Facilitating the Job Seeker’s Active Engagement in Plan Development FCIC Talent Actualized Virtual Employment Conference April 12, 2018 Michelle Davis, M.Ed. and Kimberley Spire-Oh, Esq.

Poll: Why are you here today?  I am a person with disability  I am caregiver to a person with an disability  I am a professional who works with individuals with disabilities  I am just curious/Other

Self Determination just another word for a life filled with rising expectations, dignity, respect, and opportunities

-Dr. Michael Wehmeyer

Self Determination  Individual

Characteristics  Choices and decisions  Preferences and interests,  Self monitoring  Goal-oriented and selfdirecting

Planning for Success  Start

goal setting and transition planning early

 Obtain

evaluations as needed to help guide the process

 Utilize

resources available while in school to build skills

Starting Early 

Explore strengths, weaknesses and interests starting in elementary school and earlier



Insist school team provides guidance and resources for transition at age 14 and every year thereafter

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Investigate available programs and community resources before graduation

It’s never too late 

If you are an adult or have graduated or exited from secondary education, there are resources that can help you with your career and life.

Evaluations 

Private evaluations



School-based evaluations



Independent Educational Evaluations

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Three-Year Re-evaluations

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Evaluation Before Graduation

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Adult Evaluation

Transition Planning 

Officially starts at age 14, and more formally at age 16



Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services for students starting at age 14



Interests, preferences, abilities



Need to consider and plan for career and higher education options



Different levels of roles and responsibilities, customized employment

Some examples 

NFL



◦ Sports industry

Entrepreneur  Artist 

◦ Support circles

Surgeon ◦ Medical field



Travel/packing ◦ Hospitality industry

Meaningful Transition Activities    

   

Getting to know your strengths, interests, aptitudes Understanding your diagnoses, conditions Know what evaluations mean Listing and advocating for accommodation Research Role play Interviews, applying for jobs or positions Internships

Post-Secondary Programs 

Job Skills Training



Job Seeking Training and Preparation



College Experience Programs



Specialized Colleges and College Programs

While in high school:  

  

Medical & Psychological Assessment Vocational Evaluation & Planning Career Counseling & Guidance Work Readiness Training Work Experiences

After exiting high school:      

 

Workplace Accommodations Job Placement Job Coaching On-the-Job Training Supported Employment Assistive Technology & Devices Time-Limited Medical and/or Psychological Treatment Postsecondary Education/Training

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Legal Protections in Higher Education/Career Training 

Section 504 covers post-K-12 education



Accommodations are available



Student is responsible for identifying themselves, providing documentation, and requesting accommodations

Disabilities and Employment



People with disabilities are able to work in a variety of types of jobs and careers.



With appropriate preparation and supports, most individuals with disabilities can be very productive in the workplace.

Poll:

If you have a disability, are you working?  Yes, I have a job now  No, I am unable to work due to my health  No, I am having difficulty finding a job  No, I am not currently seeking employment

Decision Whether to Disclose Disability It’s your decision  Practice communicating about your disability  Use technology to communicate about your disability  Know your rights  Provide documentation 

Disabilities, Employment, and Discrimination Stigma  Lack of Understanding  Fear  Perception of additional costs  Liability concerns  Belief that the person is not actually disabled  Resentment of perceived unfairness 

Disabilities and Employment

Some people with disabilities may need accommodations on the job to assist them in working to their full potential.

Requesting Accommodations 

Employees must provide documentation of disability



Specify your request for accommodations



Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations that do not cause undue burden.



Collaborative process to develop accommodation plan

Interactive Accommodation Process Both employee and employer involved.  Identify “effective” accommodations  Medical documentation and recommendations 

Accommodation Resources 

SOAR-Job Accommodation Network: https://askjan.org/soar/



US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/Accommod ations.htm



Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Procedures for Providing Accommodations: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/internal/reasonab le_accommodation.cfm

Poll:

Have you disclosed your disability in a workplace setting?  Yes, with no problems  Yes, without problems  No

Protections



The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its amendments, as well as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, protect workers with disabilities.



These apply to employers with 15 or more employees.

Legal Protections Key Terms:  Otherwise qualified  Major job functions  Reasonable accommodations  Undue burden 

Limitation: Does not apply to employers with less than 10 employees (but related municipal ordinances may extend protection)

Otherwise Qualified

Employees must be able to perform the major job duties and have the required qualifications for the position.

Reasonable Accommodations 

Modifications to application process to allow individuals with disabilities to be considered for jobs



Job accommodations made to allow individuals with disabilities to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment

Examples of Accommodations for Cognitive Impairments

  

 

Cognitive Impairments: memory, time management, stress management Provide the employee directory with pictures Divide large assignments into several small tasks Provide written/oral instructions Modify work schedule

Examples of Accommodations for Motor Impairments 

 

 

Motor Impairments: driving, balancing/climbing, fatigue, safety Allow telework from home Use rolling safety ladders Use anti-fatiguing matting on floor Adjust work week

Accommodations for Attendance and Personal Care Flexible Schedule  Work a straight shift instead of rotating shifts  Provide a private space to regain composure and perform self-care tasks 

Examples Accommodations for Sensory Impairments Sensory Impairments: photosensitivity, difficulty seeing/hearing/comm unicating  Use a monitor glare guard  Provide alternate light sources 

Additional Accommodations Training refreshers, memory aids  Breaks  Executive functioning supports  Work schedule adjustment/Telework  Removal of non-essential functions, such as climbing ladders  Special guardrails, safety equipment  Assistance animals 

Undue Burden

Financial or administrative burden that could threaten the business  But potential sources of outside funding are considered 

Hardship Considerations     

Nature and cost of the accommodation; Overall financial resources of the facility; Overall financial resources of the employer (if the facility involved is part of a larger entity); The type of operation of the employer The impact of the accommodation on the operation of the facility.

Job Interviews

There are limits to the questions employers are allowed to ask during the interview process, and all must be related in some way to the ability of the candidate to perform the job.

Confidentiality



Employers must keep employee health information that is disclosed confidential and only make it available to staff who need to know.

Filing a Discrimination Complaint Complaints regarding disability discrimination in the workplace can be directed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)  http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm  Charge may be filed up to 180 days after incident (Federal employees have 45 days to contact counselor)  Complaints may also be filed for retaliation against someone engaged in advocacy on behalf of someone with a disability or for discrimination against family members of someone with disability

Programs to Employ People with Disabilities Sample services:  Medical and Psychological Assessment  Vocational Evaluation and Planning  Career Counseling and Guidance  Training and Education After High School  Job-Site Assessment and Accommodations  Job Placement and Coaching  On-the-Job Training  Supported Employment  Assistive Technology and Devices  Time-Limited Medical and/or Psychological Treatment

Closing



People with disabilities can have a productive and fulfilling work life.



If possible, they should start preparing for future career while still in school.



They need to be aware of what they need to be successful.



They need to self-advocate.

Resource Websites USF Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC) http://flfcic.fmhi.usf.edu/employment/  Transition Education Network http://project10.info/  Agency for Persons with Disabilities http://apd.myflorida.com/  Florida Developmental Disability Council https://www.fddc.org/ 

Resource Websites Job Accommodation Network (JAN) page on Accommodation Ideas for Epilepsy, http://askjan.org/media/epil.htm  Office of Disability Employment Policy, http://www.dol.gov/odep/  Invisible Disabilities Association, http://invisibledisabilities.org/  Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, http://www.efof.org/  Brain Injury Association of America, http://www.biausa.org/  Self Determination http://www.ngsd.org/everyone/what-self-determination 

Resource Websites 

Justice for All: Improving Employment Programs for Workers with Disabilities, http://autisticadvocacy.org/2015/07/justicefor-all-improving-employment-programs-for-workers-withdisabilities/



American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, http://www.aarda.org/



The Learning Disabilities Association of America, http://ldaamerica.org/

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Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), http://www.chadd.org/Advocacy/Employment.aspx



The Arc, https://www.thearc.org/



Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), http://cfl.ucf-card.org/

Employment Resources Florida Department of Economic Opportunity http://www.floridajobs.org/About-us/  CareerSource http://www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/  Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, http://www.rehabworks.org/  University of Washington, Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT), http://www.washington.edu/doit/resources/popula r-resource-collections/invisible-disabilities 

Contact Information If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us: Michelle Davis, M.Ed. PO BOX 522 Nokomis, FL 34275 (301) 526-8512 [email protected] abc4lifesuccess.com

Kimberley Spire-Oh, Esq. 2749 Exchange Court West Palm Beach, FL 33409 (561) 307-9620 [email protected]