7
Employment News
Call WVATS Toll Free 800-841-8436
Employment First Initiatives
People with disabilities in the work force help
our economy. They pay taxes and support local
businesses. However, people with disabilities have
the highest unemployment rates of any minority
group in our country. Author of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), the Honorable Tony Coelho,
stated, “Give us the right to be red!” What that
means is individuals want to be treated equally in
the workforce.
The Department of Labor’s Ofce on Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP), sent out a message
supporting the nation’s Employment First
movement. This movement focuses on community-
based employment with individuals earning at
least minimum wage. Sheltered employment with
sub-minimum wages and non-work ‘day activities’
are no longer acceptable employment outcomes.
(Shortened from ODEP memorandum, June 15,
2009).
There is no general denition of ‘employment
rst.’ The idea focuses on community-based
employment as the outcome for people with
disabilities. States are encouraged to write policies
that prioritize state funding for employing people
with disabilities. States are also encouraged to
make policies that hold any working age adult to
the same standards and responsibilities no matter
their abilities.
The Agenda
Education and advocacy can help raise
awareness for employment. Sharing success
stories creates hope and shows benets of
choosing to work. Coalitions can be formed with
people who believe work is for everyone. Studies
show that hiring people with disabilities is good
for business. People support businesses that hire
people with disabilities.
Changes in policy can take place at the school
level. Special educators and vocational teachers
can adopt employment rst principles for their
students, their families, business leaders and post-
secondary institutions. Teacher trainings can adopt
these principles.
A clear denition of employment means a focus
on real jobs, real wages and real business settings.
Applying for jobs based on strengths changes the
job landscape. It offers a new way to think about
the quality of the individuals that could be hired.
Tasks and jobs are negotiated with employers
(customized) and built to t the interests of the
job seekers (supported). Communication and
education are components.
Employment rst initiatives are directed toward
business professionals. They must have new skill
sets with this vision. These sets include recruiting,
hiring, training, supervising and integrating
employees with disabilities into the labor force.
Everybody can work. Everybody means everybody!
(115 Seiten)
Manymanuals.com
Manymanuals.de
Manymanuals.fr
Manymanuals.it
Manymanuals.pl
Manymanuals.cz
Manymanuals.es
Manymanuals-pt.com
Kommentare zu diesen Handbüchern