Maine's CHOICES CEO Project

Expanding Opportunities for Workers with Disabilities

Working Together News
A newsletter about Maine's efforts to increase work opportunities for people with disabilities

March, 2007

In Focus

Getting the Word Out to Employers

In May, Larry Glantz, project director for CHOICES CEO, and Merritt Carey of GraffamSolutions will present at the Maine Human Resources Convention — the state’s premier human resource event. With hundreds of employers expected to attend, the conference is a fantastic forum for CHOICES CEO to speak with human resource professionals from across the state about hiring people with disabilities.

The presentation will emphasize the advantages of hiring people with disabilities, such as low employee turnover, ease of recruitment, and the enhancement of workplace creativity and diversity. We will discuss how embracing the idea that more employees will have disabilities as the workforce ages and veterans return from Iraq is a practical solution to the difficulty of finding qualified employees.

There will also be a discussion about the relatively low cost of accommodations and the legal benefit of being less vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits because of positive hiring practices. Employers will be encouraged to ask questions, voice concerns and share experiences.

“Being able to speak to such a large group of human resource experts—who are typically responsible for the hiring and recruiting of employees—is an invaluable opportunity to get out the message that hiring people with disabilities is good for business,” said presenter Merritt Carey of GraffamSolutions.

To augment the presentation, we will also be showing a short video clip that features Maine businesspeople talking about their experiences employing people with disabilities. “We’re hoping that hearing the message from other employers will inspire those attending the conference to think seriously about bringing people with disabilities into their own workforce — not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s good for business and Maine’s economy,” said Project Director, Larry Glantz.

The convention is being held at the Samoset Resort in Rockport from May 8-11. For more information about the convention, visit http://www.mainehr.com/convention/ or contact Merritt at GraffamSolutions (207) 828-4882.

The New England Council’s Aging Workforce Initiative

The New England Council, an alliance of businesses, institutions and organizations throughout New England, promotes economic growth and a high quality of life in the New England region. In November, the Council’s Commission on the Older Workforce held a meeting in Portland to announce the start of its New England-wide effort to examine the aging workforce in each state. This effort has proven significant to the work of the CHOICES CEO project.

The Council commissioned a study by Paul Harrington of Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies. The findings in this report were particularly striking for Maine:

Maine’s population is getting older at a higher rate than the rest of country. In 2005, the median age of Maine residents was 41, compared to the median age of 36 for the nation as a whole. In Maine, the median age is projected to be 43 in 2015 and 47 in 2030.
At the same time, the state has seen a sharp decline in birth rate. Between 1990 and 2004, the birth rate in Maine declined by 25 percent, compared to the 15.8 percent decline experienced by rest of the nation.
While teens and young adults in Maine are more likely to participate in the labor market than their counterparts regionally and nationally, the rate of labor force participation among those aged 55 and above is below that of the nation as a whole.

This report, and the discussion at the Portland meeting, focused on the employment of people with disabilities in several important ways:

First, workers with disabilities are an important untapped resource that can help to meet future workforce needs, particularly with improved training, support and on-the-job accommodations.
Second, disabilities increase as the population ages. People near the retirement years account for almost a third of all people with disabilities.
Businesses that understand the value of recruiting and accommodating workers with disabilities of all ages will have much better success during the projected workforce shortages.

For more information on this meeting or for a copy of Northeastern University study, please contact Larry Glantz at glantz@usm.maine.edu or (207) 228-8345.

State Affairs

Maine Employee Survey Complete!

Over 3400 Maine state workers, selected at random, completed a confidential online survey about their work and disability experiences. The survey is an important component of Governor Baldacci’s Executive Order 13, which directed the state government to be a model employer of workers with disabilities.

Findings show that of those completing the survey:

10 percent indicated they have a disability. Of these, 67 percent reported a physical condition; 13 percent a mental health condition; and 13 percent a sensory condition.
53 percent of those reporting a disability had requested a job accommodation. Of these, 32 percent reported problems getting a job accommodation.
22 percent reported that someone in their immediate family meets the definition of disability. Of these, 58 percent provided care that caused them to miss work. Almost two out of three employees (64%) who have someone in their family or household with a disability said that supports in the workplace were adequate for them to provide care for this individual.
Only two percent reported feeling discrimination due to their disability.

More details on the survey results will appear on our web site this spring.

WE NEED EVENTS!!

for Disability Employment Awareness Month

Are you or your organization interested in holding an event (of any size) during October's Disability Employment Awareness month?

If so, contact Vanessa Bell at vbell@usm.maine.edu or (207) 228-8111.

Ideas for Stories

Please help us… we are seeking stories! Do you know of a worker or employer that we can feature in our newsletter? Please contact Leslie Pohl.

In This Issue …

Visit the Newsletter Archive

Spotlight on Workers

Sandy Tolman of
Gertie's Graffics

Sandy Tolman and Gertie’s Graffics

At first, Sandy Tolman looked for a job like most people would; she sent out résumés and went to interviews. Although she found work as an administrative assistant, she began to feel that some employers were more focused on her disability than her abilities. At one job, Sandy was hired to fill a quota, while at another job, a new manager was “uncomfortable” with an employee that used a cane. Sandy started to feel disillusioned. With an associates degree in computer science and experience as an administrative assistant, she believed self-employment might work for her.

Sandy’s businesses, Gertie’s Graffics, has been up and running since 1999. It provides quick-turnaround word processing and graphic design services.

To get Gertie’s Graffics started, Sandy contacted the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and asked for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) support services. According to Sandy, the counselor assigned to her was “cordial, helpful and had a good sense of humor.” The Disability Rights Center also helped out. They provided advocacy and support through the VR application and orientation process. A final hurdle was overcome when Sandy asked a friend to help her with some VR forms that were particularly challenging to complete. Once approved, VR provided Sandy with the resources for a computer, a desk and a chair — and Gertie’s Graffics was born!

Self-employment is working out great for Sandy. “My day is not set by normal work hours,” she says. “If I feel good and want to work late, I can.” Sandy’s advice for other people with a disability who are looking for employment:

“Do It! You have nothing to lose and potentially so much to gain.”
“Stick with it.”
“Definitely get in touch with VR; it’s hard to take that first step.”
“Use whatever supports you can find; there are a lot of people and places to go for help.”
“Maximize your strengths; everybody has something to offer”

Gertie’s Graffics of Windham can be reached at (207) 892-2369 or gertie13@msn.com.

Updates

More Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Services now available!

Maine Medical Center's Department of Vocational Services is pleased to announce that its Work Incentives Planning and Assistance project (formerly known as Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach) is now operating with six fully trained Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs)! Early March marked the official transition from two to six, with caseload transfers and county assignments completed.

The CWICs are available to provide direct service to SSI/SSDI recipients/beneficiaries interested in work, and also to attend staff meetings or events to talk about the service and answer questions you may have.

Please feel free to contact Jennifer Kimble (kimblj@mmc.org or 207-662-4895) or your new CWIC directly (reference the CWIC staff list ).

Report from New Freedom Initiative Conference

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held its seventh New Freedom Initiative Conference entitled, “Access to Community Living: Promoting Independence and Choice,” on March 5-7 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Larry Glantz attended the conference as the representative of CHOICES CEO, Maine’s Medicaid Infrastructure Grant project, which is funded by CMS as part of the New Freedom Initiative (NFI). There are now Medicaid Infrastructure Grant projects in 41 states. These projects are engaged in research, program development and other systems-change work. Areas of focus include Medicaid programs that offer incentives for people with disabilities to work; outreach to, and engagement with, employers; and strategic planning to improve state employment services.

For more information on this conference or Medicaid Infrastructure Grants, please contact Larry Glantz at glantz@usm.maine.edu or (207) 228-8345.

New on the Web

CHOICES CEO is pleased to announce our newly redesigned website!

Visit the improved web site at www.choicesceo.org.

Please note that we will not share your information with others