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RespectAbilityUSA invites
you to a conversation with Gov. Scott Walker (WI) on Employment First
Policies and Jobs for People with Disabilities.
09/04/2014 1:45 – 2:15 Wisconsin/Central Time, 2:45 – 3:15 Washington/NY East Coast time, 11:45 – 12:15 West Coast Time RSVP here |
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#RespectTheAbility
Campaign Launched to Focus on How Hiring Workers with Disabilities Benefits
the Employer, the Employee and Society
08/26/2014 RespectAbilityUSA and POSITIVE EXPOSURE, two non-profits working to change how people see disabilities, have joined forces to create #RespectTheAbility, a campaign to focus on how hiring people with disabilities can make organizations stronger and more successful. The campaign highlights the benefits to employers that look beyond the disability and imagine the possibility when hiring talented employees with disabilities. Read more #RespectTheAbility Campaign Launched to Focus on How Hiring Workers with Disabilities Benefits the Employer, the Employee and Society
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION: AUGUST 26, 2014
Media Contact: Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi
JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.org or (202) 365-0787
 Won Shin, senior manager in transaction advisory services at EY, speaks with coworkers Alejandra Preciat and Frances Smith (Photo Credit: Rick Guidotti of POSITIVE EXPOSURE)
Campaign spotlights model employers that demonstrate inclusive hiring can help their bottom line and starts by featuring Ernst & Young LLP
NEW YORK – RespectAbilityUSA and POSITIVE EXPOSURE, two non-profits working to change how people see disabilities, have joined forces to create #RespectTheAbility, a campaign to focus on how hiring people with disabilities can make organizations stronger and more successful. The campaign highlights the benefits to employers that look beyond the disability and imagine the possibility when hiring talented employees with disabilities.
The campaign kicked off on with a conference call/webinar with Lori Golden, Abilities Strategy Leader from Ernst & Young LLP (EY), on “Disabilities to Diverse Abilities: Changing the Workplace Paradigm: EY as a Case Study”. The call is was recorded and you can find it and the powerpoint that goes with it HERE.
“Our goal is to educate and inform employers of the benefits of hiring employees with disabilities,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbilityUSA. “EY hires the best talent out there, no matter what package that talent comes in. Their only focus is on their business, and what prospective employees can bring to the table to better the organization. It is time for other employers to look beyond the disability, and understand the true value of these employees.”
EY has focused on the benefits of a diverse staff since its beginning. Founding partner Arthur Young was deaf with low vision, and by example, he instilled in the organization the notion that talented, differently-abled employees can bring a multitude of benefits to the workplace.
POSITIVE EXPOSURE photographer and founder, Rick Guidotti, captured the new campaign with photos to link real life images and people with the facts. His motto in the work is, “Change how you see. See how you change.”
Using the hashtag #RespectTheAbility, RespectAbilityUSA and POSITIVE EXPOSURE hope to spread the word through their collaborative series, and to ultimately erase negative stigmas associated with disabilities.
A second spotlight on success, showcases Project SEARCH, a program that allows young adults with developmental disabilities to cultivate a set of skills that they can use in the workforce by providing them with a series of internships in order to achieve competitive employment. The third success story centers around young adults on the autism spectrum working on an organic farm in California.
Click the link below to view photos and more information tied to these success stories.
RespectAbilityUSA is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to reshape the attitudes of American society so that people with disabilities can more fully participate in and contribute to society, and empower people with disabilities to achieve as much of the American dream as their abilities and efforts permit.www.RespectAbilityUSA.com
About POSITIVE EXPOSURE
POSITIVE EXPOSRURE, founded in 1998 by award winning fashion photographer, Rick Guidotti, utilizes photography, video and narratives to present the humanity and dignity of individuals living with genetic, physical, behavioral and cognitive differences. The POSITIVE EXPOSURE global footprint promotes a more inclusive and compassionate world where all differences are celebrated. www.positiveexposure.org
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More With Disabilities
Finding Work
08/01/2014 By Shaun Heasley The jobless rate for people with disabilities improved somewhat last month, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday. Read more
More With Disabilities Finding Work
By SHAUN HEASLEY
August 1, 2014 Text Size A A
The jobless rate for people with disabilities improved somewhat last month, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday.
The unemployment rate fell to 12.1 percent in July, down from 12.9 percent the month prior, as more Americans with disabilities were employed.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department said the economy added 209,000 jobs in July. Unemployment ticked up just slightly for the general population to 6.2 percent.
Federal officials began tracking employment among people with disabilities in October 2008. There is not yet enough data compiled to establish seasonal trends among this population, so statistics for this group are not seasonally adjusted.
Data on people with disabilities covers those over the age of 16 who do not live in institutions. The first employment report specific to this population was made available in February 2009. Now, reports are released monthly.
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Governor Dayton Directs
State Agencies to Increase Hiring of Minnesotans with Disabilities
08/04/2014 Governor Mark Dayton today issued Executive Order Executive Order 14-14, which directs all state government agencies to increase their employment of Minnesotans with disabilities. Over the last 15 years, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of Minnesotans with disabilities employed by the state – from 10.1 percent of the state's workforce in 1999, to just 3.2 percent in 2013. Read more
Governor Dayton Directs State Agencies to Increase Hiring of Minnesotans with Disabilities
August 04, 2014
Proportion of state workers with disabilities will increase to 7 percent by 2018
ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton today issued Executive Order Executive Order 14-14, which directs all state government agencies to increase their employment of Minnesotans with disabilities. Over the last 15 years, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of Minnesotans with disabilities employed by the state – from 10.1 percent of the state’s workforce in 1999, to just 3.2 percent in 2013. The Executive Order issued today by Governor Dayton directs state agencies to increase that level to 7 percent by 2018.
The Governor’s Executive Order instructs Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) and the State Director for Equal Opportunity to develop a model for recruitment and hiring strategies to increase the employment of people with disabilities. It also requires all state agencies to develop plans for promoting employment opportunities for Minnesotans with disabilities, and to begin reporting their progress on a quarterly basis. The Order also directs MMB to develop ways to help employees to more easily update their disability status with their employer.
In recent years, Minnesota has fallen behind neighboring states and the federal government in the hiring of individuals with disabilities. Currently, the states of Wisconsin and Iowa have achieved 5.8 percent, and 4.4 percent levels, respectively. The most recent figures for the federal government show that 5 percent of federal workers are individuals with disabilities. Developed in consultation with disability advocates, Minnesota’s new target of 7 percent will make the state a leader in the region for hiring people with disabilities.
A Better State for All Minnesotans
Since taking office, Governor Dayton and his administration have been committed to improving opportunities for all Minnesotans – including individuals with disabilities. The following are just some of the initiatives the Dayton Administration has enacted to help Minnesotans with disabilities live more independently and improve the quality of their lives.
Improving Employment Opportunities – Governor Dayton issued Executive Order 14-14 directing state agencies to increase their employment of Minnesotans with disabilities.
Assuring Access to Care Providers – Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature increased reimbursement rates for personal care attendants by 5 percent – helping ensure Minnesotans with disabilities have access to high-quality care.
Providing High-Quality Long-Term Care – Minnesota ranked first on AARP’s long-term care scorecard for its efforts to help older adults and people with disabilities live at home and receive high-quality services.
Implementing the Olmstead Plan – The State of Minnesota hired Dr. Darlene Zangara in to serve as director of the state’s Olmstead Plan Implementation Office.
Creating Equitable Policies – The Department of Transportation updated its policies and implemented new trainings to help ensure that all employees with disabilities receive proper accommodations.
Improving the Quality of Services – The Department of Human Services is raising the quality of care in nursing homes and community settings by providing financial incentives to providers who develop innovative approaches to improving care. Report cards on these services help consumers choose quality care and encourage providers to excel.
Budget for All Minnesotans – Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature invested in special education reform, better health care coverage for children with autism spectrum disorder, and improved access to school-based mental health care. The budget signed by the Governor also invested in improving long-term care facilities statewide.
Improving Life and Work Opportunities – Governor Dayton and the Department of Human Services launched Reform 2020, which will make it easier for people to understand and access services and support for Minnesotans with disabilities, while also redesigning and improving services and increasing service coordination and integration.
Better Services for Older Adults – The Department of Human Services increased access to services and supports for older adults with disabilities. The change will help these adults and their families more easily access all available options.
Olmstead Plan Released – Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan was released in November 2013 after nearly a year of work across state government. The plan is designed to improve opportunities for Minnesota with disabilities.
Increasing Options and Independence – The Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Vocational Rehabilitation program helps those with disabilities prepare for, find and keep a job, and live as independently as possible. In 2013, the program assisted more than 19,500 people with disabilities.
Protecting Vulnerable Adults – To better protect vulnerable adults from abuse, the Department of Human Services is streamlining the reporting process by creating a single point of contact for all types of concerns.
Supporting Stable Employment – The Department of Human Services began funding a new initiative to help individuals with disabilities find and maintain employment – helping Minnesotans with disabilities live more independently, and decreasing their need for other state aid.
Encouraging Diverse Hiring – The Department of Human Rights held a statewide video conference in December to highlight the strategic advantages of hiring people with disabilities.
Increasing Opportunities for All – Governor Dayton issued Executive Order 13-01 establishing a sub-cabinet to develop and implement a comprehensive Olmstead Plan for Minnesota.
Improving Access to Independent Housing – The Department of Human Services worked with community partners to help more than 500 people with disabilities into their own housing.
Increasing Options and Independence – The Department of Employment’s Vocational Rehabilitation program helps those with disabilities prepare for, find and keep a job, and live as independently as possible. In 2012, the program assisted more than 19,000 people with disabilities.
Empowering Advocates – The Department of Administration launched the “Telling Your Story” advocacy application that allows people with disabilities to use technology to advocate for themselves with elected public officials.
Creating Accessible Infrastructure – The Department of Transportation hired an architect, who is an Americans with Disabilities Act specialist, to review the agency’s accessibility plans.
Improving Mobility – The Metropolitan Council increased ridership for Metro Mobility, the service for people with disabilities, by nearly five percent to 1.6 million rides in 2011.
Improving Statewide Accessibility – The Department of Transportation funded 11 projects across Minnesota to make state infrastructure more accessible for people with different levels of abilities.
Easing Communication Questions – The Department of Administration launched a free iPhone application to help individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities communicate more effectively – particularly in high-stress or emergency situations.
Increasing Access to Work Opportunities – The budget signed by Governor Dayton increased funding for State Services for the Blind to help people with disabilities secure and maintain meaningful employment.
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New Down syndrome law
ensures moms-to-be greater access to available help
07/18/2014 By Campbell North Ever since her birth, Chloe Kondrich has taken her family on an unexpected journey. Chloe, born with Down syndrome in 2003, has now led the family up the steps of the State Capitol. Read more |
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State of Delaware House
Bill # 214 w/HA 1
This bill requires that hospitals, physicians and other health professionals provide information about Down Syndrome and Down Syndrome resources and support groups to parents who have received a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome. Read more
147th General Assembly
House Bill # 214 w/HA 1
Primary Sponsor: M. Smith Additional Sponsor(s): Sen. Poore
CoSponsors: Reps. Baumbach, Bolden, Brady, Briggs King, Dukes, Heffernan, Hudson, Jaques, J. Johnson, Q. Johnson, Kenton, Kowalko, Mitchell, Osienski, Paradee, Ramone, Smyk, K. Williams, Wilson; Sens. Blevins, Cloutier, Hall-Long, Lopez, Townsend
Introduced on : 06/27/2013
Long Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INFORMATION ON DOWN SYNDROME.
Synopsis of Orginal Bill:
(without Amendments) This bill requires that hospitals, physicians and other health professionals provide information about Down Syndrome and Down Syndrome resources and support groups to parents who have received a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome. The Department of Health and Social Services is tasked with collecting and distributing appropriate information to health care providers for distribution to parents. This bill will ensure that parents receiving a Down Syndrome diagnosis are timely provided accurate and complete information about Down Syndrome to help them in their planning process.
Current Status: Signed On 05/07/2014
Volume Chapter 79:218
Date Governor acted: 05/07/2014
Full text of Legislation:
(in HTML format) Legis.html Email this Bill to a friend
Full text of Legislation:
(in MS Word format) Legis.Docx (Microsoft Word is required to view this document.)
Fiscal Notes/Fee Impact: Not Required
Amendments: HA 1 to HB 214 - Passed
Committee Reports:
House Committee Report 01/15/14 F=6 M=4 U=0---->Committee Report
Senate Committee report 04/01/14 F=0 M=5 U=0----->Committee Report
Voting Reports:
House vote: () Passed 1/30/2014 6:12:12 PM------->Voting Record
Senate vote: () Passed 4/10/2014 2:46:12 PM------->Voting Record
Engrossed Version:
Engrossment------->Engrossment
Actions History:
May 07, 2014 - Signed by Governor
Apr 10, 2014 - Passed by Senate. Votes: Passed 20 YES 0 NO 0 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT 0 VACANT
Apr 01, 2014 - Reported Out of Committee (HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits
Mar 21, 2014 - Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
Jan 30, 2014 - Passed by House of Representatives. Votes: Passed 40 YES 0 NO 0 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT 0 VACANT
Jan 30, 2014 - Amendment HA 1 - Passed in House by Voice Vote
Jan 30, 2014 - Amendment HA 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Jan 15, 2014 - Reported Out of Committee (HEALTH & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT) in House with 6 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
Jun 27, 2013 - Introduced in House and assigned to Health & Human Development CommitteeJun 27, 2013 - Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
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