September 26, 2018 | story
Michelle O’Camb serves as a Workforce Development Manager for the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), alongside colleague Jennifer Fischer, Workforce Development Analyst Supervisor. Together, O’Camb and Fischer oversee a number of programs ...
Give Us Your Feedback!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you fill out a very brief feedback form, which should only take five (5) minutes or less to complete. Also, if you ...
LEAD Resources
September 26, 2018 | story
1. Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults http://leadcenter.org/resources/report-brief/complying-section-511-approaches-promote-competitive-integrated-employment-youth-and-adults 2. ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
September 25, 2018 | resource
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
FDIC Youth Employment Resource Center
September 17, 2018 | resource
The FDIC Youth center offers resources that support financial education and access to safe, affordable insured accounts for youth participating in employment programs. Explore this site to learn about the FDIC’s resources that support financial education ...
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has launched a newly updated website. It provides a more user-friendly layout with easier access to JAN's publications, toolkits, training modules, and other resources. JAN also released its latest Enews, which can be ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complimentary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
Workplace Education Videos: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
September 17, 2018 | resource
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation recently released three videos that employers can use to educate about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These videos were created under their Disability Employment Initiative cooperative agreement ...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
September 17, 2018 | resource
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of Practice. ...
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 06, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you take a very brief survey, which should only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Also, if you would be willing ...
Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults
August 01, 2018 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law in 2014, added Section 511, “Limitations on the Use of Subminimum Wage,” to Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 511 requires a state’s vocational rehabilitation services ...
Neurodiversity Brief: Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment
July 30, 2018 | resource
This brief discusses actions that American Job Center (AJC) staff can take to make their services more accessible to autistic people and others with psychosocial, cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (DD); this supports the creation of ...
What the ADA Means to Our Family
July 23, 2018 | blog
Co-Authored by Alison Nodvin Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation and Evan Nodvin, Member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities July 26th is the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ...
Update: Oregon Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot
June 28, 2018 | story
In the previous LEAD On! newsletter, we told you about kicking off Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot. The six pilot sites included a mix of rural and urban locations throughout Oregon. Even before schools started their summer break ...
LEAD Center Releases Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center is pleased to announce the release of the Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook. The Online Participant Workbook can be completed using any browser. This user-friendly tool allows youth and adults to create a personalized ...
House Committee on Small Business Holds Hearing Highlighting People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
On May 9, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing titled, “Ready, Willing, and Able to Work: How Small Businesses Empower People with Developmental Disabilities.” The hearing, chaired by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), sought to examine ...
LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation Activities at National Conferences
June 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center staff had a significant presence at two national conferences this quarter: the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Conference and the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference. The NAWDP ...
LEAD People: Yvonne Wright
June 28, 2018 | story
Yvonne Wright serves as the Director of Workforce Engagement and Innovation for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. In this position, she works with partners throughout the state to move beyond WIOA compliance toward true collaboration. Prior to ...
Louisville’s Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), Emerges as Leader in Advancing Financial Empowerment and Economic Advancement for People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center has supported the expanding work of LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) since its inception in 2014. LADDER, a collaborative of community-based organizations, workforce services, ...
Resources
June 28, 2018 | story
Guided Group Discovery Resources: Introduction and Course, Participant Workbook, and Facilitator’s ...
LEAD Activities During Financial Capability Month in April
June 28, 2018 | story
To commemorate Financial Capability Month, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities to address the needs of Americans with disabilities to become more financially capable, the LEAD Center, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), and ...
Building a Roadmap that Supports the National WIOA System to Navigate Inclusive Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
Over the past several months, the LEAD Center has researched effective strategies nationwide in serving people with disabilities and reaching positive employment outcomes through Inclusive Career Pathways. The research has found that the six elements of ...
Business Engagement Self-Assessment Tool
June 25, 2018 | resource
This self-assessment is designed to help states and regions better understand how integrated and effective their business services are currently, and where enhancements can be made.
Building Credit and Community: A Look Inside Louisville’s LABS Pilot Program
April 26, 2018 | blog
Since 2014, LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) supports opportunities to integrate financial empowerment in workforce development systems to insure the inclusivity of persons with disabilities in accessing ...
LEAD Center Hosts National Dialogue on Financial Literacy Education for People with Disabilities
April 18, 2018 | news
In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the LEAD Center today launched a two-week national dialogue called Money Matters. LEAD Center encourages workforce development professionals, disability professionals, financial services professionals, ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
April 11, 2018 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
Financial Integration Team Fact Sheet
April 04, 2018 | resource
The Financial Integration Team (FIT) Community of Practice is a peer-to-peer support network, which focuses on integrated financial capability strategies to support persons with disabilities in building their financial well-being. FIT members represent ...
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018 | blog
Hello, I’m Alec Frazier. I’m autistic and have been a self-advocate and an advocate since I can remember, although definitely professionally since I gave my first speech in third grade in 1994. I am currently the Director of Autistic Reality, my own ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 21, 2018, LEAD Center hosted a webinar on WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates. This webinar was in response to the Two-Year ...
Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot Kicks Off in Oregon
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 28, 2018, Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot kicked off with a full-day Train-the-Trainer for 31 Transition Network Facilitators, Youth Transition Program staff, and teachers from across the state. Participants were ...
Adding Self-Guided Discovery to Your Toolkit: An Additional Resource to Promote Employment Outcomes for People with Barriers to Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) were excited to release the Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator’s Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment as part of their March 28, 2018 webinar on this topic. For many ...
LEAD Center Releases Policy Briefs on Guided Group Discovery and ABLE Accounts and Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center recently published two policy briefs: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts and Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery. The purpose of the Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts policy brief is to help people with ...
LEAD Partner: Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has been participating in and offering technical assistance to Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce, which was created in 2016 as recommended in the State’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan. The goal of this ...
Three-Part Webinar Series: AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has joined forces with the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to host a three-part webinar series on AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities. ...
LEAD Person: Constance M. Green
March 28, 2018 | story
Constance serves as Virginia's State Coordinator for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs. In this capacity, she develops program policy and guidance, provides technical assistance to Local Workforce ...
Important New Resources
March 28, 2018 | story
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/customized-employment-stories-and-lessons-field Disability Benefits Counseling Services: Free Resources for Social Security Administration Disability ...
Five Key Strategies to Achieve Financial Well-Being
March 26, 2018 | resource
National Disability Institute (NDI) focuses on five key strategies to assist an individual to achieve financial well-being. The five key strategies include: Benefits Planning and Work Supports Employment Free Tax Preparation Financial Education ...
Financial Literacy Education Frequently Asked Questions Under WIOA
March 26, 2018 | resource
Youth participants and adult job seekers with and without disabilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) may be able to receive financial literacy education. The following are frequently asked questions that support an increased ...
Federal Regulations That Support the Integration of Economic Advancement Strategies within Disability Employment Services
March 26, 2018 | resource
The following Federal regulations support the provision of economic advancement strategies within disability services. Integrating economic advancement strategies into disability services, such as employment planning, has demonstrated improved employment ...
Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator's Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
March 26, 2018 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Facilitator’s Guide to Self-Guided Discovery. For many years, ODEP has worked to strengthen the capacity of the ...
Policy Brief: Reviewing and Updating Your WIOA Unified or Combined State Plan from a Disability Perspective
February 21, 2018 | resource
On January 24, 2018, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued new guidance to State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Boards and other partners (TEGL 6-17) on approaches to be taken to ...
Information Brief: Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery
January 31, 2018 | resource
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) opens doors to employment for people who experience barriers to employment. LEAD Center recently released comprehensive Guided Group Discovery materials, designed to enable youth and adults with disabilities and others to find a ...
Information Brief: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts
January 31, 2018 | resource
The LEAD Center recently published the policy brief, "The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes for People with ...
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field
January 04, 2018 | resource
Customized Employment (CE) represents a nuanced departure from traditional competitive and comparative approaches to developing work. True CE is hard to come by actually. This collection of examples is offered to point out the sometimes less obvious nuanced ...
Tennessee American Job Center Hosts LEAD Center’s First Guided Group Discovery Veterans Pilot
December 19, 2017 | story
On December 7th, LEAD Center staff launched a new Guided Group Discovery (GGD) pilot focused on veterans by providing a Facilitator Training at a comprehensive American Job Center (AJC) in Clarksville, Tenn. Guided Group Discovery is an innovative way to ...
ODEP and LEAD Center Promote Knowledge Translation
December 19, 2017 | story
On November 29th, the LEAD Center and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted a discussion with LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation (KT) Consortium. Featured speakers in this virtual meeting included leadership from ...
NAWDP Youth Symposium 2017
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff and partners presented at a plenary session at the 2017 Youth Development Symposium, held annually by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director and Training and ...
LEAD Partner: Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center has been working in partnership with the Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center (AJC) in Tennessee for the past two years. This comprehensive, accessible AJC has supported LEAD Center’s first Guided Group Discovery pilots for people ...
LEAD People: Sharyn Hancock
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is pleased to highlight the work of Sharyn Hancock, Disability Resource Coordinator at Workforce Essentials in Clarksville, Tennessee. She coordinates resources for individuals with disabilities, supports her workforce system colleagues, and ...
TASH 2017 Conference
December 19, 2017 | story
In December, the LEAD Center participated in the national TASH Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The LEAD Center added to this diverse community of stakeholders by providing five presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic advancement of ...
Important New Resources
December 19, 2017 | story
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/business-30-second-training-series-and-resource-guide Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled ...
LEAD Center Blog Round-up
December 19, 2017 | story
During October and November, the LEAD Center's guest bloggers offered valuable information about employment for job seekers with disabilities, job coaches, community organizations, and hiring managers. All the posts highlighted how disability employment ...
Veterans’ Priority: WorkforceGPS Collection Site
December 14, 2017 | resource
This is the centralized collection of information for Veterans’ programs, policies, and initiatives, which primarily affect the Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) employment and training programs. Veterans’ Priority gives ...
Disability and Employment: Connect the Pieces
December 14, 2017 | resource
These resources are designed to help connect three key pieces together -- the American Job Center, the employer and individuals with disabilities. They should always interconnect because the American Job Center has a dual customer focus to serve both ...
Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled Veterans
December 14, 2017 | resource
When military personnel transition to civilian employment, America’s businesses stand to benefit. Across all industries, veterans are a ready source of qualified, committed job candidates with transferable skills proven in real world situations. They grasp ...
CareerOneStop Local Help Tools
December 14, 2017 | resource
CareerOneStop has updated more than a dozen local help finder tools for easy access from smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. The Local Help collection of tools can quickly provide location and contact information for a variety of programs and ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 13, 2017 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
DOL ETA Webinar: Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force
November 29, 2017 | event
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting a webinar on Monday, December 11 from 3-4:00 P.M. ET on Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force. The webinar will identify key provisions ...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 09, 2017 | blog
As an employer, do you want to easily find valuable and talented employees to fill your job openings AND incentivize your workplace diversity? If inclusion and diversity is important to you and your workplace culture, look no further and hire a veteran with a ...
Inclusion Drives Innovation: The Mobile Accommodation Solution App
October 24, 2017 | blog
The World Health Organization reports globally there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities. Increasingly, chronic health conditions and disabilities are becoming more commonplace in the workplace. This has major implications for employers large ...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017 | blog
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean: a. Capacities based on tipping b. Capacities based on structural ...
WISE WEBINAR: Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account
October 04, 2017 | event
Join the Ticket to Work Program on October 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a free webinar: "Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account." They will talk about how people with disabilities can benefit from ABLE accounts and how they ...
Showing the World That ‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’
October 03, 2017 | blog
October is a special month to those of us at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE). It’s the time of year when we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)—the national campaign that celebrates individuals with disabilities and ...
Important Additional Resources
September 27, 2017 | story
Employment, Health Care, and Policy Update: August 2017 The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 27, 2017 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” National Disability Employment Awareness ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 5
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is just finishing its fifth year and is proud of its many accomplishments. LEAD Center’s activities are all designed to improve competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities. Read on to ...
Oregon Guided Group Discovery Project
September 27, 2017 | story
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) curriculum materials, developed by the LEAD Center, offer American Job Centers (AJC) and partner agencies a tool to assist job seekers with disabilities to obtain customized employment through a collaborative model. Guided Group ...
Section 188 and AJC Certification: Achieving Compliance, Expanding Access, and Increasing Outcomes
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center has been providing training nationwide on how all programs and activities that are part of the One-Stop delivery system, including workforce partners, must comply with Section 188, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) equal ...
Updates from the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER)
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services. LADDER is a ...
ABLE Accounts Give People with Disabilities the Power to Save
September 27, 2017 | story
This summer, the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) launched a month-long public awareness campaign called “#ABLEtoSave.” The national grassroots campaign began on July 31 and ran throughout the month of August. The purpose of the campaign was ...
LEAD Center Knowledge Translation Activities
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff presented and/or exhibited at a number of conferences during the past quarter on strategies and practices to promote employment and economic advancement of youth and adults with disabilities. This included the national Association of People ...
LEAD PARTNER: Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation
September 27, 2017 | story
Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is embracing the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation to deepen partnerships with education and workforce partners throughout the state. Oregon VR is participating with every Local Workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE: Nancy Boutot
September 27, 2017 | story
Nancy Boutot is the Manager of Integrated Systems and Cross System Integration for the LEAD Center and Project Manager for Ticket to Work Outreach Support through National Disability Institute (NDI) Consulting. Her work focuses on promoting employment and ...
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017 | story
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities. Since the passage of the ADA, Americans with disabilities have made great strides in ...
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Part 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
August 07, 2017 | event
Join Social Security's Ticket to Work program on August 23, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, for their next free WISE webinar! In part 1 of a 2-part series, the Ticket to Work program will talk about Work Incentives available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income ...
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017 | blog
One of the benefits of being in the disability field for such a long time is the perspective that it brings. I started in the field before the implementation of most of the public laws, legislation and legal actions that ensure the rights of children and ...
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation Releases Issue Brief on Proposed Work Requirements Advanced in State Medicaid Programs
May 31, 2017 | story
On March 23, 2017, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on publishing research and information on health care issues in America, published an issue brief that discusses proposed work requirements as part of different ...
HCBS Transition Plans Update
May 31, 2017 | story
Kansas Releases Revised HCBS Transition Plan On March 20, 2017, Kansas revised its HCBS Transition Plan. Kansas chose to make changes in the direction of the state’s implementation process. The state increased stakeholder participation, revised its ...
Council on Quality and Leadership Releases Study on Supported Employment Services in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
May 31, 2017 | story
The Council on Quality and Leadership, an organization dedicated to measuring the quality of community life for people with disabilities, released the results of a study that examined how Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services waivers provided ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective: FINAL RULE Implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Systems)
August 19, 2016 | resource
The purpose of this policy brief is to provide a summary description, from a disability perspective, of the Department of Labor and Department of Education Final Rules implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development ...
Two Exciting Grant Opportunities to Promote Employment for Youth and Adults with Disabilities through Partnerships and Collaborations
June 30, 2016 | story
Disability Employment Initiative The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the availability of grant funds for its seventh round of funding for the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) program. DEI is a joint program of ...
LEAD Center Webinar on Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System
June 30, 2016 | story
In recognition of Financial Capability Month in April, a LEAD Center webinar, Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System: Resources and Implementation Strategies, brought together representatives from the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee ...
Missouri Workforce Development Leads Equal Opportunity for Customers with Disabilities through Section 188 Training
June 30, 2016 | story
On May 11, the LEAD Center had the opportunity to present at the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) Conference in Lake Ozark, Missouri. MAWD is a state association that supports career and technical training, as well as workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE Julie Squire, Policy Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
June 30, 2016 | story
Julie Squire is a Policy Director for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). In this position, she serves as the staff director for the Unemployment Insurance Committee and the Equal Opportunity Committee. Her program areas ...
LEAD PARTNERS National Association of State Workforce Agencies
June 30, 2016 | story
Originally founded during the Great Depression, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) brings together state administrators of the publicly-funded workforce system. The workforce system includes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ...
Department of Labor Launches New Technical Assistance Website
June 30, 2016 | story
On April 18, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) launched WorkforceGPS - the next generation, mobile-friendly, and accessible website that gives the public workforce system, education professionals, and ...
WIOA Services and Performance Begins July 1st
June 30, 2016 | story
Breaking News: Final Rules were issued for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act on June 30, 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.doleta.gov/WIOA/. LEAD Center will review the Final Rules and provide analysis in upcoming ...
LEAD Releases New Toolkit to Promote Collaboration between Centers for Independent Living and American Job Centers
March 31, 2016 | story
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the LEAD Center has released Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 31, 2016 | story
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 23, 2016 | news
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD and DEI Partner to Discuss WIOA Section 188 Best Practices
March 09, 2016 | news
In February, the U.S. Department of Labor's Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) held an interactive Peer Exchange for DEI grantees to review and discuss Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Section 188 implements ...
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Review of the DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, from a Disability Perspective
February 16, 2016 | resource
On January 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register implementing the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and ...
American Job Center
January 01, 2016 | resource
The American Job Center Network provides a single, 24-7 access point for key federal programs and critical local resources to help people find a job, identify training programs, and tap into resources to help them gain skills in growing industries. The ...
Section 188: A Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
December 15, 2015 | story
In July 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide. Authored by the LEAD Center, with input and guidance from multiple federal agencies, ...
WIOA Update: Submission of Unified/Combined State Plans
December 15, 2015 | story
As the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) continues its process of implementation, there are many important aspects that states should be currently preparing for, including the submittal of their Unified or Combined State Plan. These ...
LEAD PEOPLE Danielle Smith, State Equal Opportunity Officer - Missouri Division of Workforce Development-DED
December 15, 2015 | story
Danielle Smith is the State of Missouri WIA Equal Opportunity Officer. Danielle has been in this position since 2012. Prior to this position, Danielle was Regional Coordinator for the Division of Workforce Development. Her position includes oversight ...
New LEAD Paper: Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Investment System
September 30, 2015 | story
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers State Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and local American Job Centers (AJCs) the opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring that youth and adults, with and without disabilities, have the ...
Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
September 17, 2015 | resource
The U.S. Department of Labor has developed this Reference Guide to assist AJCs by providing promising practices that correlate with specific nondiscrimination requirements in Section 188 and the current Section 188 regulations. While ...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guide on Disability Non-Discrimination in Jobs Programs
July 31, 2015 | story
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a new guide to assist American Job Centers (AJCs) in serving people with disabilities. The AJCs, which are funded through DOL, are a network of one-stop centers to assist individuals in finding employment. The ...
WIOA Advisory Committee Meeting Held July 13-14
July 31, 2015 | story
The Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, held its fourth meeting on July 13-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. During the ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
July 15, 2015 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
LEAD Center Presentations Support the 2015 National APSE Annual Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
For the first time, the LEAD Center participated in the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23-25, by providing two presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic ...
LEAD Presents at 2015 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
LEAD Center Assistant Project Director, Elizabeth Jennings, presented at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals' (NAWDP) 2015 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 4th through the 6th. LEAD Center was invited ...
Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
June 30, 2015 | story
The LEAD Center recently published a new resource, "Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers." Customized Employment offers an approach to job ...
FAQs: Using Customized Employment’s Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
May 13, 2015 | resource
If you haven’t heard of Customized Employment or you think it has little relevance to helping today’s job seekers in the nation’s American Job Centers (AJC), think again. Customized Employment offers an approach consistent with the most innovative and ...
Kansas Researchers Provide Training, Monitor Progress on Competitive Integrated Employment Training in Rhode Island and Kansas
April 30, 2015 | story
In 2014, the state of Rhode Island entered a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) after a finding that the state’s services programs—including its Medicaid programs—provided insufficient access to integrated employment and other ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective - Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Activities) Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
April 20, 2015 | resource
This policy brief outlines, from the disability perspective, key provisions of two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), i.e., those provisions in title I of WIOA pertaining to workforce ...
LEAD Center Launches Four-Part Webinar Series on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Obama last July, maintains a primary focus on assisting job seekers and workers with and without disabilities to succeed in the labor market, and matches employers with skilled ...
Employment and Training Administration Releases a Training Employment Guidance Letter Concerning the Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act
March 31, 2015 | story
Consistent with the various timelines stipulated in WIOA, we can expect the release of related materials developed by various federal agencies and departments articulating how states should begin implementing the law. One such piece was recently released ...
FEATURED AGENCY Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) establishes several new and exciting mandates aimed at increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the American workforce. Among those mandates is the establishment of the “Advisory ...
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act Introduced (H.R. 188)
January 30, 2015 | story
This month, Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi introduced H.R. 188, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2015. Representative Harper introduced an identical bill in 2013 that gained 97 co-sponsors before dying. The bill aims to phase out ...
‘Hire More Heroes’ Offers Veterans Boost for Small Business Jobs
January 30, 2015 | story
In early January, House Republicans announced the re-introduction of the Hire More Heroes Act, which would incentivize small businesses to hire military retirees, reservists and veterans with disabilities. The bill permits small businesses without health ...
Share Your CE Success Story
December 21, 2014 | story
Originally envisioned as a multi-strategy approach to match the discrete skills and unique contributions of a job seeker with a significant disability to an employer who has an unmet (and often unrealized) need for those skills and contributions, Customized ...
Successful Employment: How Local American Job Centers (AJCs) Can Help
December 04, 2014 | resource
Many people with developmental disabilities believe that they aren’t eligible for American Job Center (AJC) services or that the services won’t accommodate their needs. These presentation slides accompanied a LEAD Center session of the same title during ...
LEAD Center Policy Brief: Summary of Major Policies Included in Titles I and IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
October 22, 2014 | resource
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law No. 113-128). WIOA represents an important bipartisan effort to improve federal workforce development programs and provide new opportunities to ...
CIL-AJC Community of Practice Continues to Build Momentum
September 30, 2014 | story
The LEAD Center Community of Practice (CoP) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and American Job Centers (AJCs) continues to provide ongoing peer-to-peer mentorship, training, and technical assistance. The CIL-AJC CoP meets monthly to improve ...
WIOA Offers Expanded Opportunities for Youth and Adults with Disabilities
September 30, 2014 | story
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA modernizes and improves existing federal workforce development programs, helps workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, provides supports to people ...
LEAD PEOPLE Bridget Brown, Executive Director – National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
September 30, 2014 | story
Bridget Brown joined the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) as Executive Director in January 2008. In this position, Brown leads efforts to strengthen our nation’s workforce development system and improve the ...
Universal Access Strategies Highlighted at 2014 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2014 | story
Many job seekers who face challenges in getting and keeping jobs often find their way to their local American Job Center (AJC). This May, in response to requests for information on strategies for intake and orientation to accommodate a diverse range of job ...
Innovative Collaborations Between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Urgent Local Workforce Needs
February 01, 2012 | resource
Government Accountability Office February 2012 Workforce board officials and their partners in 14 initiatives cited a range of factors that facilitated building innovative collaborations. Almost all of the collaborations grew out of efforts to address ...
The Great Recession and Serving Dislocated Workers with Disabilities: Perspectives from One-Stop Career Centers and Rapid Response Coordinators
June 01, 2011 | resource
The NTAR Leadership Center Maris Heidkamp and William Mabe, Ph.D. June 2011 During America’s Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 that left millions of workers unemployed, one group was hit hard – people with disabilities. Between June 2008 and September ...
Creating a Roadmap Out of Poverty for Americans with Disabilities: The Relationship of the Employment and Training Administration’s Workforce Development System and Local Asset-Building Coalitions
April 01, 2009 | resource
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Disability Institute April 2009 This report analyzes research conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, regarding best practices in ...
Maintaining Employment Through Economic Advancement Strategies
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar, as part of our Employment mini-series, will provide information on strategies for enhancing employment stability and improving time on the job through the use of economic advancement strategies. Participants will learn how to integrate these ...
Section 503: Connecting Job Seekers with Disabilities and Federal Contractors through the Workforce Development System
December 31, 1969 | webinar
There are new challenges and opportunities for federal contractors as a result of requirements of the Section 503 final rule. Building an inclusive workforce provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) and the workforce development system to ...
NAWDP Webinar: Improving Services for All Job Seekers by Improving Services to Customers with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act places a greater emphasis on serving all job seekers – regardless of ability. This focus will not only improve services to individuals with disabilities, but also will help strengthen overall program ...
CILs and AJCs: Strategic Partnerships that Lead to Better Employment and Economic Advancement Outcomes
December 31, 1969 | webinar
A growing number of Centers for Independent Living are providing employment services to meet the needs of their customers and to improve the employment and economic advancement outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Join us to learn about findings and ...
Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on WIOA
December 31, 1969 | webinar
***The LEAD Center, funded by the US Department of Labor’s Office on Disability Policy, is hosting a four-part webinar series titled "WIOA From a Disability Perspective."*** Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of 4 The Workforce ...
Disability, Employment & Lane v. Brown
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On September 8, 2015, the United States entered into a proposed settlement agreement with the State of Oregon to vindicate the civil rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are unnecessarily segregated in sheltered ...
Creating an Inclusive Workforce System: Implementing WIOA Section 188’s Equal Opportunity Provisions
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) prohibits discrimination against people who apply to, participate in, work for, or come into contact with programs and activities of the workforce development system. WIOA also requires that ...
WIOA Implementation Partnerships: The Important Role of Centers for Independent Living
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) to partner with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) leading to improved employment outcomes for job seekers with disabilities. To support these ...
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
December 31, 1969 | webinar
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems. This user-friendly tool will help states pinpoint where they may need to focus more ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Mark your calendars and register today for this important webinar – Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Last month, the Department of Education’s (ED) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued a Technical Assistance ...
WIOA from a Disability Perspective & Section 188: A Powerful Foundation for Access - Series 1 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The series kicks-off with an overview of disability-related provisions in WIOA and its Section 188 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination regulations. These Equal Opportunity provisions provide an essential framework for expanding access to individuals with ...
State Workforce Systems that are Making Equal Opportunity a Priority: Missouri, Virginia, California - Series 2 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the second webinar, representatives from three States share their motivations, strategies, challenges and actions in implementing effective AJC Certification procedures, with Section 188 as the framework. Missouri’s commitment to Section 188 ...
Achieving 188 Compliance & AJC Certification: Key Strategies & Actions from Policy to Procedures - Series 3 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The final webinar of the series will give a snapshot of the foundation set by WIOA’s disability-related provisions and Section 188. The most impactful strategies across all three states will be highlighted, including which partners have been essential to ...
Webinar: Self-Guided Discovery: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, we share a new Facilitator’s Guide developed in partnership with Griffin-Hammis Associates. The Guide can be used to implement Self-Guided Discovery in the workforce system; in Centers for Independent Living; in behavioral health and ...
Building Employment Opportunities Through Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, the Technical Assistance teams of WINTAC, LEAD Center and DEI, along with Felipe Lulli from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Sara Hastings from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and Joe Ashley from the ...
Career Pathways: Introducing Entrepreneurship and Small Business Concepts for Youth with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This training/Community of Practice meeting will recap the vision of WIOA for following a career pathway model for service delivery and explore Alaska’s innovation of including entrepreneurship and small business concepts into their service structure for ...
Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On April 18, National Disability Institute (NDI), the LEAD Center and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) partnered for the webinar/in-person event, Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities, to commemorate National Financial ...
Promoting Competitive Integrated Employment: What You Can Do
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) is critical to achieving equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities -- and so are you. Join this webinar to learn about ways you can help expand opportunities for ...
Northeast & Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
December 31, 1969 | partner
Operated by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, providing training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the ...
The Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap: Navigating the Road to Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Resources That Help Expand Opportunities for Career Pathways: “Freshman Year for Free”
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Finding resources and creative ways to increase the success of individuals with disabilities in securing Competitive Integrated Employment often begins with navigating the Career Pathways landscape. One of the barriers to Competitive Integrated ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Getting on Track to Employment & Self-Sufficiency: Key Drivers of Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity: Requirements and Promising Practices
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Don’t miss this webinar on promoting Equal Opportunity and complying with the requirements of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) Section 188. Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity is an evolving process. Challenges arise. ...
Get Empowered: Make the Most of Your Job and Improve Your Financial Security Building Financial Solutions for People with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
If you are a person with a disability who is getting ready to enter the workforce or who recently did, you probably have a lot of questions related to your new job and your financial security. We want to help you find the answers so that you are empowered to ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar will explore strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. For example, how can you promote collaboration among workforce development professionals, school and ...
How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the U.S. today, the COVID-19 emergency presents a time of significant health and economic uncertainty for individuals with disabilities, as well as their families and communities. In recognition of financial literacy month in April, the LEAD ...
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility for WIOA Partners during COVID-19 and Beyond
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to these ...
Statewide Cross-System Training on WIOA Section 188: Broadening Access for People with Disabilities & other Barriers to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to ...
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“This publication illustrates Maryland’s successful job placement and training activities for the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, as required by U.S. Department of Labor’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 5-18.”
Related LEAD Center Results
Currently displaying 193 records.
Virginia Equal Opportunity Pilot – COVID-19 Related Learnings
December 22, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center works in partnership with DOL’s Civil Rights Center and Office of Disability Employment Policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination projects. COVID-19 has required services to shift to a virtual format across the country, which is ...
LEAD Webinar: Registered Apprenticeship: Job Seekers with Disabilities Please Apply!
December 22, 2020 | story
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway. Employers develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential. For job ...
Disability-Related Reporting in the Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL)
September 09, 2020 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states to report a number of key elements related to disability. These data elements, if properly understood and collected, can help states improve the quality of reporting and services for ...
The Top 10 Reasons for Visiting the DRIVE Website
June 29, 2020 | story
WIOA Disability-Related Reporting: DRIVE is the only website where you can retrieve WIOA Reporting data related to people with disabilities in your state, county, or Employment & Training Administration (ETA) region. National Disability & ...
On the Horizon
April 01, 2020 | story
Webinar: Financial Strategies for Workers with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Webinar: How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Webinar: Equal Opportunity Webinar I ...
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
April 01, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center developed The ABLE Act and Employment brief to demonstrate how provisions in the ABLE Act can be combined with federal benefits to further increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. The brief contains a list of ...
Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool
April 01, 2020 | story
There are 10 disability-related reporting elements required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). How comprehensive is your reporting? Use the new interactive Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool to help you investigate the data that your ...
Updated WIOA State Profiles: DRIVE Disability Employment Activities
April 01, 2020 | story
The Data and Resources to Inspire a Vision of Employment (DRIVE) website provides “one-stop-shop” access to disability employment statistics at the national and state level, and access to state disability employment policies. The site features resources ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
April 01, 2020 | story
The March 10th webinar, Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways, explores strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. Topics include how collaboration can be ...
Providing a National Perspective at Maryland Works
April 01, 2020 | story
On November 14, 2019, Dr. Rebecca Salon, LEAD Center Co-Project Director, presented at the Maryland Works Seminar on the State of the State: Employment of People with Disabilities. Dr. Salon provided the national perspective as part of a panel of experts on ...
LEAD Center Financial Capability Online Training Continues to Impact the Field
March 20, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center’s Financial Capability Training series is part of a strategic effort by VA DARS to equip current staff, including Work Incentives Specialist Advocates (WISA's) and other DARS staff and vendors, with the education and resources ...
Guided Group Discovery – Veterans and Youth Editions
March 17, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center created two new versions of Guided Group Discovery materials–one for veterans and the other for youth. Both include a Facilitator Guide; the youth version has an added supplemental slide deck. These materials complement LEAD Center’s ...
Maryland Works - The State of the State - Employment of People with Disabilities: A National Perspective
March 12, 2020 | resource
This powerpoint presentation gives a national perspective on Maryland Works and the employment of people with disabilities.
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
March 11, 2020 | resource
This brief discusses how provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (Public Law 113-295)1 can be combined with federal benefit services and other federal programs and initiatives to further competitive integrated employment for people ...
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 23, 2019 | resource
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document. ACL, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ...
Guided Group Discovery - Veterans Edition - Facilitator Guide
May 22, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide - Veterans Edition. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the ...
Guided Group Discovery - Youth Version - Facilitator Guide and Supplemental Slide Deck
May 20, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the foundation for competitive ...
Financial Capability System Innovation Brief: Building a LADDER to Financial Empowerment in Louisville
May 14, 2019 | resource
Since 2014, LEAD Center has worked with Bank On Louisville, in collaboration with the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, to identify opportunities for universally designed services and supports that advance financial capability ...
System Innovation Brief: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: Virginia’s Cross-System Accessibility Taskforce Addresses Equal Opportunity and Access
March 29, 2019 | resource
The State of Virginia began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) in 2016. Leadership from key agencies, charged with developing and implementing the state’s ...
Customized Employment Systems Innovation Brief: Implementing Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery in a Variety of Settings and with a Variety of Partners
March 29, 2019 | resource
Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery are approaches that serve as the first step in the process known as Customized Employment (CE). Customized Employment is a strategy for helping people who haven’t been successful with a more traditional job ...
LEADing to Employment Brief: Implementing the Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Section 188)
March 19, 2019 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 reaffirms the role of a customer focused one-stop delivery system, with a focus on enhancing coordination among key employment, education, and training programs. Section 188 of WIOA (29 CFR Part ...
Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities: Tips and Lessons Learned for State Government Leaders Interested in Promoting Gainful Employment as a Public Policy Goal
February 28, 2019 | resource
Holding a leadership role in state government is not for the faint-hearted. Whether state officials assume their role on a short-term basis or intend to make a career as a leader in state government, the expectations are high, the challenges are many, and the ...
New Promising Practices In Achieving Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
February 22, 2019 | resource
This Section 188 Disability Reference Guide provides updated information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements for ...
System Innovation Brief: Missouri’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity: Using WIOA’s Section 188 to Create a Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
February 22, 2019 | resource
The State of Missouri began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) Center in 2015. Their State Equal Opportunity Officer was seeking support to implement the Equal ...
Road to Inclusive Career Pathways
February 21, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap is an interactive online tool that provides workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency. Start your journey on the Inclusive Career ...
Joint System Innovation Brief: WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice to Better Serve Individuals with Disabilities
January 17, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center, Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) and Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Centers (WINTAC) joined forces in the new Joint System Innovation Brief on WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
December 10, 2018 | story
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
December 09, 2018 | story
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
The Empowering Nature of Work
October 31, 2018 | blog
As we close out another National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we, at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) are heartened to see the many and creative ways individuals and organizations helped bring this year’s theme, “America’s ...
New E-Logic Courses
October 17, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a ...
Community of Practice Meeting Adult and Continuing Education: Options and Resources to Promote Inclusive Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes
October 03, 2018 | event
All Career Pathways partners should be aware of the substantial resources and collaboration opportunities that exist in their regions with career, technical and adult education programs. Join this interactive webinar to learn about the LINCS website and ...
Customized Employment Helped Me Get a Job I Love
September 28, 2018 | blog
Every day, many people apply for jobs they are interested in, and many are lucky enough to get them. Often though, people with a disability are not lucky enough to even be considered for jobs they might like and be good at because they might not be able to do ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 6
September 26, 2018 | story
As LEAD Center finishes its sixth year, we are proud of our many accomplishments. We designed LEAD Center’s activities to improve competitive integrated employment (CIE), economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities, and inclusive ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | resource
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
LEAD Center’s Statewide Youth Employment Project in Oregon Highlighted at Federal Briefing
September 26, 2018 | story
On August 8 and 9, 2018, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted Employment First Federal Briefings on School-to-Work Transition, Provider Transformation, Interagency Coordination, and Mental Health practices that have been shown to promote ...
LEAD Center Releases Neurodiversity Brief
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center recently released the brief, Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment. This brief discusses actions ...
LEAD Center Brief on Ways to Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | story
LEAD Center released the brief, Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community, authored by Alison Barkoff from the Center for Public Representation. This brief can be shared with others who are interested ...
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 26, 2018 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” National Disability Employment ...
Oregon Update: Youth Guided Group Discovery
September 26, 2018 | story
As fall begins and students are returning to school, LEAD Center has already met with the transition network facilitators at our Oregon Guided Group Discovery pilot sites. Sites are gearing up to offer Guided Group Discovery (GGD) again at their schools, and ...
New LEAD Center Self-Paced Trainings Now Available!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a completion ...
City of Louisville Continues to Support Financial Empowerment
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by the Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services in the Office of ...
LEAD Conference Update
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center sponsored an exhibit booth at the 2018 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed Mobilize: Resistance through Action. The theme was befitting of a conference that included a group of hundreds of people with disabilities marching through ...
LEAD Partner: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
September 26, 2018 | story
What is SETA? The Sacramento Employment & Training Agency (SETA), an agency that works in the City and County of Sacramento, was formed in 1978. From its inception, SETA has been an effective force in connecting people to jobs, business owners to ...
LEAD People – The SETA Team
September 26, 2018 | story
Michelle O’Camb serves as a Workforce Development Manager for the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), alongside colleague Jennifer Fischer, Workforce Development Analyst Supervisor. Together, O’Camb and Fischer oversee a number of programs ...
Give Us Your Feedback!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you fill out a very brief feedback form, which should only take five (5) minutes or less to complete. Also, if you ...
LEAD Resources
September 26, 2018 | story
1. Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults http://leadcenter.org/resources/report-brief/complying-section-511-approaches-promote-competitive-integrated-employment-youth-and-adults 2. ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
September 25, 2018 | resource
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
FDIC Youth Employment Resource Center
September 17, 2018 | resource
The FDIC Youth center offers resources that support financial education and access to safe, affordable insured accounts for youth participating in employment programs. Explore this site to learn about the FDIC’s resources that support financial education ...
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has launched a newly updated website. It provides a more user-friendly layout with easier access to JAN's publications, toolkits, training modules, and other resources. JAN also released its latest Enews, which can be ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complimentary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
Workplace Education Videos: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
September 17, 2018 | resource
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation recently released three videos that employers can use to educate about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These videos were created under their Disability Employment Initiative cooperative agreement ...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
September 17, 2018 | resource
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of Practice. ...
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 06, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you take a very brief survey, which should only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Also, if you would be willing ...
Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults
August 01, 2018 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law in 2014, added Section 511, “Limitations on the Use of Subminimum Wage,” to Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 511 requires a state’s vocational rehabilitation services ...
Neurodiversity Brief: Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment
July 30, 2018 | resource
This brief discusses actions that American Job Center (AJC) staff can take to make their services more accessible to autistic people and others with psychosocial, cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (DD); this supports the creation of ...
What the ADA Means to Our Family
July 23, 2018 | blog
Co-Authored by Alison Nodvin Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation and Evan Nodvin, Member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities July 26th is the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ...
Update: Oregon Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot
June 28, 2018 | story
In the previous LEAD On! newsletter, we told you about kicking off Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot. The six pilot sites included a mix of rural and urban locations throughout Oregon. Even before schools started their summer break ...
LEAD Center Releases Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center is pleased to announce the release of the Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook. The Online Participant Workbook can be completed using any browser. This user-friendly tool allows youth and adults to create a personalized ...
House Committee on Small Business Holds Hearing Highlighting People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
On May 9, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing titled, “Ready, Willing, and Able to Work: How Small Businesses Empower People with Developmental Disabilities.” The hearing, chaired by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), sought to examine ...
LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation Activities at National Conferences
June 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center staff had a significant presence at two national conferences this quarter: the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Conference and the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference. The NAWDP ...
LEAD People: Yvonne Wright
June 28, 2018 | story
Yvonne Wright serves as the Director of Workforce Engagement and Innovation for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. In this position, she works with partners throughout the state to move beyond WIOA compliance toward true collaboration. Prior to ...
Louisville’s Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), Emerges as Leader in Advancing Financial Empowerment and Economic Advancement for People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center has supported the expanding work of LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) since its inception in 2014. LADDER, a collaborative of community-based organizations, workforce services, ...
Resources
June 28, 2018 | story
Guided Group Discovery Resources: Introduction and Course, Participant Workbook, and Facilitator’s ...
LEAD Activities During Financial Capability Month in April
June 28, 2018 | story
To commemorate Financial Capability Month, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities to address the needs of Americans with disabilities to become more financially capable, the LEAD Center, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), and ...
Building a Roadmap that Supports the National WIOA System to Navigate Inclusive Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
Over the past several months, the LEAD Center has researched effective strategies nationwide in serving people with disabilities and reaching positive employment outcomes through Inclusive Career Pathways. The research has found that the six elements of ...
Business Engagement Self-Assessment Tool
June 25, 2018 | resource
This self-assessment is designed to help states and regions better understand how integrated and effective their business services are currently, and where enhancements can be made.
Building Credit and Community: A Look Inside Louisville’s LABS Pilot Program
April 26, 2018 | blog
Since 2014, LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) supports opportunities to integrate financial empowerment in workforce development systems to insure the inclusivity of persons with disabilities in accessing ...
LEAD Center Hosts National Dialogue on Financial Literacy Education for People with Disabilities
April 18, 2018 | news
In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the LEAD Center today launched a two-week national dialogue called Money Matters. LEAD Center encourages workforce development professionals, disability professionals, financial services professionals, ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
April 11, 2018 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
Financial Integration Team Fact Sheet
April 04, 2018 | resource
The Financial Integration Team (FIT) Community of Practice is a peer-to-peer support network, which focuses on integrated financial capability strategies to support persons with disabilities in building their financial well-being. FIT members represent ...
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018 | blog
Hello, I’m Alec Frazier. I’m autistic and have been a self-advocate and an advocate since I can remember, although definitely professionally since I gave my first speech in third grade in 1994. I am currently the Director of Autistic Reality, my own ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 21, 2018, LEAD Center hosted a webinar on WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates. This webinar was in response to the Two-Year ...
Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot Kicks Off in Oregon
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 28, 2018, Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot kicked off with a full-day Train-the-Trainer for 31 Transition Network Facilitators, Youth Transition Program staff, and teachers from across the state. Participants were ...
Adding Self-Guided Discovery to Your Toolkit: An Additional Resource to Promote Employment Outcomes for People with Barriers to Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) were excited to release the Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator’s Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment as part of their March 28, 2018 webinar on this topic. For many ...
LEAD Center Releases Policy Briefs on Guided Group Discovery and ABLE Accounts and Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center recently published two policy briefs: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts and Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery. The purpose of the Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts policy brief is to help people with ...
LEAD Partner: Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has been participating in and offering technical assistance to Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce, which was created in 2016 as recommended in the State’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan. The goal of this ...
Three-Part Webinar Series: AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has joined forces with the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to host a three-part webinar series on AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities. ...
LEAD Person: Constance M. Green
March 28, 2018 | story
Constance serves as Virginia's State Coordinator for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs. In this capacity, she develops program policy and guidance, provides technical assistance to Local Workforce ...
Important New Resources
March 28, 2018 | story
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/customized-employment-stories-and-lessons-field Disability Benefits Counseling Services: Free Resources for Social Security Administration Disability ...
Five Key Strategies to Achieve Financial Well-Being
March 26, 2018 | resource
National Disability Institute (NDI) focuses on five key strategies to assist an individual to achieve financial well-being. The five key strategies include: Benefits Planning and Work Supports Employment Free Tax Preparation Financial Education ...
Financial Literacy Education Frequently Asked Questions Under WIOA
March 26, 2018 | resource
Youth participants and adult job seekers with and without disabilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) may be able to receive financial literacy education. The following are frequently asked questions that support an increased ...
Federal Regulations That Support the Integration of Economic Advancement Strategies within Disability Employment Services
March 26, 2018 | resource
The following Federal regulations support the provision of economic advancement strategies within disability services. Integrating economic advancement strategies into disability services, such as employment planning, has demonstrated improved employment ...
Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator's Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
March 26, 2018 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Facilitator’s Guide to Self-Guided Discovery. For many years, ODEP has worked to strengthen the capacity of the ...
Policy Brief: Reviewing and Updating Your WIOA Unified or Combined State Plan from a Disability Perspective
February 21, 2018 | resource
On January 24, 2018, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued new guidance to State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Boards and other partners (TEGL 6-17) on approaches to be taken to ...
Information Brief: Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery
January 31, 2018 | resource
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) opens doors to employment for people who experience barriers to employment. LEAD Center recently released comprehensive Guided Group Discovery materials, designed to enable youth and adults with disabilities and others to find a ...
Information Brief: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts
January 31, 2018 | resource
The LEAD Center recently published the policy brief, "The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes for People with ...
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field
January 04, 2018 | resource
Customized Employment (CE) represents a nuanced departure from traditional competitive and comparative approaches to developing work. True CE is hard to come by actually. This collection of examples is offered to point out the sometimes less obvious nuanced ...
Tennessee American Job Center Hosts LEAD Center’s First Guided Group Discovery Veterans Pilot
December 19, 2017 | story
On December 7th, LEAD Center staff launched a new Guided Group Discovery (GGD) pilot focused on veterans by providing a Facilitator Training at a comprehensive American Job Center (AJC) in Clarksville, Tenn. Guided Group Discovery is an innovative way to ...
ODEP and LEAD Center Promote Knowledge Translation
December 19, 2017 | story
On November 29th, the LEAD Center and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted a discussion with LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation (KT) Consortium. Featured speakers in this virtual meeting included leadership from ...
NAWDP Youth Symposium 2017
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff and partners presented at a plenary session at the 2017 Youth Development Symposium, held annually by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director and Training and ...
LEAD Partner: Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center has been working in partnership with the Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center (AJC) in Tennessee for the past two years. This comprehensive, accessible AJC has supported LEAD Center’s first Guided Group Discovery pilots for people ...
LEAD People: Sharyn Hancock
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is pleased to highlight the work of Sharyn Hancock, Disability Resource Coordinator at Workforce Essentials in Clarksville, Tennessee. She coordinates resources for individuals with disabilities, supports her workforce system colleagues, and ...
TASH 2017 Conference
December 19, 2017 | story
In December, the LEAD Center participated in the national TASH Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The LEAD Center added to this diverse community of stakeholders by providing five presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic advancement of ...
Important New Resources
December 19, 2017 | story
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/business-30-second-training-series-and-resource-guide Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled ...
LEAD Center Blog Round-up
December 19, 2017 | story
During October and November, the LEAD Center's guest bloggers offered valuable information about employment for job seekers with disabilities, job coaches, community organizations, and hiring managers. All the posts highlighted how disability employment ...
Veterans’ Priority: WorkforceGPS Collection Site
December 14, 2017 | resource
This is the centralized collection of information for Veterans’ programs, policies, and initiatives, which primarily affect the Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) employment and training programs. Veterans’ Priority gives ...
Disability and Employment: Connect the Pieces
December 14, 2017 | resource
These resources are designed to help connect three key pieces together -- the American Job Center, the employer and individuals with disabilities. They should always interconnect because the American Job Center has a dual customer focus to serve both ...
Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled Veterans
December 14, 2017 | resource
When military personnel transition to civilian employment, America’s businesses stand to benefit. Across all industries, veterans are a ready source of qualified, committed job candidates with transferable skills proven in real world situations. They grasp ...
CareerOneStop Local Help Tools
December 14, 2017 | resource
CareerOneStop has updated more than a dozen local help finder tools for easy access from smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. The Local Help collection of tools can quickly provide location and contact information for a variety of programs and ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 13, 2017 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
DOL ETA Webinar: Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force
November 29, 2017 | event
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting a webinar on Monday, December 11 from 3-4:00 P.M. ET on Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force. The webinar will identify key provisions ...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 09, 2017 | blog
As an employer, do you want to easily find valuable and talented employees to fill your job openings AND incentivize your workplace diversity? If inclusion and diversity is important to you and your workplace culture, look no further and hire a veteran with a ...
Inclusion Drives Innovation: The Mobile Accommodation Solution App
October 24, 2017 | blog
The World Health Organization reports globally there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities. Increasingly, chronic health conditions and disabilities are becoming more commonplace in the workplace. This has major implications for employers large ...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017 | blog
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean: a. Capacities based on tipping b. Capacities based on structural ...
WISE WEBINAR: Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account
October 04, 2017 | event
Join the Ticket to Work Program on October 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a free webinar: "Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account." They will talk about how people with disabilities can benefit from ABLE accounts and how they ...
Showing the World That ‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’
October 03, 2017 | blog
October is a special month to those of us at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE). It’s the time of year when we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)—the national campaign that celebrates individuals with disabilities and ...
Important Additional Resources
September 27, 2017 | story
Employment, Health Care, and Policy Update: August 2017 The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 27, 2017 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” National Disability Employment Awareness ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 5
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is just finishing its fifth year and is proud of its many accomplishments. LEAD Center’s activities are all designed to improve competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities. Read on to ...
Oregon Guided Group Discovery Project
September 27, 2017 | story
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) curriculum materials, developed by the LEAD Center, offer American Job Centers (AJC) and partner agencies a tool to assist job seekers with disabilities to obtain customized employment through a collaborative model. Guided Group ...
Section 188 and AJC Certification: Achieving Compliance, Expanding Access, and Increasing Outcomes
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center has been providing training nationwide on how all programs and activities that are part of the One-Stop delivery system, including workforce partners, must comply with Section 188, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) equal ...
Updates from the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER)
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services. LADDER is a ...
ABLE Accounts Give People with Disabilities the Power to Save
September 27, 2017 | story
This summer, the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) launched a month-long public awareness campaign called “#ABLEtoSave.” The national grassroots campaign began on July 31 and ran throughout the month of August. The purpose of the campaign was ...
LEAD Center Knowledge Translation Activities
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff presented and/or exhibited at a number of conferences during the past quarter on strategies and practices to promote employment and economic advancement of youth and adults with disabilities. This included the national Association of People ...
LEAD PARTNER: Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation
September 27, 2017 | story
Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is embracing the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation to deepen partnerships with education and workforce partners throughout the state. Oregon VR is participating with every Local Workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE: Nancy Boutot
September 27, 2017 | story
Nancy Boutot is the Manager of Integrated Systems and Cross System Integration for the LEAD Center and Project Manager for Ticket to Work Outreach Support through National Disability Institute (NDI) Consulting. Her work focuses on promoting employment and ...
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017 | story
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities. Since the passage of the ADA, Americans with disabilities have made great strides in ...
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Part 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
August 07, 2017 | event
Join Social Security's Ticket to Work program on August 23, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, for their next free WISE webinar! In part 1 of a 2-part series, the Ticket to Work program will talk about Work Incentives available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income ...
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017 | blog
One of the benefits of being in the disability field for such a long time is the perspective that it brings. I started in the field before the implementation of most of the public laws, legislation and legal actions that ensure the rights of children and ...
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation Releases Issue Brief on Proposed Work Requirements Advanced in State Medicaid Programs
May 31, 2017 | story
On March 23, 2017, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on publishing research and information on health care issues in America, published an issue brief that discusses proposed work requirements as part of different ...
HCBS Transition Plans Update
May 31, 2017 | story
Kansas Releases Revised HCBS Transition Plan On March 20, 2017, Kansas revised its HCBS Transition Plan. Kansas chose to make changes in the direction of the state’s implementation process. The state increased stakeholder participation, revised its ...
Council on Quality and Leadership Releases Study on Supported Employment Services in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
May 31, 2017 | story
The Council on Quality and Leadership, an organization dedicated to measuring the quality of community life for people with disabilities, released the results of a study that examined how Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services waivers provided ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective: FINAL RULE Implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Systems)
August 19, 2016 | resource
The purpose of this policy brief is to provide a summary description, from a disability perspective, of the Department of Labor and Department of Education Final Rules implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development ...
Two Exciting Grant Opportunities to Promote Employment for Youth and Adults with Disabilities through Partnerships and Collaborations
June 30, 2016 | story
Disability Employment Initiative The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the availability of grant funds for its seventh round of funding for the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) program. DEI is a joint program of ...
LEAD Center Webinar on Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System
June 30, 2016 | story
In recognition of Financial Capability Month in April, a LEAD Center webinar, Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System: Resources and Implementation Strategies, brought together representatives from the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee ...
Missouri Workforce Development Leads Equal Opportunity for Customers with Disabilities through Section 188 Training
June 30, 2016 | story
On May 11, the LEAD Center had the opportunity to present at the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) Conference in Lake Ozark, Missouri. MAWD is a state association that supports career and technical training, as well as workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE Julie Squire, Policy Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
June 30, 2016 | story
Julie Squire is a Policy Director for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). In this position, she serves as the staff director for the Unemployment Insurance Committee and the Equal Opportunity Committee. Her program areas ...
LEAD PARTNERS National Association of State Workforce Agencies
June 30, 2016 | story
Originally founded during the Great Depression, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) brings together state administrators of the publicly-funded workforce system. The workforce system includes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ...
Department of Labor Launches New Technical Assistance Website
June 30, 2016 | story
On April 18, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) launched WorkforceGPS - the next generation, mobile-friendly, and accessible website that gives the public workforce system, education professionals, and ...
WIOA Services and Performance Begins July 1st
June 30, 2016 | story
Breaking News: Final Rules were issued for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act on June 30, 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.doleta.gov/WIOA/. LEAD Center will review the Final Rules and provide analysis in upcoming ...
LEAD Releases New Toolkit to Promote Collaboration between Centers for Independent Living and American Job Centers
March 31, 2016 | story
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the LEAD Center has released Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 31, 2016 | story
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 23, 2016 | news
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD and DEI Partner to Discuss WIOA Section 188 Best Practices
March 09, 2016 | news
In February, the U.S. Department of Labor's Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) held an interactive Peer Exchange for DEI grantees to review and discuss Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Section 188 implements ...
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Review of the DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, from a Disability Perspective
February 16, 2016 | resource
On January 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register implementing the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and ...
American Job Center
January 01, 2016 | resource
The American Job Center Network provides a single, 24-7 access point for key federal programs and critical local resources to help people find a job, identify training programs, and tap into resources to help them gain skills in growing industries. The ...
Section 188: A Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
December 15, 2015 | story
In July 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide. Authored by the LEAD Center, with input and guidance from multiple federal agencies, ...
WIOA Update: Submission of Unified/Combined State Plans
December 15, 2015 | story
As the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) continues its process of implementation, there are many important aspects that states should be currently preparing for, including the submittal of their Unified or Combined State Plan. These ...
LEAD PEOPLE Danielle Smith, State Equal Opportunity Officer - Missouri Division of Workforce Development-DED
December 15, 2015 | story
Danielle Smith is the State of Missouri WIA Equal Opportunity Officer. Danielle has been in this position since 2012. Prior to this position, Danielle was Regional Coordinator for the Division of Workforce Development. Her position includes oversight ...
New LEAD Paper: Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Investment System
September 30, 2015 | story
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers State Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and local American Job Centers (AJCs) the opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring that youth and adults, with and without disabilities, have the ...
Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
September 17, 2015 | resource
The U.S. Department of Labor has developed this Reference Guide to assist AJCs by providing promising practices that correlate with specific nondiscrimination requirements in Section 188 and the current Section 188 regulations. While ...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guide on Disability Non-Discrimination in Jobs Programs
July 31, 2015 | story
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a new guide to assist American Job Centers (AJCs) in serving people with disabilities. The AJCs, which are funded through DOL, are a network of one-stop centers to assist individuals in finding employment. The ...
WIOA Advisory Committee Meeting Held July 13-14
July 31, 2015 | story
The Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, held its fourth meeting on July 13-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. During the ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
July 15, 2015 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
LEAD Center Presentations Support the 2015 National APSE Annual Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
For the first time, the LEAD Center participated in the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23-25, by providing two presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic ...
LEAD Presents at 2015 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
LEAD Center Assistant Project Director, Elizabeth Jennings, presented at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals' (NAWDP) 2015 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 4th through the 6th. LEAD Center was invited ...
Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
June 30, 2015 | story
The LEAD Center recently published a new resource, "Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers." Customized Employment offers an approach to job ...
FAQs: Using Customized Employment’s Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
May 13, 2015 | resource
If you haven’t heard of Customized Employment or you think it has little relevance to helping today’s job seekers in the nation’s American Job Centers (AJC), think again. Customized Employment offers an approach consistent with the most innovative and ...
Kansas Researchers Provide Training, Monitor Progress on Competitive Integrated Employment Training in Rhode Island and Kansas
April 30, 2015 | story
In 2014, the state of Rhode Island entered a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) after a finding that the state’s services programs—including its Medicaid programs—provided insufficient access to integrated employment and other ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective - Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Activities) Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
April 20, 2015 | resource
This policy brief outlines, from the disability perspective, key provisions of two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), i.e., those provisions in title I of WIOA pertaining to workforce ...
LEAD Center Launches Four-Part Webinar Series on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Obama last July, maintains a primary focus on assisting job seekers and workers with and without disabilities to succeed in the labor market, and matches employers with skilled ...
Employment and Training Administration Releases a Training Employment Guidance Letter Concerning the Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act
March 31, 2015 | story
Consistent with the various timelines stipulated in WIOA, we can expect the release of related materials developed by various federal agencies and departments articulating how states should begin implementing the law. One such piece was recently released ...
FEATURED AGENCY Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) establishes several new and exciting mandates aimed at increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the American workforce. Among those mandates is the establishment of the “Advisory ...
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act Introduced (H.R. 188)
January 30, 2015 | story
This month, Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi introduced H.R. 188, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2015. Representative Harper introduced an identical bill in 2013 that gained 97 co-sponsors before dying. The bill aims to phase out ...
‘Hire More Heroes’ Offers Veterans Boost for Small Business Jobs
January 30, 2015 | story
In early January, House Republicans announced the re-introduction of the Hire More Heroes Act, which would incentivize small businesses to hire military retirees, reservists and veterans with disabilities. The bill permits small businesses without health ...
Share Your CE Success Story
December 21, 2014 | story
Originally envisioned as a multi-strategy approach to match the discrete skills and unique contributions of a job seeker with a significant disability to an employer who has an unmet (and often unrealized) need for those skills and contributions, Customized ...
Successful Employment: How Local American Job Centers (AJCs) Can Help
December 04, 2014 | resource
Many people with developmental disabilities believe that they aren’t eligible for American Job Center (AJC) services or that the services won’t accommodate their needs. These presentation slides accompanied a LEAD Center session of the same title during ...
LEAD Center Policy Brief: Summary of Major Policies Included in Titles I and IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
October 22, 2014 | resource
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law No. 113-128). WIOA represents an important bipartisan effort to improve federal workforce development programs and provide new opportunities to ...
CIL-AJC Community of Practice Continues to Build Momentum
September 30, 2014 | story
The LEAD Center Community of Practice (CoP) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and American Job Centers (AJCs) continues to provide ongoing peer-to-peer mentorship, training, and technical assistance. The CIL-AJC CoP meets monthly to improve ...
WIOA Offers Expanded Opportunities for Youth and Adults with Disabilities
September 30, 2014 | story
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA modernizes and improves existing federal workforce development programs, helps workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, provides supports to people ...
LEAD PEOPLE Bridget Brown, Executive Director – National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
September 30, 2014 | story
Bridget Brown joined the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) as Executive Director in January 2008. In this position, Brown leads efforts to strengthen our nation’s workforce development system and improve the ...
Universal Access Strategies Highlighted at 2014 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2014 | story
Many job seekers who face challenges in getting and keeping jobs often find their way to their local American Job Center (AJC). This May, in response to requests for information on strategies for intake and orientation to accommodate a diverse range of job ...
Innovative Collaborations Between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Urgent Local Workforce Needs
February 01, 2012 | resource
Government Accountability Office February 2012 Workforce board officials and their partners in 14 initiatives cited a range of factors that facilitated building innovative collaborations. Almost all of the collaborations grew out of efforts to address ...
The Great Recession and Serving Dislocated Workers with Disabilities: Perspectives from One-Stop Career Centers and Rapid Response Coordinators
June 01, 2011 | resource
The NTAR Leadership Center Maris Heidkamp and William Mabe, Ph.D. June 2011 During America’s Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 that left millions of workers unemployed, one group was hit hard – people with disabilities. Between June 2008 and September ...
Creating a Roadmap Out of Poverty for Americans with Disabilities: The Relationship of the Employment and Training Administration’s Workforce Development System and Local Asset-Building Coalitions
April 01, 2009 | resource
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Disability Institute April 2009 This report analyzes research conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, regarding best practices in ...
Maintaining Employment Through Economic Advancement Strategies
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar, as part of our Employment mini-series, will provide information on strategies for enhancing employment stability and improving time on the job through the use of economic advancement strategies. Participants will learn how to integrate these ...
Section 503: Connecting Job Seekers with Disabilities and Federal Contractors through the Workforce Development System
December 31, 1969 | webinar
There are new challenges and opportunities for federal contractors as a result of requirements of the Section 503 final rule. Building an inclusive workforce provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) and the workforce development system to ...
NAWDP Webinar: Improving Services for All Job Seekers by Improving Services to Customers with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act places a greater emphasis on serving all job seekers – regardless of ability. This focus will not only improve services to individuals with disabilities, but also will help strengthen overall program ...
CILs and AJCs: Strategic Partnerships that Lead to Better Employment and Economic Advancement Outcomes
December 31, 1969 | webinar
A growing number of Centers for Independent Living are providing employment services to meet the needs of their customers and to improve the employment and economic advancement outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Join us to learn about findings and ...
Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on WIOA
December 31, 1969 | webinar
***The LEAD Center, funded by the US Department of Labor’s Office on Disability Policy, is hosting a four-part webinar series titled "WIOA From a Disability Perspective."*** Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of 4 The Workforce ...
Disability, Employment & Lane v. Brown
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On September 8, 2015, the United States entered into a proposed settlement agreement with the State of Oregon to vindicate the civil rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are unnecessarily segregated in sheltered ...
Creating an Inclusive Workforce System: Implementing WIOA Section 188’s Equal Opportunity Provisions
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) prohibits discrimination against people who apply to, participate in, work for, or come into contact with programs and activities of the workforce development system. WIOA also requires that ...
WIOA Implementation Partnerships: The Important Role of Centers for Independent Living
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) to partner with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) leading to improved employment outcomes for job seekers with disabilities. To support these ...
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
December 31, 1969 | webinar
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems. This user-friendly tool will help states pinpoint where they may need to focus more ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Mark your calendars and register today for this important webinar – Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Last month, the Department of Education’s (ED) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued a Technical Assistance ...
WIOA from a Disability Perspective & Section 188: A Powerful Foundation for Access - Series 1 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The series kicks-off with an overview of disability-related provisions in WIOA and its Section 188 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination regulations. These Equal Opportunity provisions provide an essential framework for expanding access to individuals with ...
State Workforce Systems that are Making Equal Opportunity a Priority: Missouri, Virginia, California - Series 2 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the second webinar, representatives from three States share their motivations, strategies, challenges and actions in implementing effective AJC Certification procedures, with Section 188 as the framework. Missouri’s commitment to Section 188 ...
Achieving 188 Compliance & AJC Certification: Key Strategies & Actions from Policy to Procedures - Series 3 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The final webinar of the series will give a snapshot of the foundation set by WIOA’s disability-related provisions and Section 188. The most impactful strategies across all three states will be highlighted, including which partners have been essential to ...
Webinar: Self-Guided Discovery: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, we share a new Facilitator’s Guide developed in partnership with Griffin-Hammis Associates. The Guide can be used to implement Self-Guided Discovery in the workforce system; in Centers for Independent Living; in behavioral health and ...
Building Employment Opportunities Through Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, the Technical Assistance teams of WINTAC, LEAD Center and DEI, along with Felipe Lulli from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Sara Hastings from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and Joe Ashley from the ...
Career Pathways: Introducing Entrepreneurship and Small Business Concepts for Youth with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This training/Community of Practice meeting will recap the vision of WIOA for following a career pathway model for service delivery and explore Alaska’s innovation of including entrepreneurship and small business concepts into their service structure for ...
Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On April 18, National Disability Institute (NDI), the LEAD Center and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) partnered for the webinar/in-person event, Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities, to commemorate National Financial ...
Promoting Competitive Integrated Employment: What You Can Do
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) is critical to achieving equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities -- and so are you. Join this webinar to learn about ways you can help expand opportunities for ...
Northeast & Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
December 31, 1969 | partner
Operated by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, providing training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the ...
The Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap: Navigating the Road to Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Resources That Help Expand Opportunities for Career Pathways: “Freshman Year for Free”
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Finding resources and creative ways to increase the success of individuals with disabilities in securing Competitive Integrated Employment often begins with navigating the Career Pathways landscape. One of the barriers to Competitive Integrated ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Getting on Track to Employment & Self-Sufficiency: Key Drivers of Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity: Requirements and Promising Practices
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Don’t miss this webinar on promoting Equal Opportunity and complying with the requirements of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) Section 188. Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity is an evolving process. Challenges arise. ...
Get Empowered: Make the Most of Your Job and Improve Your Financial Security Building Financial Solutions for People with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
If you are a person with a disability who is getting ready to enter the workforce or who recently did, you probably have a lot of questions related to your new job and your financial security. We want to help you find the answers so that you are empowered to ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar will explore strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. For example, how can you promote collaboration among workforce development professionals, school and ...
How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the U.S. today, the COVID-19 emergency presents a time of significant health and economic uncertainty for individuals with disabilities, as well as their families and communities. In recognition of financial literacy month in April, the LEAD ...
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility for WIOA Partners during COVID-19 and Beyond
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to these ...
Statewide Cross-System Training on WIOA Section 188: Broadening Access for People with Disabilities & other Barriers to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to ...
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“This publication illustrates Maryland’s successful job placement and training activities for the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, as required by U.S. Department of Labor’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 5-18.”
Related LEAD Center Results
Currently displaying 193 records.
Virginia Equal Opportunity Pilot – COVID-19 Related Learnings
December 22, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center works in partnership with DOL’s Civil Rights Center and Office of Disability Employment Policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination projects. COVID-19 has required services to shift to a virtual format across the country, which is ...
LEAD Webinar: Registered Apprenticeship: Job Seekers with Disabilities Please Apply!
December 22, 2020 | story
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway. Employers develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential. For job ...
Disability-Related Reporting in the Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL)
September 09, 2020 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states to report a number of key elements related to disability. These data elements, if properly understood and collected, can help states improve the quality of reporting and services for ...
The Top 10 Reasons for Visiting the DRIVE Website
June 29, 2020 | story
WIOA Disability-Related Reporting: DRIVE is the only website where you can retrieve WIOA Reporting data related to people with disabilities in your state, county, or Employment & Training Administration (ETA) region. National Disability & ...
On the Horizon
April 01, 2020 | story
Webinar: Financial Strategies for Workers with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Webinar: How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Webinar: Equal Opportunity Webinar I ...
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
April 01, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center developed The ABLE Act and Employment brief to demonstrate how provisions in the ABLE Act can be combined with federal benefits to further increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. The brief contains a list of ...
Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool
April 01, 2020 | story
There are 10 disability-related reporting elements required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). How comprehensive is your reporting? Use the new interactive Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool to help you investigate the data that your ...
Updated WIOA State Profiles: DRIVE Disability Employment Activities
April 01, 2020 | story
The Data and Resources to Inspire a Vision of Employment (DRIVE) website provides “one-stop-shop” access to disability employment statistics at the national and state level, and access to state disability employment policies. The site features resources ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
April 01, 2020 | story
The March 10th webinar, Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways, explores strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. Topics include how collaboration can be ...
Providing a National Perspective at Maryland Works
April 01, 2020 | story
On November 14, 2019, Dr. Rebecca Salon, LEAD Center Co-Project Director, presented at the Maryland Works Seminar on the State of the State: Employment of People with Disabilities. Dr. Salon provided the national perspective as part of a panel of experts on ...
LEAD Center Financial Capability Online Training Continues to Impact the Field
March 20, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center’s Financial Capability Training series is part of a strategic effort by VA DARS to equip current staff, including Work Incentives Specialist Advocates (WISA's) and other DARS staff and vendors, with the education and resources ...
Guided Group Discovery – Veterans and Youth Editions
March 17, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center created two new versions of Guided Group Discovery materials–one for veterans and the other for youth. Both include a Facilitator Guide; the youth version has an added supplemental slide deck. These materials complement LEAD Center’s ...
Maryland Works - The State of the State - Employment of People with Disabilities: A National Perspective
March 12, 2020 | resource
This powerpoint presentation gives a national perspective on Maryland Works and the employment of people with disabilities.
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
March 11, 2020 | resource
This brief discusses how provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (Public Law 113-295)1 can be combined with federal benefit services and other federal programs and initiatives to further competitive integrated employment for people ...
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 23, 2019 | resource
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document. ACL, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ...
Guided Group Discovery - Veterans Edition - Facilitator Guide
May 22, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide - Veterans Edition. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the ...
Guided Group Discovery - Youth Version - Facilitator Guide and Supplemental Slide Deck
May 20, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the foundation for competitive ...
Financial Capability System Innovation Brief: Building a LADDER to Financial Empowerment in Louisville
May 14, 2019 | resource
Since 2014, LEAD Center has worked with Bank On Louisville, in collaboration with the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, to identify opportunities for universally designed services and supports that advance financial capability ...
System Innovation Brief: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: Virginia’s Cross-System Accessibility Taskforce Addresses Equal Opportunity and Access
March 29, 2019 | resource
The State of Virginia began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) in 2016. Leadership from key agencies, charged with developing and implementing the state’s ...
Customized Employment Systems Innovation Brief: Implementing Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery in a Variety of Settings and with a Variety of Partners
March 29, 2019 | resource
Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery are approaches that serve as the first step in the process known as Customized Employment (CE). Customized Employment is a strategy for helping people who haven’t been successful with a more traditional job ...
LEADing to Employment Brief: Implementing the Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Section 188)
March 19, 2019 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 reaffirms the role of a customer focused one-stop delivery system, with a focus on enhancing coordination among key employment, education, and training programs. Section 188 of WIOA (29 CFR Part ...
Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities: Tips and Lessons Learned for State Government Leaders Interested in Promoting Gainful Employment as a Public Policy Goal
February 28, 2019 | resource
Holding a leadership role in state government is not for the faint-hearted. Whether state officials assume their role on a short-term basis or intend to make a career as a leader in state government, the expectations are high, the challenges are many, and the ...
New Promising Practices In Achieving Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
February 22, 2019 | resource
This Section 188 Disability Reference Guide provides updated information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements for ...
System Innovation Brief: Missouri’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity: Using WIOA’s Section 188 to Create a Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
February 22, 2019 | resource
The State of Missouri began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) Center in 2015. Their State Equal Opportunity Officer was seeking support to implement the Equal ...
Road to Inclusive Career Pathways
February 21, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap is an interactive online tool that provides workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency. Start your journey on the Inclusive Career ...
Joint System Innovation Brief: WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice to Better Serve Individuals with Disabilities
January 17, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center, Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) and Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Centers (WINTAC) joined forces in the new Joint System Innovation Brief on WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
December 10, 2018 | story
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
December 09, 2018 | story
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
The Empowering Nature of Work
October 31, 2018 | blog
As we close out another National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we, at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) are heartened to see the many and creative ways individuals and organizations helped bring this year’s theme, “America’s ...
New E-Logic Courses
October 17, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a ...
Community of Practice Meeting Adult and Continuing Education: Options and Resources to Promote Inclusive Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes
October 03, 2018 | event
All Career Pathways partners should be aware of the substantial resources and collaboration opportunities that exist in their regions with career, technical and adult education programs. Join this interactive webinar to learn about the LINCS website and ...
Customized Employment Helped Me Get a Job I Love
September 28, 2018 | blog
Every day, many people apply for jobs they are interested in, and many are lucky enough to get them. Often though, people with a disability are not lucky enough to even be considered for jobs they might like and be good at because they might not be able to do ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 6
September 26, 2018 | story
As LEAD Center finishes its sixth year, we are proud of our many accomplishments. We designed LEAD Center’s activities to improve competitive integrated employment (CIE), economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities, and inclusive ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | resource
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
LEAD Center’s Statewide Youth Employment Project in Oregon Highlighted at Federal Briefing
September 26, 2018 | story
On August 8 and 9, 2018, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted Employment First Federal Briefings on School-to-Work Transition, Provider Transformation, Interagency Coordination, and Mental Health practices that have been shown to promote ...
LEAD Center Releases Neurodiversity Brief
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center recently released the brief, Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment. This brief discusses actions ...
LEAD Center Brief on Ways to Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | story
LEAD Center released the brief, Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community, authored by Alison Barkoff from the Center for Public Representation. This brief can be shared with others who are interested ...
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 26, 2018 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” National Disability Employment ...
Oregon Update: Youth Guided Group Discovery
September 26, 2018 | story
As fall begins and students are returning to school, LEAD Center has already met with the transition network facilitators at our Oregon Guided Group Discovery pilot sites. Sites are gearing up to offer Guided Group Discovery (GGD) again at their schools, and ...
New LEAD Center Self-Paced Trainings Now Available!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a completion ...
City of Louisville Continues to Support Financial Empowerment
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by the Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services in the Office of ...
LEAD Conference Update
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center sponsored an exhibit booth at the 2018 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed Mobilize: Resistance through Action. The theme was befitting of a conference that included a group of hundreds of people with disabilities marching through ...
LEAD Partner: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
September 26, 2018 | story
What is SETA? The Sacramento Employment & Training Agency (SETA), an agency that works in the City and County of Sacramento, was formed in 1978. From its inception, SETA has been an effective force in connecting people to jobs, business owners to ...
LEAD People – The SETA Team
September 26, 2018 | story
Michelle O’Camb serves as a Workforce Development Manager for the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), alongside colleague Jennifer Fischer, Workforce Development Analyst Supervisor. Together, O’Camb and Fischer oversee a number of programs ...
Give Us Your Feedback!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you fill out a very brief feedback form, which should only take five (5) minutes or less to complete. Also, if you ...
LEAD Resources
September 26, 2018 | story
1. Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults http://leadcenter.org/resources/report-brief/complying-section-511-approaches-promote-competitive-integrated-employment-youth-and-adults 2. ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
September 25, 2018 | resource
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
FDIC Youth Employment Resource Center
September 17, 2018 | resource
The FDIC Youth center offers resources that support financial education and access to safe, affordable insured accounts for youth participating in employment programs. Explore this site to learn about the FDIC’s resources that support financial education ...
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has launched a newly updated website. It provides a more user-friendly layout with easier access to JAN's publications, toolkits, training modules, and other resources. JAN also released its latest Enews, which can be ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complimentary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
Workplace Education Videos: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
September 17, 2018 | resource
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation recently released three videos that employers can use to educate about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These videos were created under their Disability Employment Initiative cooperative agreement ...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
September 17, 2018 | resource
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of Practice. ...
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 06, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you take a very brief survey, which should only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Also, if you would be willing ...
Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults
August 01, 2018 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law in 2014, added Section 511, “Limitations on the Use of Subminimum Wage,” to Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 511 requires a state’s vocational rehabilitation services ...
Neurodiversity Brief: Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment
July 30, 2018 | resource
This brief discusses actions that American Job Center (AJC) staff can take to make their services more accessible to autistic people and others with psychosocial, cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (DD); this supports the creation of ...
What the ADA Means to Our Family
July 23, 2018 | blog
Co-Authored by Alison Nodvin Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation and Evan Nodvin, Member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities July 26th is the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ...
Update: Oregon Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot
June 28, 2018 | story
In the previous LEAD On! newsletter, we told you about kicking off Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot. The six pilot sites included a mix of rural and urban locations throughout Oregon. Even before schools started their summer break ...
LEAD Center Releases Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center is pleased to announce the release of the Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook. The Online Participant Workbook can be completed using any browser. This user-friendly tool allows youth and adults to create a personalized ...
House Committee on Small Business Holds Hearing Highlighting People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
On May 9, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing titled, “Ready, Willing, and Able to Work: How Small Businesses Empower People with Developmental Disabilities.” The hearing, chaired by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), sought to examine ...
LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation Activities at National Conferences
June 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center staff had a significant presence at two national conferences this quarter: the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Conference and the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference. The NAWDP ...
LEAD People: Yvonne Wright
June 28, 2018 | story
Yvonne Wright serves as the Director of Workforce Engagement and Innovation for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. In this position, she works with partners throughout the state to move beyond WIOA compliance toward true collaboration. Prior to ...
Louisville’s Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), Emerges as Leader in Advancing Financial Empowerment and Economic Advancement for People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center has supported the expanding work of LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) since its inception in 2014. LADDER, a collaborative of community-based organizations, workforce services, ...
Resources
June 28, 2018 | story
Guided Group Discovery Resources: Introduction and Course, Participant Workbook, and Facilitator’s ...
LEAD Activities During Financial Capability Month in April
June 28, 2018 | story
To commemorate Financial Capability Month, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities to address the needs of Americans with disabilities to become more financially capable, the LEAD Center, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), and ...
Building a Roadmap that Supports the National WIOA System to Navigate Inclusive Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
Over the past several months, the LEAD Center has researched effective strategies nationwide in serving people with disabilities and reaching positive employment outcomes through Inclusive Career Pathways. The research has found that the six elements of ...
Business Engagement Self-Assessment Tool
June 25, 2018 | resource
This self-assessment is designed to help states and regions better understand how integrated and effective their business services are currently, and where enhancements can be made.
Building Credit and Community: A Look Inside Louisville’s LABS Pilot Program
April 26, 2018 | blog
Since 2014, LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) supports opportunities to integrate financial empowerment in workforce development systems to insure the inclusivity of persons with disabilities in accessing ...
LEAD Center Hosts National Dialogue on Financial Literacy Education for People with Disabilities
April 18, 2018 | news
In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the LEAD Center today launched a two-week national dialogue called Money Matters. LEAD Center encourages workforce development professionals, disability professionals, financial services professionals, ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
April 11, 2018 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
Financial Integration Team Fact Sheet
April 04, 2018 | resource
The Financial Integration Team (FIT) Community of Practice is a peer-to-peer support network, which focuses on integrated financial capability strategies to support persons with disabilities in building their financial well-being. FIT members represent ...
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018 | blog
Hello, I’m Alec Frazier. I’m autistic and have been a self-advocate and an advocate since I can remember, although definitely professionally since I gave my first speech in third grade in 1994. I am currently the Director of Autistic Reality, my own ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 21, 2018, LEAD Center hosted a webinar on WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates. This webinar was in response to the Two-Year ...
Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot Kicks Off in Oregon
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 28, 2018, Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot kicked off with a full-day Train-the-Trainer for 31 Transition Network Facilitators, Youth Transition Program staff, and teachers from across the state. Participants were ...
Adding Self-Guided Discovery to Your Toolkit: An Additional Resource to Promote Employment Outcomes for People with Barriers to Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) were excited to release the Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator’s Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment as part of their March 28, 2018 webinar on this topic. For many ...
LEAD Center Releases Policy Briefs on Guided Group Discovery and ABLE Accounts and Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center recently published two policy briefs: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts and Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery. The purpose of the Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts policy brief is to help people with ...
LEAD Partner: Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has been participating in and offering technical assistance to Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce, which was created in 2016 as recommended in the State’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan. The goal of this ...
Three-Part Webinar Series: AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has joined forces with the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to host a three-part webinar series on AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities. ...
LEAD Person: Constance M. Green
March 28, 2018 | story
Constance serves as Virginia's State Coordinator for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs. In this capacity, she develops program policy and guidance, provides technical assistance to Local Workforce ...
Important New Resources
March 28, 2018 | story
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/customized-employment-stories-and-lessons-field Disability Benefits Counseling Services: Free Resources for Social Security Administration Disability ...
Five Key Strategies to Achieve Financial Well-Being
March 26, 2018 | resource
National Disability Institute (NDI) focuses on five key strategies to assist an individual to achieve financial well-being. The five key strategies include: Benefits Planning and Work Supports Employment Free Tax Preparation Financial Education ...
Financial Literacy Education Frequently Asked Questions Under WIOA
March 26, 2018 | resource
Youth participants and adult job seekers with and without disabilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) may be able to receive financial literacy education. The following are frequently asked questions that support an increased ...
Federal Regulations That Support the Integration of Economic Advancement Strategies within Disability Employment Services
March 26, 2018 | resource
The following Federal regulations support the provision of economic advancement strategies within disability services. Integrating economic advancement strategies into disability services, such as employment planning, has demonstrated improved employment ...
Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator's Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
March 26, 2018 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Facilitator’s Guide to Self-Guided Discovery. For many years, ODEP has worked to strengthen the capacity of the ...
Policy Brief: Reviewing and Updating Your WIOA Unified or Combined State Plan from a Disability Perspective
February 21, 2018 | resource
On January 24, 2018, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued new guidance to State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Boards and other partners (TEGL 6-17) on approaches to be taken to ...
Information Brief: Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery
January 31, 2018 | resource
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) opens doors to employment for people who experience barriers to employment. LEAD Center recently released comprehensive Guided Group Discovery materials, designed to enable youth and adults with disabilities and others to find a ...
Information Brief: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts
January 31, 2018 | resource
The LEAD Center recently published the policy brief, "The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes for People with ...
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field
January 04, 2018 | resource
Customized Employment (CE) represents a nuanced departure from traditional competitive and comparative approaches to developing work. True CE is hard to come by actually. This collection of examples is offered to point out the sometimes less obvious nuanced ...
Tennessee American Job Center Hosts LEAD Center’s First Guided Group Discovery Veterans Pilot
December 19, 2017 | story
On December 7th, LEAD Center staff launched a new Guided Group Discovery (GGD) pilot focused on veterans by providing a Facilitator Training at a comprehensive American Job Center (AJC) in Clarksville, Tenn. Guided Group Discovery is an innovative way to ...
ODEP and LEAD Center Promote Knowledge Translation
December 19, 2017 | story
On November 29th, the LEAD Center and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted a discussion with LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation (KT) Consortium. Featured speakers in this virtual meeting included leadership from ...
NAWDP Youth Symposium 2017
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff and partners presented at a plenary session at the 2017 Youth Development Symposium, held annually by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director and Training and ...
LEAD Partner: Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center has been working in partnership with the Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center (AJC) in Tennessee for the past two years. This comprehensive, accessible AJC has supported LEAD Center’s first Guided Group Discovery pilots for people ...
LEAD People: Sharyn Hancock
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is pleased to highlight the work of Sharyn Hancock, Disability Resource Coordinator at Workforce Essentials in Clarksville, Tennessee. She coordinates resources for individuals with disabilities, supports her workforce system colleagues, and ...
TASH 2017 Conference
December 19, 2017 | story
In December, the LEAD Center participated in the national TASH Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The LEAD Center added to this diverse community of stakeholders by providing five presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic advancement of ...
Important New Resources
December 19, 2017 | story
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/business-30-second-training-series-and-resource-guide Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled ...
LEAD Center Blog Round-up
December 19, 2017 | story
During October and November, the LEAD Center's guest bloggers offered valuable information about employment for job seekers with disabilities, job coaches, community organizations, and hiring managers. All the posts highlighted how disability employment ...
Veterans’ Priority: WorkforceGPS Collection Site
December 14, 2017 | resource
This is the centralized collection of information for Veterans’ programs, policies, and initiatives, which primarily affect the Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) employment and training programs. Veterans’ Priority gives ...
Disability and Employment: Connect the Pieces
December 14, 2017 | resource
These resources are designed to help connect three key pieces together -- the American Job Center, the employer and individuals with disabilities. They should always interconnect because the American Job Center has a dual customer focus to serve both ...
Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled Veterans
December 14, 2017 | resource
When military personnel transition to civilian employment, America’s businesses stand to benefit. Across all industries, veterans are a ready source of qualified, committed job candidates with transferable skills proven in real world situations. They grasp ...
CareerOneStop Local Help Tools
December 14, 2017 | resource
CareerOneStop has updated more than a dozen local help finder tools for easy access from smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. The Local Help collection of tools can quickly provide location and contact information for a variety of programs and ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 13, 2017 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
DOL ETA Webinar: Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force
November 29, 2017 | event
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting a webinar on Monday, December 11 from 3-4:00 P.M. ET on Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force. The webinar will identify key provisions ...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 09, 2017 | blog
As an employer, do you want to easily find valuable and talented employees to fill your job openings AND incentivize your workplace diversity? If inclusion and diversity is important to you and your workplace culture, look no further and hire a veteran with a ...
Inclusion Drives Innovation: The Mobile Accommodation Solution App
October 24, 2017 | blog
The World Health Organization reports globally there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities. Increasingly, chronic health conditions and disabilities are becoming more commonplace in the workplace. This has major implications for employers large ...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017 | blog
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean: a. Capacities based on tipping b. Capacities based on structural ...
WISE WEBINAR: Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account
October 04, 2017 | event
Join the Ticket to Work Program on October 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a free webinar: "Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account." They will talk about how people with disabilities can benefit from ABLE accounts and how they ...
Showing the World That ‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’
October 03, 2017 | blog
October is a special month to those of us at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE). It’s the time of year when we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)—the national campaign that celebrates individuals with disabilities and ...
Important Additional Resources
September 27, 2017 | story
Employment, Health Care, and Policy Update: August 2017 The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 27, 2017 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” National Disability Employment Awareness ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 5
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is just finishing its fifth year and is proud of its many accomplishments. LEAD Center’s activities are all designed to improve competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities. Read on to ...
Oregon Guided Group Discovery Project
September 27, 2017 | story
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) curriculum materials, developed by the LEAD Center, offer American Job Centers (AJC) and partner agencies a tool to assist job seekers with disabilities to obtain customized employment through a collaborative model. Guided Group ...
Section 188 and AJC Certification: Achieving Compliance, Expanding Access, and Increasing Outcomes
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center has been providing training nationwide on how all programs and activities that are part of the One-Stop delivery system, including workforce partners, must comply with Section 188, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) equal ...
Updates from the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER)
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services. LADDER is a ...
ABLE Accounts Give People with Disabilities the Power to Save
September 27, 2017 | story
This summer, the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) launched a month-long public awareness campaign called “#ABLEtoSave.” The national grassroots campaign began on July 31 and ran throughout the month of August. The purpose of the campaign was ...
LEAD Center Knowledge Translation Activities
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff presented and/or exhibited at a number of conferences during the past quarter on strategies and practices to promote employment and economic advancement of youth and adults with disabilities. This included the national Association of People ...
LEAD PARTNER: Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation
September 27, 2017 | story
Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is embracing the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation to deepen partnerships with education and workforce partners throughout the state. Oregon VR is participating with every Local Workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE: Nancy Boutot
September 27, 2017 | story
Nancy Boutot is the Manager of Integrated Systems and Cross System Integration for the LEAD Center and Project Manager for Ticket to Work Outreach Support through National Disability Institute (NDI) Consulting. Her work focuses on promoting employment and ...
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017 | story
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities. Since the passage of the ADA, Americans with disabilities have made great strides in ...
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Part 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
August 07, 2017 | event
Join Social Security's Ticket to Work program on August 23, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, for their next free WISE webinar! In part 1 of a 2-part series, the Ticket to Work program will talk about Work Incentives available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income ...
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017 | blog
One of the benefits of being in the disability field for such a long time is the perspective that it brings. I started in the field before the implementation of most of the public laws, legislation and legal actions that ensure the rights of children and ...
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation Releases Issue Brief on Proposed Work Requirements Advanced in State Medicaid Programs
May 31, 2017 | story
On March 23, 2017, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on publishing research and information on health care issues in America, published an issue brief that discusses proposed work requirements as part of different ...
HCBS Transition Plans Update
May 31, 2017 | story
Kansas Releases Revised HCBS Transition Plan On March 20, 2017, Kansas revised its HCBS Transition Plan. Kansas chose to make changes in the direction of the state’s implementation process. The state increased stakeholder participation, revised its ...
Council on Quality and Leadership Releases Study on Supported Employment Services in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
May 31, 2017 | story
The Council on Quality and Leadership, an organization dedicated to measuring the quality of community life for people with disabilities, released the results of a study that examined how Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services waivers provided ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective: FINAL RULE Implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Systems)
August 19, 2016 | resource
The purpose of this policy brief is to provide a summary description, from a disability perspective, of the Department of Labor and Department of Education Final Rules implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development ...
Two Exciting Grant Opportunities to Promote Employment for Youth and Adults with Disabilities through Partnerships and Collaborations
June 30, 2016 | story
Disability Employment Initiative The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the availability of grant funds for its seventh round of funding for the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) program. DEI is a joint program of ...
LEAD Center Webinar on Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System
June 30, 2016 | story
In recognition of Financial Capability Month in April, a LEAD Center webinar, Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System: Resources and Implementation Strategies, brought together representatives from the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee ...
Missouri Workforce Development Leads Equal Opportunity for Customers with Disabilities through Section 188 Training
June 30, 2016 | story
On May 11, the LEAD Center had the opportunity to present at the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) Conference in Lake Ozark, Missouri. MAWD is a state association that supports career and technical training, as well as workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE Julie Squire, Policy Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
June 30, 2016 | story
Julie Squire is a Policy Director for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). In this position, she serves as the staff director for the Unemployment Insurance Committee and the Equal Opportunity Committee. Her program areas ...
LEAD PARTNERS National Association of State Workforce Agencies
June 30, 2016 | story
Originally founded during the Great Depression, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) brings together state administrators of the publicly-funded workforce system. The workforce system includes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ...
Department of Labor Launches New Technical Assistance Website
June 30, 2016 | story
On April 18, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) launched WorkforceGPS - the next generation, mobile-friendly, and accessible website that gives the public workforce system, education professionals, and ...
WIOA Services and Performance Begins July 1st
June 30, 2016 | story
Breaking News: Final Rules were issued for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act on June 30, 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.doleta.gov/WIOA/. LEAD Center will review the Final Rules and provide analysis in upcoming ...
LEAD Releases New Toolkit to Promote Collaboration between Centers for Independent Living and American Job Centers
March 31, 2016 | story
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the LEAD Center has released Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 31, 2016 | story
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 23, 2016 | news
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD and DEI Partner to Discuss WIOA Section 188 Best Practices
March 09, 2016 | news
In February, the U.S. Department of Labor's Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) held an interactive Peer Exchange for DEI grantees to review and discuss Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Section 188 implements ...
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Review of the DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, from a Disability Perspective
February 16, 2016 | resource
On January 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register implementing the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and ...
American Job Center
January 01, 2016 | resource
The American Job Center Network provides a single, 24-7 access point for key federal programs and critical local resources to help people find a job, identify training programs, and tap into resources to help them gain skills in growing industries. The ...
Section 188: A Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
December 15, 2015 | story
In July 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide. Authored by the LEAD Center, with input and guidance from multiple federal agencies, ...
WIOA Update: Submission of Unified/Combined State Plans
December 15, 2015 | story
As the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) continues its process of implementation, there are many important aspects that states should be currently preparing for, including the submittal of their Unified or Combined State Plan. These ...
LEAD PEOPLE Danielle Smith, State Equal Opportunity Officer - Missouri Division of Workforce Development-DED
December 15, 2015 | story
Danielle Smith is the State of Missouri WIA Equal Opportunity Officer. Danielle has been in this position since 2012. Prior to this position, Danielle was Regional Coordinator for the Division of Workforce Development. Her position includes oversight ...
New LEAD Paper: Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Investment System
September 30, 2015 | story
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers State Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and local American Job Centers (AJCs) the opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring that youth and adults, with and without disabilities, have the ...
Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
September 17, 2015 | resource
The U.S. Department of Labor has developed this Reference Guide to assist AJCs by providing promising practices that correlate with specific nondiscrimination requirements in Section 188 and the current Section 188 regulations. While ...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guide on Disability Non-Discrimination in Jobs Programs
July 31, 2015 | story
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a new guide to assist American Job Centers (AJCs) in serving people with disabilities. The AJCs, which are funded through DOL, are a network of one-stop centers to assist individuals in finding employment. The ...
WIOA Advisory Committee Meeting Held July 13-14
July 31, 2015 | story
The Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, held its fourth meeting on July 13-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. During the ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
July 15, 2015 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
LEAD Center Presentations Support the 2015 National APSE Annual Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
For the first time, the LEAD Center participated in the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23-25, by providing two presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic ...
LEAD Presents at 2015 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
LEAD Center Assistant Project Director, Elizabeth Jennings, presented at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals' (NAWDP) 2015 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 4th through the 6th. LEAD Center was invited ...
Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
June 30, 2015 | story
The LEAD Center recently published a new resource, "Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers." Customized Employment offers an approach to job ...
FAQs: Using Customized Employment’s Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
May 13, 2015 | resource
If you haven’t heard of Customized Employment or you think it has little relevance to helping today’s job seekers in the nation’s American Job Centers (AJC), think again. Customized Employment offers an approach consistent with the most innovative and ...
Kansas Researchers Provide Training, Monitor Progress on Competitive Integrated Employment Training in Rhode Island and Kansas
April 30, 2015 | story
In 2014, the state of Rhode Island entered a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) after a finding that the state’s services programs—including its Medicaid programs—provided insufficient access to integrated employment and other ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective - Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Activities) Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
April 20, 2015 | resource
This policy brief outlines, from the disability perspective, key provisions of two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), i.e., those provisions in title I of WIOA pertaining to workforce ...
LEAD Center Launches Four-Part Webinar Series on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Obama last July, maintains a primary focus on assisting job seekers and workers with and without disabilities to succeed in the labor market, and matches employers with skilled ...
Employment and Training Administration Releases a Training Employment Guidance Letter Concerning the Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act
March 31, 2015 | story
Consistent with the various timelines stipulated in WIOA, we can expect the release of related materials developed by various federal agencies and departments articulating how states should begin implementing the law. One such piece was recently released ...
FEATURED AGENCY Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) establishes several new and exciting mandates aimed at increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the American workforce. Among those mandates is the establishment of the “Advisory ...
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act Introduced (H.R. 188)
January 30, 2015 | story
This month, Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi introduced H.R. 188, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2015. Representative Harper introduced an identical bill in 2013 that gained 97 co-sponsors before dying. The bill aims to phase out ...
‘Hire More Heroes’ Offers Veterans Boost for Small Business Jobs
January 30, 2015 | story
In early January, House Republicans announced the re-introduction of the Hire More Heroes Act, which would incentivize small businesses to hire military retirees, reservists and veterans with disabilities. The bill permits small businesses without health ...
Share Your CE Success Story
December 21, 2014 | story
Originally envisioned as a multi-strategy approach to match the discrete skills and unique contributions of a job seeker with a significant disability to an employer who has an unmet (and often unrealized) need for those skills and contributions, Customized ...
Successful Employment: How Local American Job Centers (AJCs) Can Help
December 04, 2014 | resource
Many people with developmental disabilities believe that they aren’t eligible for American Job Center (AJC) services or that the services won’t accommodate their needs. These presentation slides accompanied a LEAD Center session of the same title during ...
LEAD Center Policy Brief: Summary of Major Policies Included in Titles I and IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
October 22, 2014 | resource
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law No. 113-128). WIOA represents an important bipartisan effort to improve federal workforce development programs and provide new opportunities to ...
CIL-AJC Community of Practice Continues to Build Momentum
September 30, 2014 | story
The LEAD Center Community of Practice (CoP) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and American Job Centers (AJCs) continues to provide ongoing peer-to-peer mentorship, training, and technical assistance. The CIL-AJC CoP meets monthly to improve ...
WIOA Offers Expanded Opportunities for Youth and Adults with Disabilities
September 30, 2014 | story
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA modernizes and improves existing federal workforce development programs, helps workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, provides supports to people ...
LEAD PEOPLE Bridget Brown, Executive Director – National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
September 30, 2014 | story
Bridget Brown joined the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) as Executive Director in January 2008. In this position, Brown leads efforts to strengthen our nation’s workforce development system and improve the ...
Universal Access Strategies Highlighted at 2014 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2014 | story
Many job seekers who face challenges in getting and keeping jobs often find their way to their local American Job Center (AJC). This May, in response to requests for information on strategies for intake and orientation to accommodate a diverse range of job ...
Innovative Collaborations Between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Urgent Local Workforce Needs
February 01, 2012 | resource
Government Accountability Office February 2012 Workforce board officials and their partners in 14 initiatives cited a range of factors that facilitated building innovative collaborations. Almost all of the collaborations grew out of efforts to address ...
The Great Recession and Serving Dislocated Workers with Disabilities: Perspectives from One-Stop Career Centers and Rapid Response Coordinators
June 01, 2011 | resource
The NTAR Leadership Center Maris Heidkamp and William Mabe, Ph.D. June 2011 During America’s Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 that left millions of workers unemployed, one group was hit hard – people with disabilities. Between June 2008 and September ...
Creating a Roadmap Out of Poverty for Americans with Disabilities: The Relationship of the Employment and Training Administration’s Workforce Development System and Local Asset-Building Coalitions
April 01, 2009 | resource
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Disability Institute April 2009 This report analyzes research conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, regarding best practices in ...
Maintaining Employment Through Economic Advancement Strategies
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar, as part of our Employment mini-series, will provide information on strategies for enhancing employment stability and improving time on the job through the use of economic advancement strategies. Participants will learn how to integrate these ...
Section 503: Connecting Job Seekers with Disabilities and Federal Contractors through the Workforce Development System
December 31, 1969 | webinar
There are new challenges and opportunities for federal contractors as a result of requirements of the Section 503 final rule. Building an inclusive workforce provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) and the workforce development system to ...
NAWDP Webinar: Improving Services for All Job Seekers by Improving Services to Customers with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act places a greater emphasis on serving all job seekers – regardless of ability. This focus will not only improve services to individuals with disabilities, but also will help strengthen overall program ...
CILs and AJCs: Strategic Partnerships that Lead to Better Employment and Economic Advancement Outcomes
December 31, 1969 | webinar
A growing number of Centers for Independent Living are providing employment services to meet the needs of their customers and to improve the employment and economic advancement outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Join us to learn about findings and ...
Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on WIOA
December 31, 1969 | webinar
***The LEAD Center, funded by the US Department of Labor’s Office on Disability Policy, is hosting a four-part webinar series titled "WIOA From a Disability Perspective."*** Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of 4 The Workforce ...
Disability, Employment & Lane v. Brown
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On September 8, 2015, the United States entered into a proposed settlement agreement with the State of Oregon to vindicate the civil rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are unnecessarily segregated in sheltered ...
Creating an Inclusive Workforce System: Implementing WIOA Section 188’s Equal Opportunity Provisions
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) prohibits discrimination against people who apply to, participate in, work for, or come into contact with programs and activities of the workforce development system. WIOA also requires that ...
WIOA Implementation Partnerships: The Important Role of Centers for Independent Living
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) to partner with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) leading to improved employment outcomes for job seekers with disabilities. To support these ...
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
December 31, 1969 | webinar
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems. This user-friendly tool will help states pinpoint where they may need to focus more ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Mark your calendars and register today for this important webinar – Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Last month, the Department of Education’s (ED) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued a Technical Assistance ...
WIOA from a Disability Perspective & Section 188: A Powerful Foundation for Access - Series 1 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The series kicks-off with an overview of disability-related provisions in WIOA and its Section 188 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination regulations. These Equal Opportunity provisions provide an essential framework for expanding access to individuals with ...
State Workforce Systems that are Making Equal Opportunity a Priority: Missouri, Virginia, California - Series 2 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the second webinar, representatives from three States share their motivations, strategies, challenges and actions in implementing effective AJC Certification procedures, with Section 188 as the framework. Missouri’s commitment to Section 188 ...
Achieving 188 Compliance & AJC Certification: Key Strategies & Actions from Policy to Procedures - Series 3 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The final webinar of the series will give a snapshot of the foundation set by WIOA’s disability-related provisions and Section 188. The most impactful strategies across all three states will be highlighted, including which partners have been essential to ...
Webinar: Self-Guided Discovery: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, we share a new Facilitator’s Guide developed in partnership with Griffin-Hammis Associates. The Guide can be used to implement Self-Guided Discovery in the workforce system; in Centers for Independent Living; in behavioral health and ...
Building Employment Opportunities Through Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, the Technical Assistance teams of WINTAC, LEAD Center and DEI, along with Felipe Lulli from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Sara Hastings from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and Joe Ashley from the ...
Career Pathways: Introducing Entrepreneurship and Small Business Concepts for Youth with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This training/Community of Practice meeting will recap the vision of WIOA for following a career pathway model for service delivery and explore Alaska’s innovation of including entrepreneurship and small business concepts into their service structure for ...
Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On April 18, National Disability Institute (NDI), the LEAD Center and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) partnered for the webinar/in-person event, Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities, to commemorate National Financial ...
Promoting Competitive Integrated Employment: What You Can Do
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) is critical to achieving equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities -- and so are you. Join this webinar to learn about ways you can help expand opportunities for ...
Northeast & Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
December 31, 1969 | partner
Operated by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, providing training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the ...
The Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap: Navigating the Road to Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Resources That Help Expand Opportunities for Career Pathways: “Freshman Year for Free”
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Finding resources and creative ways to increase the success of individuals with disabilities in securing Competitive Integrated Employment often begins with navigating the Career Pathways landscape. One of the barriers to Competitive Integrated ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Getting on Track to Employment & Self-Sufficiency: Key Drivers of Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity: Requirements and Promising Practices
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Don’t miss this webinar on promoting Equal Opportunity and complying with the requirements of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) Section 188. Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity is an evolving process. Challenges arise. ...
Get Empowered: Make the Most of Your Job and Improve Your Financial Security Building Financial Solutions for People with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
If you are a person with a disability who is getting ready to enter the workforce or who recently did, you probably have a lot of questions related to your new job and your financial security. We want to help you find the answers so that you are empowered to ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar will explore strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. For example, how can you promote collaboration among workforce development professionals, school and ...
How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the U.S. today, the COVID-19 emergency presents a time of significant health and economic uncertainty for individuals with disabilities, as well as their families and communities. In recognition of financial literacy month in April, the LEAD ...
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility for WIOA Partners during COVID-19 and Beyond
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to these ...
Statewide Cross-System Training on WIOA Section 188: Broadening Access for People with Disabilities & other Barriers to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to ...
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“This publication illustrates Maryland’s successful job placement and training activities for the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, as required by U.S. Department of Labor’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 5-18.”
Related LEAD Center Results
Currently displaying 193 records.
Virginia Equal Opportunity Pilot – COVID-19 Related Learnings
December 22, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center works in partnership with DOL’s Civil Rights Center and Office of Disability Employment Policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination projects. COVID-19 has required services to shift to a virtual format across the country, which is ...
LEAD Webinar: Registered Apprenticeship: Job Seekers with Disabilities Please Apply!
December 22, 2020 | story
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway. Employers develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential. For job ...
Disability-Related Reporting in the Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL)
September 09, 2020 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states to report a number of key elements related to disability. These data elements, if properly understood and collected, can help states improve the quality of reporting and services for ...
The Top 10 Reasons for Visiting the DRIVE Website
June 29, 2020 | story
WIOA Disability-Related Reporting: DRIVE is the only website where you can retrieve WIOA Reporting data related to people with disabilities in your state, county, or Employment & Training Administration (ETA) region. National Disability & ...
On the Horizon
April 01, 2020 | story
Webinar: Financial Strategies for Workers with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Webinar: How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Webinar: Equal Opportunity Webinar I ...
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
April 01, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center developed The ABLE Act and Employment brief to demonstrate how provisions in the ABLE Act can be combined with federal benefits to further increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. The brief contains a list of ...
Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool
April 01, 2020 | story
There are 10 disability-related reporting elements required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). How comprehensive is your reporting? Use the new interactive Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool to help you investigate the data that your ...
Updated WIOA State Profiles: DRIVE Disability Employment Activities
April 01, 2020 | story
The Data and Resources to Inspire a Vision of Employment (DRIVE) website provides “one-stop-shop” access to disability employment statistics at the national and state level, and access to state disability employment policies. The site features resources ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
April 01, 2020 | story
The March 10th webinar, Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways, explores strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. Topics include how collaboration can be ...
Providing a National Perspective at Maryland Works
April 01, 2020 | story
On November 14, 2019, Dr. Rebecca Salon, LEAD Center Co-Project Director, presented at the Maryland Works Seminar on the State of the State: Employment of People with Disabilities. Dr. Salon provided the national perspective as part of a panel of experts on ...
LEAD Center Financial Capability Online Training Continues to Impact the Field
March 20, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center’s Financial Capability Training series is part of a strategic effort by VA DARS to equip current staff, including Work Incentives Specialist Advocates (WISA's) and other DARS staff and vendors, with the education and resources ...
Guided Group Discovery – Veterans and Youth Editions
March 17, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center created two new versions of Guided Group Discovery materials–one for veterans and the other for youth. Both include a Facilitator Guide; the youth version has an added supplemental slide deck. These materials complement LEAD Center’s ...
Maryland Works - The State of the State - Employment of People with Disabilities: A National Perspective
March 12, 2020 | resource
This powerpoint presentation gives a national perspective on Maryland Works and the employment of people with disabilities.
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
March 11, 2020 | resource
This brief discusses how provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (Public Law 113-295)1 can be combined with federal benefit services and other federal programs and initiatives to further competitive integrated employment for people ...
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 23, 2019 | resource
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document. ACL, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ...
Guided Group Discovery - Veterans Edition - Facilitator Guide
May 22, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide - Veterans Edition. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the ...
Guided Group Discovery - Youth Version - Facilitator Guide and Supplemental Slide Deck
May 20, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the foundation for competitive ...
Financial Capability System Innovation Brief: Building a LADDER to Financial Empowerment in Louisville
May 14, 2019 | resource
Since 2014, LEAD Center has worked with Bank On Louisville, in collaboration with the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, to identify opportunities for universally designed services and supports that advance financial capability ...
System Innovation Brief: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: Virginia’s Cross-System Accessibility Taskforce Addresses Equal Opportunity and Access
March 29, 2019 | resource
The State of Virginia began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) in 2016. Leadership from key agencies, charged with developing and implementing the state’s ...
Customized Employment Systems Innovation Brief: Implementing Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery in a Variety of Settings and with a Variety of Partners
March 29, 2019 | resource
Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery are approaches that serve as the first step in the process known as Customized Employment (CE). Customized Employment is a strategy for helping people who haven’t been successful with a more traditional job ...
LEADing to Employment Brief: Implementing the Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Section 188)
March 19, 2019 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 reaffirms the role of a customer focused one-stop delivery system, with a focus on enhancing coordination among key employment, education, and training programs. Section 188 of WIOA (29 CFR Part ...
Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities: Tips and Lessons Learned for State Government Leaders Interested in Promoting Gainful Employment as a Public Policy Goal
February 28, 2019 | resource
Holding a leadership role in state government is not for the faint-hearted. Whether state officials assume their role on a short-term basis or intend to make a career as a leader in state government, the expectations are high, the challenges are many, and the ...
New Promising Practices In Achieving Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
February 22, 2019 | resource
This Section 188 Disability Reference Guide provides updated information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements for ...
System Innovation Brief: Missouri’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity: Using WIOA’s Section 188 to Create a Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
February 22, 2019 | resource
The State of Missouri began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) Center in 2015. Their State Equal Opportunity Officer was seeking support to implement the Equal ...
Road to Inclusive Career Pathways
February 21, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap is an interactive online tool that provides workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency. Start your journey on the Inclusive Career ...
Joint System Innovation Brief: WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice to Better Serve Individuals with Disabilities
January 17, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center, Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) and Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Centers (WINTAC) joined forces in the new Joint System Innovation Brief on WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
December 10, 2018 | story
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
December 09, 2018 | story
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
The Empowering Nature of Work
October 31, 2018 | blog
As we close out another National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we, at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) are heartened to see the many and creative ways individuals and organizations helped bring this year’s theme, “America’s ...
New E-Logic Courses
October 17, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a ...
Community of Practice Meeting Adult and Continuing Education: Options and Resources to Promote Inclusive Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes
October 03, 2018 | event
All Career Pathways partners should be aware of the substantial resources and collaboration opportunities that exist in their regions with career, technical and adult education programs. Join this interactive webinar to learn about the LINCS website and ...
Customized Employment Helped Me Get a Job I Love
September 28, 2018 | blog
Every day, many people apply for jobs they are interested in, and many are lucky enough to get them. Often though, people with a disability are not lucky enough to even be considered for jobs they might like and be good at because they might not be able to do ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 6
September 26, 2018 | story
As LEAD Center finishes its sixth year, we are proud of our many accomplishments. We designed LEAD Center’s activities to improve competitive integrated employment (CIE), economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities, and inclusive ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | resource
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
LEAD Center’s Statewide Youth Employment Project in Oregon Highlighted at Federal Briefing
September 26, 2018 | story
On August 8 and 9, 2018, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted Employment First Federal Briefings on School-to-Work Transition, Provider Transformation, Interagency Coordination, and Mental Health practices that have been shown to promote ...
LEAD Center Releases Neurodiversity Brief
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center recently released the brief, Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment. This brief discusses actions ...
LEAD Center Brief on Ways to Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | story
LEAD Center released the brief, Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community, authored by Alison Barkoff from the Center for Public Representation. This brief can be shared with others who are interested ...
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 26, 2018 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” National Disability Employment ...
Oregon Update: Youth Guided Group Discovery
September 26, 2018 | story
As fall begins and students are returning to school, LEAD Center has already met with the transition network facilitators at our Oregon Guided Group Discovery pilot sites. Sites are gearing up to offer Guided Group Discovery (GGD) again at their schools, and ...
New LEAD Center Self-Paced Trainings Now Available!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a completion ...
City of Louisville Continues to Support Financial Empowerment
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by the Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services in the Office of ...
LEAD Conference Update
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center sponsored an exhibit booth at the 2018 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed Mobilize: Resistance through Action. The theme was befitting of a conference that included a group of hundreds of people with disabilities marching through ...
LEAD Partner: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
September 26, 2018 | story
What is SETA? The Sacramento Employment & Training Agency (SETA), an agency that works in the City and County of Sacramento, was formed in 1978. From its inception, SETA has been an effective force in connecting people to jobs, business owners to ...
LEAD People – The SETA Team
September 26, 2018 | story
Michelle O’Camb serves as a Workforce Development Manager for the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), alongside colleague Jennifer Fischer, Workforce Development Analyst Supervisor. Together, O’Camb and Fischer oversee a number of programs ...
Give Us Your Feedback!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you fill out a very brief feedback form, which should only take five (5) minutes or less to complete. Also, if you ...
LEAD Resources
September 26, 2018 | story
1. Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults http://leadcenter.org/resources/report-brief/complying-section-511-approaches-promote-competitive-integrated-employment-youth-and-adults 2. ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
September 25, 2018 | resource
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
FDIC Youth Employment Resource Center
September 17, 2018 | resource
The FDIC Youth center offers resources that support financial education and access to safe, affordable insured accounts for youth participating in employment programs. Explore this site to learn about the FDIC’s resources that support financial education ...
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has launched a newly updated website. It provides a more user-friendly layout with easier access to JAN's publications, toolkits, training modules, and other resources. JAN also released its latest Enews, which can be ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complimentary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
Workplace Education Videos: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
September 17, 2018 | resource
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation recently released three videos that employers can use to educate about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These videos were created under their Disability Employment Initiative cooperative agreement ...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
September 17, 2018 | resource
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of Practice. ...
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 06, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you take a very brief survey, which should only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Also, if you would be willing ...
Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults
August 01, 2018 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law in 2014, added Section 511, “Limitations on the Use of Subminimum Wage,” to Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 511 requires a state’s vocational rehabilitation services ...
Neurodiversity Brief: Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment
July 30, 2018 | resource
This brief discusses actions that American Job Center (AJC) staff can take to make their services more accessible to autistic people and others with psychosocial, cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (DD); this supports the creation of ...
What the ADA Means to Our Family
July 23, 2018 | blog
Co-Authored by Alison Nodvin Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation and Evan Nodvin, Member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities July 26th is the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ...
Update: Oregon Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot
June 28, 2018 | story
In the previous LEAD On! newsletter, we told you about kicking off Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot. The six pilot sites included a mix of rural and urban locations throughout Oregon. Even before schools started their summer break ...
LEAD Center Releases Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center is pleased to announce the release of the Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook. The Online Participant Workbook can be completed using any browser. This user-friendly tool allows youth and adults to create a personalized ...
House Committee on Small Business Holds Hearing Highlighting People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
On May 9, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing titled, “Ready, Willing, and Able to Work: How Small Businesses Empower People with Developmental Disabilities.” The hearing, chaired by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), sought to examine ...
LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation Activities at National Conferences
June 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center staff had a significant presence at two national conferences this quarter: the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Conference and the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference. The NAWDP ...
LEAD People: Yvonne Wright
June 28, 2018 | story
Yvonne Wright serves as the Director of Workforce Engagement and Innovation for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. In this position, she works with partners throughout the state to move beyond WIOA compliance toward true collaboration. Prior to ...
Louisville’s Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), Emerges as Leader in Advancing Financial Empowerment and Economic Advancement for People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center has supported the expanding work of LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) since its inception in 2014. LADDER, a collaborative of community-based organizations, workforce services, ...
Resources
June 28, 2018 | story
Guided Group Discovery Resources: Introduction and Course, Participant Workbook, and Facilitator’s ...
LEAD Activities During Financial Capability Month in April
June 28, 2018 | story
To commemorate Financial Capability Month, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities to address the needs of Americans with disabilities to become more financially capable, the LEAD Center, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), and ...
Building a Roadmap that Supports the National WIOA System to Navigate Inclusive Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
Over the past several months, the LEAD Center has researched effective strategies nationwide in serving people with disabilities and reaching positive employment outcomes through Inclusive Career Pathways. The research has found that the six elements of ...
Business Engagement Self-Assessment Tool
June 25, 2018 | resource
This self-assessment is designed to help states and regions better understand how integrated and effective their business services are currently, and where enhancements can be made.
Building Credit and Community: A Look Inside Louisville’s LABS Pilot Program
April 26, 2018 | blog
Since 2014, LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) supports opportunities to integrate financial empowerment in workforce development systems to insure the inclusivity of persons with disabilities in accessing ...
LEAD Center Hosts National Dialogue on Financial Literacy Education for People with Disabilities
April 18, 2018 | news
In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the LEAD Center today launched a two-week national dialogue called Money Matters. LEAD Center encourages workforce development professionals, disability professionals, financial services professionals, ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
April 11, 2018 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
Financial Integration Team Fact Sheet
April 04, 2018 | resource
The Financial Integration Team (FIT) Community of Practice is a peer-to-peer support network, which focuses on integrated financial capability strategies to support persons with disabilities in building their financial well-being. FIT members represent ...
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018 | blog
Hello, I’m Alec Frazier. I’m autistic and have been a self-advocate and an advocate since I can remember, although definitely professionally since I gave my first speech in third grade in 1994. I am currently the Director of Autistic Reality, my own ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 21, 2018, LEAD Center hosted a webinar on WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates. This webinar was in response to the Two-Year ...
Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot Kicks Off in Oregon
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 28, 2018, Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot kicked off with a full-day Train-the-Trainer for 31 Transition Network Facilitators, Youth Transition Program staff, and teachers from across the state. Participants were ...
Adding Self-Guided Discovery to Your Toolkit: An Additional Resource to Promote Employment Outcomes for People with Barriers to Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) were excited to release the Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator’s Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment as part of their March 28, 2018 webinar on this topic. For many ...
LEAD Center Releases Policy Briefs on Guided Group Discovery and ABLE Accounts and Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center recently published two policy briefs: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts and Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery. The purpose of the Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts policy brief is to help people with ...
LEAD Partner: Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has been participating in and offering technical assistance to Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce, which was created in 2016 as recommended in the State’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan. The goal of this ...
Three-Part Webinar Series: AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has joined forces with the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to host a three-part webinar series on AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities. ...
LEAD Person: Constance M. Green
March 28, 2018 | story
Constance serves as Virginia's State Coordinator for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs. In this capacity, she develops program policy and guidance, provides technical assistance to Local Workforce ...
Important New Resources
March 28, 2018 | story
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/customized-employment-stories-and-lessons-field Disability Benefits Counseling Services: Free Resources for Social Security Administration Disability ...
Five Key Strategies to Achieve Financial Well-Being
March 26, 2018 | resource
National Disability Institute (NDI) focuses on five key strategies to assist an individual to achieve financial well-being. The five key strategies include: Benefits Planning and Work Supports Employment Free Tax Preparation Financial Education ...
Financial Literacy Education Frequently Asked Questions Under WIOA
March 26, 2018 | resource
Youth participants and adult job seekers with and without disabilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) may be able to receive financial literacy education. The following are frequently asked questions that support an increased ...
Federal Regulations That Support the Integration of Economic Advancement Strategies within Disability Employment Services
March 26, 2018 | resource
The following Federal regulations support the provision of economic advancement strategies within disability services. Integrating economic advancement strategies into disability services, such as employment planning, has demonstrated improved employment ...
Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator's Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
March 26, 2018 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Facilitator’s Guide to Self-Guided Discovery. For many years, ODEP has worked to strengthen the capacity of the ...
Policy Brief: Reviewing and Updating Your WIOA Unified or Combined State Plan from a Disability Perspective
February 21, 2018 | resource
On January 24, 2018, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued new guidance to State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Boards and other partners (TEGL 6-17) on approaches to be taken to ...
Information Brief: Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery
January 31, 2018 | resource
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) opens doors to employment for people who experience barriers to employment. LEAD Center recently released comprehensive Guided Group Discovery materials, designed to enable youth and adults with disabilities and others to find a ...
Information Brief: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts
January 31, 2018 | resource
The LEAD Center recently published the policy brief, "The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes for People with ...
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field
January 04, 2018 | resource
Customized Employment (CE) represents a nuanced departure from traditional competitive and comparative approaches to developing work. True CE is hard to come by actually. This collection of examples is offered to point out the sometimes less obvious nuanced ...
Tennessee American Job Center Hosts LEAD Center’s First Guided Group Discovery Veterans Pilot
December 19, 2017 | story
On December 7th, LEAD Center staff launched a new Guided Group Discovery (GGD) pilot focused on veterans by providing a Facilitator Training at a comprehensive American Job Center (AJC) in Clarksville, Tenn. Guided Group Discovery is an innovative way to ...
ODEP and LEAD Center Promote Knowledge Translation
December 19, 2017 | story
On November 29th, the LEAD Center and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted a discussion with LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation (KT) Consortium. Featured speakers in this virtual meeting included leadership from ...
NAWDP Youth Symposium 2017
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff and partners presented at a plenary session at the 2017 Youth Development Symposium, held annually by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director and Training and ...
LEAD Partner: Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center has been working in partnership with the Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center (AJC) in Tennessee for the past two years. This comprehensive, accessible AJC has supported LEAD Center’s first Guided Group Discovery pilots for people ...
LEAD People: Sharyn Hancock
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is pleased to highlight the work of Sharyn Hancock, Disability Resource Coordinator at Workforce Essentials in Clarksville, Tennessee. She coordinates resources for individuals with disabilities, supports her workforce system colleagues, and ...
TASH 2017 Conference
December 19, 2017 | story
In December, the LEAD Center participated in the national TASH Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The LEAD Center added to this diverse community of stakeholders by providing five presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic advancement of ...
Important New Resources
December 19, 2017 | story
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/business-30-second-training-series-and-resource-guide Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled ...
LEAD Center Blog Round-up
December 19, 2017 | story
During October and November, the LEAD Center's guest bloggers offered valuable information about employment for job seekers with disabilities, job coaches, community organizations, and hiring managers. All the posts highlighted how disability employment ...
Veterans’ Priority: WorkforceGPS Collection Site
December 14, 2017 | resource
This is the centralized collection of information for Veterans’ programs, policies, and initiatives, which primarily affect the Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) employment and training programs. Veterans’ Priority gives ...
Disability and Employment: Connect the Pieces
December 14, 2017 | resource
These resources are designed to help connect three key pieces together -- the American Job Center, the employer and individuals with disabilities. They should always interconnect because the American Job Center has a dual customer focus to serve both ...
Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled Veterans
December 14, 2017 | resource
When military personnel transition to civilian employment, America’s businesses stand to benefit. Across all industries, veterans are a ready source of qualified, committed job candidates with transferable skills proven in real world situations. They grasp ...
CareerOneStop Local Help Tools
December 14, 2017 | resource
CareerOneStop has updated more than a dozen local help finder tools for easy access from smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. The Local Help collection of tools can quickly provide location and contact information for a variety of programs and ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 13, 2017 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
DOL ETA Webinar: Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force
November 29, 2017 | event
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting a webinar on Monday, December 11 from 3-4:00 P.M. ET on Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force. The webinar will identify key provisions ...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 09, 2017 | blog
As an employer, do you want to easily find valuable and talented employees to fill your job openings AND incentivize your workplace diversity? If inclusion and diversity is important to you and your workplace culture, look no further and hire a veteran with a ...
Inclusion Drives Innovation: The Mobile Accommodation Solution App
October 24, 2017 | blog
The World Health Organization reports globally there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities. Increasingly, chronic health conditions and disabilities are becoming more commonplace in the workplace. This has major implications for employers large ...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017 | blog
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean: a. Capacities based on tipping b. Capacities based on structural ...
WISE WEBINAR: Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account
October 04, 2017 | event
Join the Ticket to Work Program on October 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a free webinar: "Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account." They will talk about how people with disabilities can benefit from ABLE accounts and how they ...
Showing the World That ‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’
October 03, 2017 | blog
October is a special month to those of us at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE). It’s the time of year when we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)—the national campaign that celebrates individuals with disabilities and ...
Important Additional Resources
September 27, 2017 | story
Employment, Health Care, and Policy Update: August 2017 The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 27, 2017 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” National Disability Employment Awareness ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 5
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is just finishing its fifth year and is proud of its many accomplishments. LEAD Center’s activities are all designed to improve competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities. Read on to ...
Oregon Guided Group Discovery Project
September 27, 2017 | story
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) curriculum materials, developed by the LEAD Center, offer American Job Centers (AJC) and partner agencies a tool to assist job seekers with disabilities to obtain customized employment through a collaborative model. Guided Group ...
Section 188 and AJC Certification: Achieving Compliance, Expanding Access, and Increasing Outcomes
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center has been providing training nationwide on how all programs and activities that are part of the One-Stop delivery system, including workforce partners, must comply with Section 188, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) equal ...
Updates from the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER)
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services. LADDER is a ...
ABLE Accounts Give People with Disabilities the Power to Save
September 27, 2017 | story
This summer, the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) launched a month-long public awareness campaign called “#ABLEtoSave.” The national grassroots campaign began on July 31 and ran throughout the month of August. The purpose of the campaign was ...
LEAD Center Knowledge Translation Activities
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff presented and/or exhibited at a number of conferences during the past quarter on strategies and practices to promote employment and economic advancement of youth and adults with disabilities. This included the national Association of People ...
LEAD PARTNER: Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation
September 27, 2017 | story
Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is embracing the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation to deepen partnerships with education and workforce partners throughout the state. Oregon VR is participating with every Local Workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE: Nancy Boutot
September 27, 2017 | story
Nancy Boutot is the Manager of Integrated Systems and Cross System Integration for the LEAD Center and Project Manager for Ticket to Work Outreach Support through National Disability Institute (NDI) Consulting. Her work focuses on promoting employment and ...
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017 | story
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities. Since the passage of the ADA, Americans with disabilities have made great strides in ...
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Part 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
August 07, 2017 | event
Join Social Security's Ticket to Work program on August 23, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, for their next free WISE webinar! In part 1 of a 2-part series, the Ticket to Work program will talk about Work Incentives available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income ...
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017 | blog
One of the benefits of being in the disability field for such a long time is the perspective that it brings. I started in the field before the implementation of most of the public laws, legislation and legal actions that ensure the rights of children and ...
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation Releases Issue Brief on Proposed Work Requirements Advanced in State Medicaid Programs
May 31, 2017 | story
On March 23, 2017, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on publishing research and information on health care issues in America, published an issue brief that discusses proposed work requirements as part of different ...
HCBS Transition Plans Update
May 31, 2017 | story
Kansas Releases Revised HCBS Transition Plan On March 20, 2017, Kansas revised its HCBS Transition Plan. Kansas chose to make changes in the direction of the state’s implementation process. The state increased stakeholder participation, revised its ...
Council on Quality and Leadership Releases Study on Supported Employment Services in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
May 31, 2017 | story
The Council on Quality and Leadership, an organization dedicated to measuring the quality of community life for people with disabilities, released the results of a study that examined how Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services waivers provided ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective: FINAL RULE Implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Systems)
August 19, 2016 | resource
The purpose of this policy brief is to provide a summary description, from a disability perspective, of the Department of Labor and Department of Education Final Rules implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development ...
Two Exciting Grant Opportunities to Promote Employment for Youth and Adults with Disabilities through Partnerships and Collaborations
June 30, 2016 | story
Disability Employment Initiative The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the availability of grant funds for its seventh round of funding for the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) program. DEI is a joint program of ...
LEAD Center Webinar on Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System
June 30, 2016 | story
In recognition of Financial Capability Month in April, a LEAD Center webinar, Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System: Resources and Implementation Strategies, brought together representatives from the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee ...
Missouri Workforce Development Leads Equal Opportunity for Customers with Disabilities through Section 188 Training
June 30, 2016 | story
On May 11, the LEAD Center had the opportunity to present at the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) Conference in Lake Ozark, Missouri. MAWD is a state association that supports career and technical training, as well as workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE Julie Squire, Policy Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
June 30, 2016 | story
Julie Squire is a Policy Director for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). In this position, she serves as the staff director for the Unemployment Insurance Committee and the Equal Opportunity Committee. Her program areas ...
LEAD PARTNERS National Association of State Workforce Agencies
June 30, 2016 | story
Originally founded during the Great Depression, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) brings together state administrators of the publicly-funded workforce system. The workforce system includes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ...
Department of Labor Launches New Technical Assistance Website
June 30, 2016 | story
On April 18, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) launched WorkforceGPS - the next generation, mobile-friendly, and accessible website that gives the public workforce system, education professionals, and ...
WIOA Services and Performance Begins July 1st
June 30, 2016 | story
Breaking News: Final Rules were issued for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act on June 30, 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.doleta.gov/WIOA/. LEAD Center will review the Final Rules and provide analysis in upcoming ...
LEAD Releases New Toolkit to Promote Collaboration between Centers for Independent Living and American Job Centers
March 31, 2016 | story
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the LEAD Center has released Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 31, 2016 | story
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 23, 2016 | news
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD and DEI Partner to Discuss WIOA Section 188 Best Practices
March 09, 2016 | news
In February, the U.S. Department of Labor's Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) held an interactive Peer Exchange for DEI grantees to review and discuss Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Section 188 implements ...
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Review of the DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, from a Disability Perspective
February 16, 2016 | resource
On January 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register implementing the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and ...
American Job Center
January 01, 2016 | resource
The American Job Center Network provides a single, 24-7 access point for key federal programs and critical local resources to help people find a job, identify training programs, and tap into resources to help them gain skills in growing industries. The ...
Section 188: A Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
December 15, 2015 | story
In July 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide. Authored by the LEAD Center, with input and guidance from multiple federal agencies, ...
WIOA Update: Submission of Unified/Combined State Plans
December 15, 2015 | story
As the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) continues its process of implementation, there are many important aspects that states should be currently preparing for, including the submittal of their Unified or Combined State Plan. These ...
LEAD PEOPLE Danielle Smith, State Equal Opportunity Officer - Missouri Division of Workforce Development-DED
December 15, 2015 | story
Danielle Smith is the State of Missouri WIA Equal Opportunity Officer. Danielle has been in this position since 2012. Prior to this position, Danielle was Regional Coordinator for the Division of Workforce Development. Her position includes oversight ...
New LEAD Paper: Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Investment System
September 30, 2015 | story
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers State Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and local American Job Centers (AJCs) the opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring that youth and adults, with and without disabilities, have the ...
Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
September 17, 2015 | resource
The U.S. Department of Labor has developed this Reference Guide to assist AJCs by providing promising practices that correlate with specific nondiscrimination requirements in Section 188 and the current Section 188 regulations. While ...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guide on Disability Non-Discrimination in Jobs Programs
July 31, 2015 | story
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a new guide to assist American Job Centers (AJCs) in serving people with disabilities. The AJCs, which are funded through DOL, are a network of one-stop centers to assist individuals in finding employment. The ...
WIOA Advisory Committee Meeting Held July 13-14
July 31, 2015 | story
The Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, held its fourth meeting on July 13-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. During the ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
July 15, 2015 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
LEAD Center Presentations Support the 2015 National APSE Annual Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
For the first time, the LEAD Center participated in the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23-25, by providing two presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic ...
LEAD Presents at 2015 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
LEAD Center Assistant Project Director, Elizabeth Jennings, presented at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals' (NAWDP) 2015 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 4th through the 6th. LEAD Center was invited ...
Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
June 30, 2015 | story
The LEAD Center recently published a new resource, "Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers." Customized Employment offers an approach to job ...
FAQs: Using Customized Employment’s Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
May 13, 2015 | resource
If you haven’t heard of Customized Employment or you think it has little relevance to helping today’s job seekers in the nation’s American Job Centers (AJC), think again. Customized Employment offers an approach consistent with the most innovative and ...
Kansas Researchers Provide Training, Monitor Progress on Competitive Integrated Employment Training in Rhode Island and Kansas
April 30, 2015 | story
In 2014, the state of Rhode Island entered a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) after a finding that the state’s services programs—including its Medicaid programs—provided insufficient access to integrated employment and other ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective - Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Activities) Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
April 20, 2015 | resource
This policy brief outlines, from the disability perspective, key provisions of two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), i.e., those provisions in title I of WIOA pertaining to workforce ...
LEAD Center Launches Four-Part Webinar Series on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Obama last July, maintains a primary focus on assisting job seekers and workers with and without disabilities to succeed in the labor market, and matches employers with skilled ...
Employment and Training Administration Releases a Training Employment Guidance Letter Concerning the Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act
March 31, 2015 | story
Consistent with the various timelines stipulated in WIOA, we can expect the release of related materials developed by various federal agencies and departments articulating how states should begin implementing the law. One such piece was recently released ...
FEATURED AGENCY Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) establishes several new and exciting mandates aimed at increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the American workforce. Among those mandates is the establishment of the “Advisory ...
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act Introduced (H.R. 188)
January 30, 2015 | story
This month, Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi introduced H.R. 188, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2015. Representative Harper introduced an identical bill in 2013 that gained 97 co-sponsors before dying. The bill aims to phase out ...
‘Hire More Heroes’ Offers Veterans Boost for Small Business Jobs
January 30, 2015 | story
In early January, House Republicans announced the re-introduction of the Hire More Heroes Act, which would incentivize small businesses to hire military retirees, reservists and veterans with disabilities. The bill permits small businesses without health ...
Share Your CE Success Story
December 21, 2014 | story
Originally envisioned as a multi-strategy approach to match the discrete skills and unique contributions of a job seeker with a significant disability to an employer who has an unmet (and often unrealized) need for those skills and contributions, Customized ...
Successful Employment: How Local American Job Centers (AJCs) Can Help
December 04, 2014 | resource
Many people with developmental disabilities believe that they aren’t eligible for American Job Center (AJC) services or that the services won’t accommodate their needs. These presentation slides accompanied a LEAD Center session of the same title during ...
LEAD Center Policy Brief: Summary of Major Policies Included in Titles I and IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
October 22, 2014 | resource
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law No. 113-128). WIOA represents an important bipartisan effort to improve federal workforce development programs and provide new opportunities to ...
CIL-AJC Community of Practice Continues to Build Momentum
September 30, 2014 | story
The LEAD Center Community of Practice (CoP) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and American Job Centers (AJCs) continues to provide ongoing peer-to-peer mentorship, training, and technical assistance. The CIL-AJC CoP meets monthly to improve ...
WIOA Offers Expanded Opportunities for Youth and Adults with Disabilities
September 30, 2014 | story
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA modernizes and improves existing federal workforce development programs, helps workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, provides supports to people ...
LEAD PEOPLE Bridget Brown, Executive Director – National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
September 30, 2014 | story
Bridget Brown joined the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) as Executive Director in January 2008. In this position, Brown leads efforts to strengthen our nation’s workforce development system and improve the ...
Universal Access Strategies Highlighted at 2014 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2014 | story
Many job seekers who face challenges in getting and keeping jobs often find their way to their local American Job Center (AJC). This May, in response to requests for information on strategies for intake and orientation to accommodate a diverse range of job ...
Innovative Collaborations Between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Urgent Local Workforce Needs
February 01, 2012 | resource
Government Accountability Office February 2012 Workforce board officials and their partners in 14 initiatives cited a range of factors that facilitated building innovative collaborations. Almost all of the collaborations grew out of efforts to address ...
The Great Recession and Serving Dislocated Workers with Disabilities: Perspectives from One-Stop Career Centers and Rapid Response Coordinators
June 01, 2011 | resource
The NTAR Leadership Center Maris Heidkamp and William Mabe, Ph.D. June 2011 During America’s Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 that left millions of workers unemployed, one group was hit hard – people with disabilities. Between June 2008 and September ...
Creating a Roadmap Out of Poverty for Americans with Disabilities: The Relationship of the Employment and Training Administration’s Workforce Development System and Local Asset-Building Coalitions
April 01, 2009 | resource
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Disability Institute April 2009 This report analyzes research conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, regarding best practices in ...
Maintaining Employment Through Economic Advancement Strategies
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar, as part of our Employment mini-series, will provide information on strategies for enhancing employment stability and improving time on the job through the use of economic advancement strategies. Participants will learn how to integrate these ...
Section 503: Connecting Job Seekers with Disabilities and Federal Contractors through the Workforce Development System
December 31, 1969 | webinar
There are new challenges and opportunities for federal contractors as a result of requirements of the Section 503 final rule. Building an inclusive workforce provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) and the workforce development system to ...
NAWDP Webinar: Improving Services for All Job Seekers by Improving Services to Customers with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act places a greater emphasis on serving all job seekers – regardless of ability. This focus will not only improve services to individuals with disabilities, but also will help strengthen overall program ...
CILs and AJCs: Strategic Partnerships that Lead to Better Employment and Economic Advancement Outcomes
December 31, 1969 | webinar
A growing number of Centers for Independent Living are providing employment services to meet the needs of their customers and to improve the employment and economic advancement outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Join us to learn about findings and ...
Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on WIOA
December 31, 1969 | webinar
***The LEAD Center, funded by the US Department of Labor’s Office on Disability Policy, is hosting a four-part webinar series titled "WIOA From a Disability Perspective."*** Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of 4 The Workforce ...
Disability, Employment & Lane v. Brown
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On September 8, 2015, the United States entered into a proposed settlement agreement with the State of Oregon to vindicate the civil rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are unnecessarily segregated in sheltered ...
Creating an Inclusive Workforce System: Implementing WIOA Section 188’s Equal Opportunity Provisions
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) prohibits discrimination against people who apply to, participate in, work for, or come into contact with programs and activities of the workforce development system. WIOA also requires that ...
WIOA Implementation Partnerships: The Important Role of Centers for Independent Living
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) to partner with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) leading to improved employment outcomes for job seekers with disabilities. To support these ...
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
December 31, 1969 | webinar
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems. This user-friendly tool will help states pinpoint where they may need to focus more ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Mark your calendars and register today for this important webinar – Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Last month, the Department of Education’s (ED) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued a Technical Assistance ...
WIOA from a Disability Perspective & Section 188: A Powerful Foundation for Access - Series 1 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The series kicks-off with an overview of disability-related provisions in WIOA and its Section 188 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination regulations. These Equal Opportunity provisions provide an essential framework for expanding access to individuals with ...
State Workforce Systems that are Making Equal Opportunity a Priority: Missouri, Virginia, California - Series 2 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the second webinar, representatives from three States share their motivations, strategies, challenges and actions in implementing effective AJC Certification procedures, with Section 188 as the framework. Missouri’s commitment to Section 188 ...
Achieving 188 Compliance & AJC Certification: Key Strategies & Actions from Policy to Procedures - Series 3 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The final webinar of the series will give a snapshot of the foundation set by WIOA’s disability-related provisions and Section 188. The most impactful strategies across all three states will be highlighted, including which partners have been essential to ...
Webinar: Self-Guided Discovery: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, we share a new Facilitator’s Guide developed in partnership with Griffin-Hammis Associates. The Guide can be used to implement Self-Guided Discovery in the workforce system; in Centers for Independent Living; in behavioral health and ...
Building Employment Opportunities Through Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, the Technical Assistance teams of WINTAC, LEAD Center and DEI, along with Felipe Lulli from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Sara Hastings from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and Joe Ashley from the ...
Career Pathways: Introducing Entrepreneurship and Small Business Concepts for Youth with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This training/Community of Practice meeting will recap the vision of WIOA for following a career pathway model for service delivery and explore Alaska’s innovation of including entrepreneurship and small business concepts into their service structure for ...
Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On April 18, National Disability Institute (NDI), the LEAD Center and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) partnered for the webinar/in-person event, Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities, to commemorate National Financial ...
Promoting Competitive Integrated Employment: What You Can Do
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) is critical to achieving equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities -- and so are you. Join this webinar to learn about ways you can help expand opportunities for ...
Northeast & Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
December 31, 1969 | partner
Operated by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, providing training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the ...
The Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap: Navigating the Road to Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Resources That Help Expand Opportunities for Career Pathways: “Freshman Year for Free”
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Finding resources and creative ways to increase the success of individuals with disabilities in securing Competitive Integrated Employment often begins with navigating the Career Pathways landscape. One of the barriers to Competitive Integrated ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Getting on Track to Employment & Self-Sufficiency: Key Drivers of Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity: Requirements and Promising Practices
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Don’t miss this webinar on promoting Equal Opportunity and complying with the requirements of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) Section 188. Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity is an evolving process. Challenges arise. ...
Get Empowered: Make the Most of Your Job and Improve Your Financial Security Building Financial Solutions for People with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
If you are a person with a disability who is getting ready to enter the workforce or who recently did, you probably have a lot of questions related to your new job and your financial security. We want to help you find the answers so that you are empowered to ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar will explore strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. For example, how can you promote collaboration among workforce development professionals, school and ...
How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the U.S. today, the COVID-19 emergency presents a time of significant health and economic uncertainty for individuals with disabilities, as well as their families and communities. In recognition of financial literacy month in April, the LEAD ...
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility for WIOA Partners during COVID-19 and Beyond
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to these ...
Statewide Cross-System Training on WIOA Section 188: Broadening Access for People with Disabilities & other Barriers to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to ...
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“This publication illustrates Maryland’s successful job placement and training activities for the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, as required by U.S. Department of Labor’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 5-18.”
Related LEAD Center Results
Currently displaying 193 records.
Virginia Equal Opportunity Pilot – COVID-19 Related Learnings
December 22, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center works in partnership with DOL’s Civil Rights Center and Office of Disability Employment Policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination projects. COVID-19 has required services to shift to a virtual format across the country, which is ...
LEAD Webinar: Registered Apprenticeship: Job Seekers with Disabilities Please Apply!
December 22, 2020 | story
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway. Employers develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential. For job ...
Disability-Related Reporting in the Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL)
September 09, 2020 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states to report a number of key elements related to disability. These data elements, if properly understood and collected, can help states improve the quality of reporting and services for ...
The Top 10 Reasons for Visiting the DRIVE Website
June 29, 2020 | story
WIOA Disability-Related Reporting: DRIVE is the only website where you can retrieve WIOA Reporting data related to people with disabilities in your state, county, or Employment & Training Administration (ETA) region. National Disability & ...
On the Horizon
April 01, 2020 | story
Webinar: Financial Strategies for Workers with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Webinar: How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Webinar: Equal Opportunity Webinar I ...
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
April 01, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center developed The ABLE Act and Employment brief to demonstrate how provisions in the ABLE Act can be combined with federal benefits to further increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. The brief contains a list of ...
Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool
April 01, 2020 | story
There are 10 disability-related reporting elements required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). How comprehensive is your reporting? Use the new interactive Online WIOA Data Visualization Tool to help you investigate the data that your ...
Updated WIOA State Profiles: DRIVE Disability Employment Activities
April 01, 2020 | story
The Data and Resources to Inspire a Vision of Employment (DRIVE) website provides “one-stop-shop” access to disability employment statistics at the national and state level, and access to state disability employment policies. The site features resources ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
April 01, 2020 | story
The March 10th webinar, Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways, explores strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. Topics include how collaboration can be ...
Providing a National Perspective at Maryland Works
April 01, 2020 | story
On November 14, 2019, Dr. Rebecca Salon, LEAD Center Co-Project Director, presented at the Maryland Works Seminar on the State of the State: Employment of People with Disabilities. Dr. Salon provided the national perspective as part of a panel of experts on ...
LEAD Center Financial Capability Online Training Continues to Impact the Field
March 20, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center’s Financial Capability Training series is part of a strategic effort by VA DARS to equip current staff, including Work Incentives Specialist Advocates (WISA's) and other DARS staff and vendors, with the education and resources ...
Guided Group Discovery – Veterans and Youth Editions
March 17, 2020 | story
The LEAD Center created two new versions of Guided Group Discovery materials–one for veterans and the other for youth. Both include a Facilitator Guide; the youth version has an added supplemental slide deck. These materials complement LEAD Center’s ...
Maryland Works - The State of the State - Employment of People with Disabilities: A National Perspective
March 12, 2020 | resource
This powerpoint presentation gives a national perspective on Maryland Works and the employment of people with disabilities.
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
March 11, 2020 | resource
This brief discusses how provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (Public Law 113-295)1 can be combined with federal benefit services and other federal programs and initiatives to further competitive integrated employment for people ...
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 23, 2019 | resource
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document. ACL, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ...
Guided Group Discovery - Veterans Edition - Facilitator Guide
May 22, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide - Veterans Edition. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the ...
Guided Group Discovery - Youth Version - Facilitator Guide and Supplemental Slide Deck
May 20, 2019 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Guided Group Discovery Facilitator Guide. The purpose of Guided Group Discovery is to lay the foundation for competitive ...
Financial Capability System Innovation Brief: Building a LADDER to Financial Empowerment in Louisville
May 14, 2019 | resource
Since 2014, LEAD Center has worked with Bank On Louisville, in collaboration with the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, to identify opportunities for universally designed services and supports that advance financial capability ...
System Innovation Brief: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: Virginia’s Cross-System Accessibility Taskforce Addresses Equal Opportunity and Access
March 29, 2019 | resource
The State of Virginia began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) in 2016. Leadership from key agencies, charged with developing and implementing the state’s ...
Customized Employment Systems Innovation Brief: Implementing Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery in a Variety of Settings and with a Variety of Partners
March 29, 2019 | resource
Guided Group Discovery and Self-Guided Discovery are approaches that serve as the first step in the process known as Customized Employment (CE). Customized Employment is a strategy for helping people who haven’t been successful with a more traditional job ...
LEADing to Employment Brief: Implementing the Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Section 188)
March 19, 2019 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 reaffirms the role of a customer focused one-stop delivery system, with a focus on enhancing coordination among key employment, education, and training programs. Section 188 of WIOA (29 CFR Part ...
Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities: Tips and Lessons Learned for State Government Leaders Interested in Promoting Gainful Employment as a Public Policy Goal
February 28, 2019 | resource
Holding a leadership role in state government is not for the faint-hearted. Whether state officials assume their role on a short-term basis or intend to make a career as a leader in state government, the expectations are high, the challenges are many, and the ...
New Promising Practices In Achieving Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
February 22, 2019 | resource
This Section 188 Disability Reference Guide provides updated information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements for ...
System Innovation Brief: Missouri’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity: Using WIOA’s Section 188 to Create a Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
February 22, 2019 | resource
The State of Missouri began working with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) Center in 2015. Their State Equal Opportunity Officer was seeking support to implement the Equal ...
Road to Inclusive Career Pathways
February 21, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap is an interactive online tool that provides workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency. Start your journey on the Inclusive Career ...
Joint System Innovation Brief: WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice to Better Serve Individuals with Disabilities
January 17, 2019 | resource
The LEAD Center, Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) and Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Centers (WINTAC) joined forces in the new Joint System Innovation Brief on WIOA Section 188 & AJC Certification: A Window of Opportunity to ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
December 10, 2018 | story
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
December 09, 2018 | story
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
The Empowering Nature of Work
October 31, 2018 | blog
As we close out another National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we, at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) are heartened to see the many and creative ways individuals and organizations helped bring this year’s theme, “America’s ...
New E-Logic Courses
October 17, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a ...
Community of Practice Meeting Adult and Continuing Education: Options and Resources to Promote Inclusive Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes
October 03, 2018 | event
All Career Pathways partners should be aware of the substantial resources and collaboration opportunities that exist in their regions with career, technical and adult education programs. Join this interactive webinar to learn about the LINCS website and ...
Customized Employment Helped Me Get a Job I Love
September 28, 2018 | blog
Every day, many people apply for jobs they are interested in, and many are lucky enough to get them. Often though, people with a disability are not lucky enough to even be considered for jobs they might like and be good at because they might not be able to do ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 6
September 26, 2018 | story
As LEAD Center finishes its sixth year, we are proud of our many accomplishments. We designed LEAD Center’s activities to improve competitive integrated employment (CIE), economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities, and inclusive ...
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | resource
Employment is central to all of our lives. A good job contributes to our self-worth, offers membership in a community, provides benefits like health insurance, and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with ...
LEAD Center’s Statewide Youth Employment Project in Oregon Highlighted at Federal Briefing
September 26, 2018 | story
On August 8 and 9, 2018, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted Employment First Federal Briefings on School-to-Work Transition, Provider Transformation, Interagency Coordination, and Mental Health practices that have been shown to promote ...
LEAD Center Releases Neurodiversity Brief
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center recently released the brief, Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment. This brief discusses actions ...
LEAD Center Brief on Ways to Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
September 26, 2018 | story
LEAD Center released the brief, Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community, authored by Alison Barkoff from the Center for Public Representation. This brief can be shared with others who are interested ...
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 26, 2018 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” National Disability Employment ...
Oregon Update: Youth Guided Group Discovery
September 26, 2018 | story
As fall begins and students are returning to school, LEAD Center has already met with the transition network facilitators at our Oregon Guided Group Discovery pilot sites. Sites are gearing up to offer Guided Group Discovery (GGD) again at their schools, and ...
New LEAD Center Self-Paced Trainings Now Available!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center just launched self-paced trainings on popular topics, including Customized Employment, Guided Group Discovery, and Financial Literacy. Participants can learn at their own pace, test their knowledge around key concepts, and obtain a completion ...
City of Louisville Continues to Support Financial Empowerment
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by the Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services in the Office of ...
LEAD Conference Update
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center sponsored an exhibit booth at the 2018 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed Mobilize: Resistance through Action. The theme was befitting of a conference that included a group of hundreds of people with disabilities marching through ...
LEAD Partner: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
September 26, 2018 | story
What is SETA? The Sacramento Employment & Training Agency (SETA), an agency that works in the City and County of Sacramento, was formed in 1978. From its inception, SETA has been an effective force in connecting people to jobs, business owners to ...
LEAD People – The SETA Team
September 26, 2018 | story
Michelle O’Camb serves as a Workforce Development Manager for the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), alongside colleague Jennifer Fischer, Workforce Development Analyst Supervisor. Together, O’Camb and Fischer oversee a number of programs ...
Give Us Your Feedback!
September 26, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you fill out a very brief feedback form, which should only take five (5) minutes or less to complete. Also, if you ...
LEAD Resources
September 26, 2018 | story
1. Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults http://leadcenter.org/resources/report-brief/complying-section-511-approaches-promote-competitive-integrated-employment-youth-and-adults 2. ...
Inclusive Career Pathways Desktop Guide: Information and Resources to Support Inclusive Programs and Services
September 25, 2018 | resource
Inclusive career pathways are programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited because they lack the academic and/or technical skills necessary to complete the credentialing requirements of many key high-demand and ...
FDIC Youth Employment Resource Center
September 17, 2018 | resource
The FDIC Youth center offers resources that support financial education and access to safe, affordable insured accounts for youth participating in employment programs. Explore this site to learn about the FDIC’s resources that support financial education ...
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has launched a newly updated website. It provides a more user-friendly layout with easier access to JAN's publications, toolkits, training modules, and other resources. JAN also released its latest Enews, which can be ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
September 17, 2018 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complimentary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
Workplace Education Videos: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
September 17, 2018 | resource
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation recently released three videos that employers can use to educate about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These videos were created under their Disability Employment Initiative cooperative agreement ...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
September 17, 2018 | resource
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of Practice. ...
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 06, 2018 | news
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. We ask that you take a very brief survey, which should only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Also, if you would be willing ...
Complying with Section 511: Approaches that Promote Competitive Integrated Employment for Youth and Adults
August 01, 2018 | resource
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law in 2014, added Section 511, “Limitations on the Use of Subminimum Wage,” to Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 511 requires a state’s vocational rehabilitation services ...
Neurodiversity Brief: Building an Accessible Workforce Development System: Recommendations to American Job Centers on Supporting Autistic People and Others with Disabilities to Promote Successful Employment
July 30, 2018 | resource
This brief discusses actions that American Job Center (AJC) staff can take to make their services more accessible to autistic people and others with psychosocial, cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (DD); this supports the creation of ...
What the ADA Means to Our Family
July 23, 2018 | blog
Co-Authored by Alison Nodvin Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation and Evan Nodvin, Member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities July 26th is the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ...
Update: Oregon Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot
June 28, 2018 | story
In the previous LEAD On! newsletter, we told you about kicking off Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot. The six pilot sites included a mix of rural and urban locations throughout Oregon. Even before schools started their summer break ...
LEAD Center Releases Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center is pleased to announce the release of the Guided Group Discovery Online Participant Workbook. The Online Participant Workbook can be completed using any browser. This user-friendly tool allows youth and adults to create a personalized ...
House Committee on Small Business Holds Hearing Highlighting People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
On May 9, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing titled, “Ready, Willing, and Able to Work: How Small Businesses Empower People with Developmental Disabilities.” The hearing, chaired by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), sought to examine ...
LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation Activities at National Conferences
June 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center staff had a significant presence at two national conferences this quarter: the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Conference and the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference. The NAWDP ...
LEAD People: Yvonne Wright
June 28, 2018 | story
Yvonne Wright serves as the Director of Workforce Engagement and Innovation for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. In this position, she works with partners throughout the state to move beyond WIOA compliance toward true collaboration. Prior to ...
Louisville’s Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), Emerges as Leader in Advancing Financial Empowerment and Economic Advancement for People with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
The LEAD Center has supported the expanding work of LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) since its inception in 2014. LADDER, a collaborative of community-based organizations, workforce services, ...
Resources
June 28, 2018 | story
Guided Group Discovery Resources: Introduction and Course, Participant Workbook, and Facilitator’s ...
LEAD Activities During Financial Capability Month in April
June 28, 2018 | story
To commemorate Financial Capability Month, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities to address the needs of Americans with disabilities to become more financially capable, the LEAD Center, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), and ...
Building a Roadmap that Supports the National WIOA System to Navigate Inclusive Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities
June 28, 2018 | story
Over the past several months, the LEAD Center has researched effective strategies nationwide in serving people with disabilities and reaching positive employment outcomes through Inclusive Career Pathways. The research has found that the six elements of ...
Business Engagement Self-Assessment Tool
June 25, 2018 | resource
This self-assessment is designed to help states and regions better understand how integrated and effective their business services are currently, and where enhancements can be made.
Building Credit and Community: A Look Inside Louisville’s LABS Pilot Program
April 26, 2018 | blog
Since 2014, LADDER (Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity Empowerment and Resources) supports opportunities to integrate financial empowerment in workforce development systems to insure the inclusivity of persons with disabilities in accessing ...
LEAD Center Hosts National Dialogue on Financial Literacy Education for People with Disabilities
April 18, 2018 | news
In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the LEAD Center today launched a two-week national dialogue called Money Matters. LEAD Center encourages workforce development professionals, disability professionals, financial services professionals, ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
April 11, 2018 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
Financial Integration Team Fact Sheet
April 04, 2018 | resource
The Financial Integration Team (FIT) Community of Practice is a peer-to-peer support network, which focuses on integrated financial capability strategies to support persons with disabilities in building their financial well-being. FIT members represent ...
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018 | blog
Hello, I’m Alec Frazier. I’m autistic and have been a self-advocate and an advocate since I can remember, although definitely professionally since I gave my first speech in third grade in 1994. I am currently the Director of Autistic Reality, my own ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 21, 2018, LEAD Center hosted a webinar on WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates. This webinar was in response to the Two-Year ...
Guided Group Discovery Youth Pilot Kicks Off in Oregon
March 28, 2018 | story
On February 28, 2018, Oregon’s statewide Guided Group Discovery (GGD) Youth Pilot kicked off with a full-day Train-the-Trainer for 31 Transition Network Facilitators, Youth Transition Program staff, and teachers from across the state. Participants were ...
Adding Self-Guided Discovery to Your Toolkit: An Additional Resource to Promote Employment Outcomes for People with Barriers to Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) were excited to release the Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator’s Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment as part of their March 28, 2018 webinar on this topic. For many ...
LEAD Center Releases Policy Briefs on Guided Group Discovery and ABLE Accounts and Employment
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center recently published two policy briefs: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts and Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery. The purpose of the Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts policy brief is to help people with ...
LEAD Partner: Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has been participating in and offering technical assistance to Virginia’s Accessibility Taskforce, which was created in 2016 as recommended in the State’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan. The goal of this ...
Three-Part Webinar Series: AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities
March 28, 2018 | story
LEAD Center has joined forces with the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to host a three-part webinar series on AJC Certification & Section 188: A Window of Opportunity to Impact Equal Opportunity Policy & Practice for People with Disabilities. ...
LEAD Person: Constance M. Green
March 28, 2018 | story
Constance serves as Virginia's State Coordinator for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs. In this capacity, she develops program policy and guidance, provides technical assistance to Local Workforce ...
Important New Resources
March 28, 2018 | story
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/customized-employment-stories-and-lessons-field Disability Benefits Counseling Services: Free Resources for Social Security Administration Disability ...
Five Key Strategies to Achieve Financial Well-Being
March 26, 2018 | resource
National Disability Institute (NDI) focuses on five key strategies to assist an individual to achieve financial well-being. The five key strategies include: Benefits Planning and Work Supports Employment Free Tax Preparation Financial Education ...
Financial Literacy Education Frequently Asked Questions Under WIOA
March 26, 2018 | resource
Youth participants and adult job seekers with and without disabilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) may be able to receive financial literacy education. The following are frequently asked questions that support an increased ...
Federal Regulations That Support the Integration of Economic Advancement Strategies within Disability Employment Services
March 26, 2018 | resource
The following Federal regulations support the provision of economic advancement strategies within disability services. Integrating economic advancement strategies into disability services, such as employment planning, has demonstrated improved employment ...
Self-Guided Discovery Facilitator's Guide: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
March 26, 2018 | resource
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the LEAD Center are pleased to release this Facilitator’s Guide to Self-Guided Discovery. For many years, ODEP has worked to strengthen the capacity of the ...
Policy Brief: Reviewing and Updating Your WIOA Unified or Combined State Plan from a Disability Perspective
February 21, 2018 | resource
On January 24, 2018, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued new guidance to State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Boards and other partners (TEGL 6-17) on approaches to be taken to ...
Information Brief: Customized Employment and Guided Group Discovery
January 31, 2018 | resource
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) opens doors to employment for people who experience barriers to employment. LEAD Center recently released comprehensive Guided Group Discovery materials, designed to enable youth and adults with disabilities and others to find a ...
Information Brief: Improving Employment Outcomes with ABLE Accounts
January 31, 2018 | resource
The LEAD Center recently published the policy brief, "The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes for People with ...
Customized Employment: Stories and Lessons from the Field
January 04, 2018 | resource
Customized Employment (CE) represents a nuanced departure from traditional competitive and comparative approaches to developing work. True CE is hard to come by actually. This collection of examples is offered to point out the sometimes less obvious nuanced ...
Tennessee American Job Center Hosts LEAD Center’s First Guided Group Discovery Veterans Pilot
December 19, 2017 | story
On December 7th, LEAD Center staff launched a new Guided Group Discovery (GGD) pilot focused on veterans by providing a Facilitator Training at a comprehensive American Job Center (AJC) in Clarksville, Tenn. Guided Group Discovery is an innovative way to ...
ODEP and LEAD Center Promote Knowledge Translation
December 19, 2017 | story
On November 29th, the LEAD Center and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted a discussion with LEAD Center’s Knowledge Translation (KT) Consortium. Featured speakers in this virtual meeting included leadership from ...
NAWDP Youth Symposium 2017
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff and partners presented at a plenary session at the 2017 Youth Development Symposium, held annually by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director and Training and ...
LEAD Partner: Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center has been working in partnership with the Clarksville Montgomery County American Job Center (AJC) in Tennessee for the past two years. This comprehensive, accessible AJC has supported LEAD Center’s first Guided Group Discovery pilots for people ...
LEAD People: Sharyn Hancock
December 19, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is pleased to highlight the work of Sharyn Hancock, Disability Resource Coordinator at Workforce Essentials in Clarksville, Tennessee. She coordinates resources for individuals with disabilities, supports her workforce system colleagues, and ...
TASH 2017 Conference
December 19, 2017 | story
In December, the LEAD Center participated in the national TASH Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The LEAD Center added to this diverse community of stakeholders by providing five presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic advancement of ...
Important New Resources
December 19, 2017 | story
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide http://leadcenter.org/resources/tool-manual/business-30-second-training-series-and-resource-guide Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled ...
LEAD Center Blog Round-up
December 19, 2017 | story
During October and November, the LEAD Center's guest bloggers offered valuable information about employment for job seekers with disabilities, job coaches, community organizations, and hiring managers. All the posts highlighted how disability employment ...
Veterans’ Priority: WorkforceGPS Collection Site
December 14, 2017 | resource
This is the centralized collection of information for Veterans’ programs, policies, and initiatives, which primarily affect the Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) employment and training programs. Veterans’ Priority gives ...
Disability and Employment: Connect the Pieces
December 14, 2017 | resource
These resources are designed to help connect three key pieces together -- the American Job Center, the employer and individuals with disabilities. They should always interconnect because the American Job Center has a dual customer focus to serve both ...
Recruitment and Hiring Strategies: Disabled Veterans
December 14, 2017 | resource
When military personnel transition to civilian employment, America’s businesses stand to benefit. Across all industries, veterans are a ready source of qualified, committed job candidates with transferable skills proven in real world situations. They grasp ...
CareerOneStop Local Help Tools
December 14, 2017 | resource
CareerOneStop has updated more than a dozen local help finder tools for easy access from smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. The Local Help collection of tools can quickly provide location and contact information for a variety of programs and ...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 13, 2017 | resource
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in ...
DOL ETA Webinar: Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force
November 29, 2017 | event
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting a webinar on Monday, December 11 from 3-4:00 P.M. ET on Employer Engagement to Support People with Disabilities in the Labor Force. The webinar will identify key provisions ...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 09, 2017 | blog
As an employer, do you want to easily find valuable and talented employees to fill your job openings AND incentivize your workplace diversity? If inclusion and diversity is important to you and your workplace culture, look no further and hire a veteran with a ...
Inclusion Drives Innovation: The Mobile Accommodation Solution App
October 24, 2017 | blog
The World Health Organization reports globally there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities. Increasingly, chronic health conditions and disabilities are becoming more commonplace in the workplace. This has major implications for employers large ...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017 | blog
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean: a. Capacities based on tipping b. Capacities based on structural ...
WISE WEBINAR: Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account
October 04, 2017 | event
Join the Ticket to Work Program on October 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a free webinar: "Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account." They will talk about how people with disabilities can benefit from ABLE accounts and how they ...
Showing the World That ‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’
October 03, 2017 | blog
October is a special month to those of us at the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE). It’s the time of year when we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)—the national campaign that celebrates individuals with disabilities and ...
Important Additional Resources
September 27, 2017 | story
Employment, Health Care, and Policy Update: August 2017 The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 27, 2017 | story
The official theme of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” National Disability Employment Awareness ...
LEAD Center’s Top 10 Accomplishments in Year 5
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center is just finishing its fifth year and is proud of its many accomplishments. LEAD Center’s activities are all designed to improve competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities. Read on to ...
Oregon Guided Group Discovery Project
September 27, 2017 | story
Guided Group Discovery (GGD) curriculum materials, developed by the LEAD Center, offer American Job Centers (AJC) and partner agencies a tool to assist job seekers with disabilities to obtain customized employment through a collaborative model. Guided Group ...
Section 188 and AJC Certification: Achieving Compliance, Expanding Access, and Increasing Outcomes
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center has been providing training nationwide on how all programs and activities that are part of the One-Stop delivery system, including workforce partners, must comply with Section 188, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) equal ...
Updates from the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER)
September 27, 2017 | story
The LEAD Center continues to support the expanding work of the Louisville Alliance for Development through Diversity, Empowerment, and Resources (LADDER), led by Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience and Community Services. LADDER is a ...
ABLE Accounts Give People with Disabilities the Power to Save
September 27, 2017 | story
This summer, the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) launched a month-long public awareness campaign called “#ABLEtoSave.” The national grassroots campaign began on July 31 and ran throughout the month of August. The purpose of the campaign was ...
LEAD Center Knowledge Translation Activities
September 27, 2017 | story
LEAD Center staff presented and/or exhibited at a number of conferences during the past quarter on strategies and practices to promote employment and economic advancement of youth and adults with disabilities. This included the national Association of People ...
LEAD PARTNER: Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation
September 27, 2017 | story
Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is embracing the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation to deepen partnerships with education and workforce partners throughout the state. Oregon VR is participating with every Local Workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE: Nancy Boutot
September 27, 2017 | story
Nancy Boutot is the Manager of Integrated Systems and Cross System Integration for the LEAD Center and Project Manager for Ticket to Work Outreach Support through National Disability Institute (NDI) Consulting. Her work focuses on promoting employment and ...
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017 | story
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities. Since the passage of the ADA, Americans with disabilities have made great strides in ...
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Part 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
August 07, 2017 | event
Join Social Security's Ticket to Work program on August 23, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, for their next free WISE webinar! In part 1 of a 2-part series, the Ticket to Work program will talk about Work Incentives available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income ...
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017 | blog
One of the benefits of being in the disability field for such a long time is the perspective that it brings. I started in the field before the implementation of most of the public laws, legislation and legal actions that ensure the rights of children and ...
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation Releases Issue Brief on Proposed Work Requirements Advanced in State Medicaid Programs
May 31, 2017 | story
On March 23, 2017, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on publishing research and information on health care issues in America, published an issue brief that discusses proposed work requirements as part of different ...
HCBS Transition Plans Update
May 31, 2017 | story
Kansas Releases Revised HCBS Transition Plan On March 20, 2017, Kansas revised its HCBS Transition Plan. Kansas chose to make changes in the direction of the state’s implementation process. The state increased stakeholder participation, revised its ...
Council on Quality and Leadership Releases Study on Supported Employment Services in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
May 31, 2017 | story
The Council on Quality and Leadership, an organization dedicated to measuring the quality of community life for people with disabilities, released the results of a study that examined how Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services waivers provided ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective: FINAL RULE Implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Systems)
August 19, 2016 | resource
The purpose of this policy brief is to provide a summary description, from a disability perspective, of the Department of Labor and Department of Education Final Rules implementing Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development ...
Two Exciting Grant Opportunities to Promote Employment for Youth and Adults with Disabilities through Partnerships and Collaborations
June 30, 2016 | story
Disability Employment Initiative The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the availability of grant funds for its seventh round of funding for the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) program. DEI is a joint program of ...
LEAD Center Webinar on Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System
June 30, 2016 | story
In recognition of Financial Capability Month in April, a LEAD Center webinar, Financial Literacy and the Workforce Development System: Resources and Implementation Strategies, brought together representatives from the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee ...
Missouri Workforce Development Leads Equal Opportunity for Customers with Disabilities through Section 188 Training
June 30, 2016 | story
On May 11, the LEAD Center had the opportunity to present at the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) Conference in Lake Ozark, Missouri. MAWD is a state association that supports career and technical training, as well as workforce ...
LEAD PEOPLE Julie Squire, Policy Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
June 30, 2016 | story
Julie Squire is a Policy Director for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). In this position, she serves as the staff director for the Unemployment Insurance Committee and the Equal Opportunity Committee. Her program areas ...
LEAD PARTNERS National Association of State Workforce Agencies
June 30, 2016 | story
Originally founded during the Great Depression, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) brings together state administrators of the publicly-funded workforce system. The workforce system includes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ...
Department of Labor Launches New Technical Assistance Website
June 30, 2016 | story
On April 18, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) launched WorkforceGPS - the next generation, mobile-friendly, and accessible website that gives the public workforce system, education professionals, and ...
WIOA Services and Performance Begins July 1st
June 30, 2016 | story
Breaking News: Final Rules were issued for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act on June 30, 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.doleta.gov/WIOA/. LEAD Center will review the Final Rules and provide analysis in upcoming ...
LEAD Releases New Toolkit to Promote Collaboration between Centers for Independent Living and American Job Centers
March 31, 2016 | story
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the LEAD Center has released Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 31, 2016 | story
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD Center Reviews Unified WIOA State Plans: What We Learned
March 23, 2016 | news
LEAD Center staff reviewed state plans from California, Iowa, and North Carolina utilizing a guide we developed that identifies key areas for plan design and implementation to advance effective and meaningful participation of youth and adults with ...
LEAD and DEI Partner to Discuss WIOA Section 188 Best Practices
March 09, 2016 | news
In February, the U.S. Department of Labor's Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) held an interactive Peer Exchange for DEI grantees to review and discuss Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Section 188 implements ...
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Review of the DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, from a Disability Perspective
February 16, 2016 | resource
On January 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register implementing the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and ...
American Job Center
January 01, 2016 | resource
The American Job Center Network provides a single, 24-7 access point for key federal programs and critical local resources to help people find a job, identify training programs, and tap into resources to help them gain skills in growing industries. The ...
Section 188: A Blueprint for Improving Access & Equal Opportunity
December 15, 2015 | story
In July 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide. Authored by the LEAD Center, with input and guidance from multiple federal agencies, ...
WIOA Update: Submission of Unified/Combined State Plans
December 15, 2015 | story
As the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) continues its process of implementation, there are many important aspects that states should be currently preparing for, including the submittal of their Unified or Combined State Plan. These ...
LEAD PEOPLE Danielle Smith, State Equal Opportunity Officer - Missouri Division of Workforce Development-DED
December 15, 2015 | story
Danielle Smith is the State of Missouri WIA Equal Opportunity Officer. Danielle has been in this position since 2012. Prior to this position, Danielle was Regional Coordinator for the Division of Workforce Development. Her position includes oversight ...
New LEAD Paper: Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Investment System
September 30, 2015 | story
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers State Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and local American Job Centers (AJCs) the opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring that youth and adults, with and without disabilities, have the ...
Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide
September 17, 2015 | resource
The U.S. Department of Labor has developed this Reference Guide to assist AJCs by providing promising practices that correlate with specific nondiscrimination requirements in Section 188 and the current Section 188 regulations. While ...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guide on Disability Non-Discrimination in Jobs Programs
July 31, 2015 | story
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a new guide to assist American Job Centers (AJCs) in serving people with disabilities. The AJCs, which are funded through DOL, are a network of one-stop centers to assist individuals in finding employment. The ...
WIOA Advisory Committee Meeting Held July 13-14
July 31, 2015 | story
The Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, held its fourth meeting on July 13-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. During the ...
Integrating Financial Capability and Asset Building Strategies into the Public Workforce Development System
July 15, 2015 | resource
While employment is critical to attaining a stronger economic future for American workers, the development of financial capability strategies related to personal savings, asset building, managing credit, and individual budgeting are critical for sustaining ...
LEAD Center Presentations Support the 2015 National APSE Annual Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
For the first time, the LEAD Center participated in the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23-25, by providing two presentations on strategies to improve the employment and economic ...
LEAD Presents at 2015 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2015 | story
LEAD Center Assistant Project Director, Elizabeth Jennings, presented at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals' (NAWDP) 2015 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 4th through the 6th. LEAD Center was invited ...
Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
June 30, 2015 | story
The LEAD Center recently published a new resource, "Frequently Asked Questions: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers." Customized Employment offers an approach to job ...
FAQs: Using Customized Employment’s Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers
May 13, 2015 | resource
If you haven’t heard of Customized Employment or you think it has little relevance to helping today’s job seekers in the nation’s American Job Centers (AJC), think again. Customized Employment offers an approach consistent with the most innovative and ...
Kansas Researchers Provide Training, Monitor Progress on Competitive Integrated Employment Training in Rhode Island and Kansas
April 30, 2015 | story
In 2014, the state of Rhode Island entered a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) after a finding that the state’s services programs—including its Medicaid programs—provided insufficient access to integrated employment and other ...
Summary Description from a Disability Perspective - Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Activities) Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
April 20, 2015 | resource
This policy brief outlines, from the disability perspective, key provisions of two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), i.e., those provisions in title I of WIOA pertaining to workforce ...
LEAD Center Launches Four-Part Webinar Series on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Obama last July, maintains a primary focus on assisting job seekers and workers with and without disabilities to succeed in the labor market, and matches employers with skilled ...
Employment and Training Administration Releases a Training Employment Guidance Letter Concerning the Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act
March 31, 2015 | story
Consistent with the various timelines stipulated in WIOA, we can expect the release of related materials developed by various federal agencies and departments articulating how states should begin implementing the law. One such piece was recently released ...
FEATURED AGENCY Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
March 31, 2015 | story
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) establishes several new and exciting mandates aimed at increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the American workforce. Among those mandates is the establishment of the “Advisory ...
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act Introduced (H.R. 188)
January 30, 2015 | story
This month, Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi introduced H.R. 188, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2015. Representative Harper introduced an identical bill in 2013 that gained 97 co-sponsors before dying. The bill aims to phase out ...
‘Hire More Heroes’ Offers Veterans Boost for Small Business Jobs
January 30, 2015 | story
In early January, House Republicans announced the re-introduction of the Hire More Heroes Act, which would incentivize small businesses to hire military retirees, reservists and veterans with disabilities. The bill permits small businesses without health ...
Share Your CE Success Story
December 21, 2014 | story
Originally envisioned as a multi-strategy approach to match the discrete skills and unique contributions of a job seeker with a significant disability to an employer who has an unmet (and often unrealized) need for those skills and contributions, Customized ...
Successful Employment: How Local American Job Centers (AJCs) Can Help
December 04, 2014 | resource
Many people with developmental disabilities believe that they aren’t eligible for American Job Center (AJC) services or that the services won’t accommodate their needs. These presentation slides accompanied a LEAD Center session of the same title during ...
LEAD Center Policy Brief: Summary of Major Policies Included in Titles I and IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
October 22, 2014 | resource
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law No. 113-128). WIOA represents an important bipartisan effort to improve federal workforce development programs and provide new opportunities to ...
CIL-AJC Community of Practice Continues to Build Momentum
September 30, 2014 | story
The LEAD Center Community of Practice (CoP) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and American Job Centers (AJCs) continues to provide ongoing peer-to-peer mentorship, training, and technical assistance. The CIL-AJC CoP meets monthly to improve ...
WIOA Offers Expanded Opportunities for Youth and Adults with Disabilities
September 30, 2014 | story
On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA modernizes and improves existing federal workforce development programs, helps workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, provides supports to people ...
LEAD PEOPLE Bridget Brown, Executive Director – National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
September 30, 2014 | story
Bridget Brown joined the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) as Executive Director in January 2008. In this position, Brown leads efforts to strengthen our nation’s workforce development system and improve the ...
Universal Access Strategies Highlighted at 2014 NAWDP Conference
June 30, 2014 | story
Many job seekers who face challenges in getting and keeping jobs often find their way to their local American Job Center (AJC). This May, in response to requests for information on strategies for intake and orientation to accommodate a diverse range of job ...
Innovative Collaborations Between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Urgent Local Workforce Needs
February 01, 2012 | resource
Government Accountability Office February 2012 Workforce board officials and their partners in 14 initiatives cited a range of factors that facilitated building innovative collaborations. Almost all of the collaborations grew out of efforts to address ...
The Great Recession and Serving Dislocated Workers with Disabilities: Perspectives from One-Stop Career Centers and Rapid Response Coordinators
June 01, 2011 | resource
The NTAR Leadership Center Maris Heidkamp and William Mabe, Ph.D. June 2011 During America’s Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 that left millions of workers unemployed, one group was hit hard – people with disabilities. Between June 2008 and September ...
Creating a Roadmap Out of Poverty for Americans with Disabilities: The Relationship of the Employment and Training Administration’s Workforce Development System and Local Asset-Building Coalitions
April 01, 2009 | resource
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Disability Institute April 2009 This report analyzes research conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, regarding best practices in ...
Maintaining Employment Through Economic Advancement Strategies
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar, as part of our Employment mini-series, will provide information on strategies for enhancing employment stability and improving time on the job through the use of economic advancement strategies. Participants will learn how to integrate these ...
Section 503: Connecting Job Seekers with Disabilities and Federal Contractors through the Workforce Development System
December 31, 1969 | webinar
There are new challenges and opportunities for federal contractors as a result of requirements of the Section 503 final rule. Building an inclusive workforce provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) and the workforce development system to ...
NAWDP Webinar: Improving Services for All Job Seekers by Improving Services to Customers with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act places a greater emphasis on serving all job seekers – regardless of ability. This focus will not only improve services to individuals with disabilities, but also will help strengthen overall program ...
CILs and AJCs: Strategic Partnerships that Lead to Better Employment and Economic Advancement Outcomes
December 31, 1969 | webinar
A growing number of Centers for Independent Living are providing employment services to meet the needs of their customers and to improve the employment and economic advancement outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Join us to learn about findings and ...
Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on WIOA
December 31, 1969 | webinar
***The LEAD Center, funded by the US Department of Labor’s Office on Disability Policy, is hosting a four-part webinar series titled "WIOA From a Disability Perspective."*** Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of 4 The Workforce ...
Disability, Employment & Lane v. Brown
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On September 8, 2015, the United States entered into a proposed settlement agreement with the State of Oregon to vindicate the civil rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are unnecessarily segregated in sheltered ...
Creating an Inclusive Workforce System: Implementing WIOA Section 188’s Equal Opportunity Provisions
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) prohibits discrimination against people who apply to, participate in, work for, or come into contact with programs and activities of the workforce development system. WIOA also requires that ...
WIOA Implementation Partnerships: The Important Role of Centers for Independent Living
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides new opportunities for American Job Centers (AJCs) to partner with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) leading to improved employment outcomes for job seekers with disabilities. To support these ...
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
December 31, 1969 | webinar
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems. This user-friendly tool will help states pinpoint where they may need to focus more ...
WIOA State Plan Modifications from a Disability Perspective: Recommendations for Ensuring Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in State Plan Updates
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Mark your calendars and register today for this important webinar – Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Last month, the Department of Education’s (ED) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued a Technical Assistance ...
WIOA from a Disability Perspective & Section 188: A Powerful Foundation for Access - Series 1 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The series kicks-off with an overview of disability-related provisions in WIOA and its Section 188 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination regulations. These Equal Opportunity provisions provide an essential framework for expanding access to individuals with ...
State Workforce Systems that are Making Equal Opportunity a Priority: Missouri, Virginia, California - Series 2 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the second webinar, representatives from three States share their motivations, strategies, challenges and actions in implementing effective AJC Certification procedures, with Section 188 as the framework. Missouri’s commitment to Section 188 ...
Achieving 188 Compliance & AJC Certification: Key Strategies & Actions from Policy to Procedures - Series 3 of 3
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The final webinar of the series will give a snapshot of the foundation set by WIOA’s disability-related provisions and Section 188. The most impactful strategies across all three states will be highlighted, including which partners have been essential to ...
Webinar: Self-Guided Discovery: Helping People Discover Their Own Path to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, we share a new Facilitator’s Guide developed in partnership with Griffin-Hammis Associates. The Guide can be used to implement Self-Guided Discovery in the workforce system; in Centers for Independent Living; in behavioral health and ...
Building Employment Opportunities Through Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In this webinar, the Technical Assistance teams of WINTAC, LEAD Center and DEI, along with Felipe Lulli from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Sara Hastings from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and Joe Ashley from the ...
Career Pathways: Introducing Entrepreneurship and Small Business Concepts for Youth with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This training/Community of Practice meeting will recap the vision of WIOA for following a career pathway model for service delivery and explore Alaska’s innovation of including entrepreneurship and small business concepts into their service structure for ...
Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
On April 18, National Disability Institute (NDI), the LEAD Center and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) partnered for the webinar/in-person event, Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities, to commemorate National Financial ...
Promoting Competitive Integrated Employment: What You Can Do
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) is critical to achieving equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities -- and so are you. Join this webinar to learn about ways you can help expand opportunities for ...
Northeast & Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
December 31, 1969 | partner
Operated by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, providing training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the ...
The Inclusive Career Pathways Roadmap: Navigating the Road to Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Resources That Help Expand Opportunities for Career Pathways: “Freshman Year for Free”
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Finding resources and creative ways to increase the success of individuals with disabilities in securing Competitive Integrated Employment often begins with navigating the Career Pathways landscape. One of the barriers to Competitive Integrated ...
Career Pathways Community of Practice Meeting: Getting on Track to Employment & Self-Sufficiency: Key Drivers of Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
The road to Inclusive Career Pathways can be difficult for stakeholders and workforce professionals to navigate. The destination is achieving Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency for people with disabilities. Getting there is the tricky part. To guide you ...
Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity: Requirements and Promising Practices
December 31, 1969 | webinar
Don’t miss this webinar on promoting Equal Opportunity and complying with the requirements of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) Section 188. Achieving Equal Access and Opportunity is an evolving process. Challenges arise. ...
Get Empowered: Make the Most of Your Job and Improve Your Financial Security Building Financial Solutions for People with Disabilities
December 31, 1969 | webinar
If you are a person with a disability who is getting ready to enter the workforce or who recently did, you probably have a lot of questions related to your new job and your financial security. We want to help you find the answers so that you are empowered to ...
Strategic Partnerships to Create Inclusive Career Pathways
December 31, 1969 | webinar
This webinar will explore strategic partnerships that can lead to improved employment and career outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. For example, how can you promote collaboration among workforce development professionals, school and ...
How WIOA Can Support Workers Facing Economic Challenges
December 31, 1969 | webinar
In the U.S. today, the COVID-19 emergency presents a time of significant health and economic uncertainty for individuals with disabilities, as well as their families and communities. In recognition of financial literacy month in April, the LEAD ...
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility for WIOA Partners during COVID-19 and Beyond
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to these ...
Statewide Cross-System Training on WIOA Section 188: Broadening Access for People with Disabilities & other Barriers to Employment
December 31, 1969 | webinar
During COVID-19, many American Job Centers and core workforce system partners have shifted to virtual services. COVID-19 has highlighted new accommodation needs for people with disabilities and the workforce staff who support them. State responses to ...