Maine's CHOICES CEO Project
Working Together News
A newsletter about Maine's efforts to increase work opportunities for people with disabilities
In Focus
Disability as Diversity?
By Merritt Carey
As an employment attorney, a human resource consultant, and as the business partner liaison for Working Together, a coalition of Maine businesses seeking to expand the employment of people with disabilities, I have been puzzled by a phenomena I’ve observed. Why is it that employers generally don’t consider ‘disability’ to be under the umbrella of ‘diversity’? It seems that when we talk about a ‘diverse’ workforce, we are primarily talking about racial, ethnic and gender diversity. With many of the same goals (increased employment opportunity, equal pay, etc.), it seems that much could be gained by uniting these “movements” in some fashion.
There may be a historical component to this phenomenon. The Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, was enacted in 1964. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability, wasn’t enacted until 1990. By the time the ADA was enacted, the word ‘diversity’ had already been defined to primarily include racial, ethnic and gender diversity. This definition informed the parameters of the affirmative action movement which began in the mid 1990s when the ADA was just getting traction.
I believe it’s time to reassess and reexamine the way we think of diversity. And I believe Maine is a perfect place to begin that reexamination.
The Diversity Hiring Coalition of Maine (DHCM) is an organization that provides leadership and resources that help Maine employers increase, support, and retain racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace. Recently, I met with Nolan Thompson of DHCM to discuss the idea of a partnership between Working Together and DHCM. My initial conversations with DHCM have been fruitful. I hope to foster a formal partnership between Working Together and DHCM in September, after making a presentation to their board. It is my wish that we can combine our knowledge, where appropriate, so that we may provide Maine businesses with the best diversity resources possible.
There are other partnership possibilities for Working Together. On April 27, 2007, Governor Baldacci announced the formation of a task force to look into creating a Diversity Employment and Business Resource Center. The task force will be lead by the Department of Labor, the NAACP and the University of Maine System, providing another avenue for Working Together to communicate its message.
Legislative Report
Legislative Wrap-up
The Maine legislature has concluded its work for 2007 — at least in terms of issues that address disability and employment. This newsletter has reported on several bills before the legislature that, if passed, would expand employment opportunities for the 120,000 working-aged adults with disabilities in Maine. The final resolution of three major bills is summarized below:
LD 1032: An Act to Improve Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Maine did not pass this session, but instead was “held over” for possible consideration by the Legislature next year. A key element of this bill is funding for a Disability Employment Services Coordinator, a position that had been discontinued previously.
LD 1467: Resolve, To Create Improved Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities passed. This bill calls for three actions:
- That the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) establish a committee to develop a plan to implement a waiver that encourages the expansion of supported employment for people with developmental disabilities who are currently receiving day habilitation through MaineCare;
- That DHHS and DOL establish a workgroup that will create a system of services (using existing resources) that supports the employment of people with developmental disabilities in integrated settings within the community; and
- That the Maine Jobs Council organize a Public and Private Sector Task Force to develop a marketing plan to reach employers and people with disabilities.
LD 1746, An Act to Improve MaineCare and Promote Employment passed, but the final version did not include an earlier provision to increase the unearned income level for participants in the MaineCare Workers with Disabilities option.
If you want more information about this legislative wrap-up,
please contact Mel Clarrage at the Disability Rights Center
at (800) 452-1948 or mclarrage1@maine.rr.com.
State Affairs
Preliminary Review Shows that Access to Post-Secondary Services Improve VR Client Outcomes
In 2006, the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services’ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) did a statewide assessment of the vocational rehabilitation needs of Maine residents with disabilities. Working with DVR throughout the process, CHOICES CEO project staff provided critical technical assistance with the assessment’s design and its analysis protocols.
The assessment found that postsecondary education is a large and growing part of services paid on behalf of people served by DVR. In Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2005, almost $1.3 million was spent on postsecondary education; this expenditure represented about one-fifth of all DVR service costs. Also, from FFY 2003 to 2005, total spending by DVR on college or university training increased by 19 percent. Over the same period, however, the percentage of people completing the DVR process who were successfully employed (as compared to those who completed the process but were not employed) dipped slightly, from 51 percent to 48 percent.
Although there are many factors that influence rehabilitation rates, the rise in postsecondary spending by DVR while employment outcomes were falling raises questions about the cost effectiveness of increased spending on education. Put another way, DVR wished to determine if it was getting a reasonable return — in terms of increased likelihood of employment and higher earnings — for its investment in the education of DVR participants. Further inquiries into the issue of postsecondary education services and employment outcomes of clients are currently being made. The primary purpose of these inquiries is to guide DVR policy and resource development.
Preliminary findings from this work show that in FFY 2004, the 20 percent of DVR clients that received postsecondary services used 37 percent of the available funds that year. Average case costs for a client receiving postsecondary educational services was $8,195, compared with $3,535 for other clients. Yet, those receiving postsecondary services were just as likely to find and keep a job as those not receiving them.
Importantly, while those who received postsecondary education obtained and sustained employment at the same rate as those who did not, the quality of the outcome was higher. This group of clients were:
- more likely to find a full-time job (26 percent versus 19 percent); and
- had significantly higher incomes ($16,200 versus $12,200).
In summary, this preliminary review shows that post-secondary services,
while costly, do result in improved outcomes for VR clients.
The challenge going forward for DVR is to conduct a deeper
examination of the data, to identify additional opportunities to use VR
program resources to leverage and improve access to post-secondary opportunities,
while mitigating the cost impact on VR system resources. DVR, in partnership
with the CHOICES CEO project, will make key findings from this analysis
available to the public in an issue brief when it is complete.
Spotlight on Workers
Dave Cann enjoys working as a customer service representative for Time Warner Cable in Portland Maine. Cann has been employed by Time Warner Cable for almost seven years. “I’m pretty lucky with this job,” he said. “The part-time schedule is good for me. It keeps me busy. I like the idea of being productive and knowing that I contribute.”
Cann, who suffered a spinal cord injury 33 years ago and uses a motorized wheelchair to get around, heard about the Time Warner Cable position through a relative. Cann contacted the company and requested an interview. Previously, Cann worked for L.L. Bean at its Portland call center. The telephone and computer skills he acquired at L.L Bean helped Cann get the Time Warner Cable job and become a successful customer service representative.
Before starting his job, Cann needed only one workplace accommodation.
To have his wheelchair fit under his desk, Cann requested that his workstation
be raised. Later, when Time Warner expanded and moved to a new, larger
facility the company purchased adjustable workstations for all employees,
thus eliminating the need for any “special” accommodation for
Cann.
During a typical shift Cann answers customer calls, takes orders
from new or existing customers, and then enters those orders into the Time
Warner’s computer system. He also handles billing questions, provides
product information, and helps customers troubleshoot technical challenges
(e.g. how to program the remote control).
“I just take it as it comes and go in with a relaxed attitude,” Cann said, when asked about the challenges of the position. “Reliable transportation is important. I have had good luck with RTP (a Portland area, wheelchair-accessible transportation provider). My schedule stays the same at Time Warner Cable, which makes it easy to schedule transportation in advance through RTP.”
Cann admits to having been a little scared when he first thought about getting a job. He offers this advice to others with a disability that are planning to enter the workforce: “Try to find a temporary, part-time job to see if you like it. Learn how to use a computer and develop your phone skills. Also, make sure you have reliable and conscientious personal care assistants who can get you ready for the day.”
“It’s been very enjoyable working at Time Warner Cable.” Cann
said. “They are a great employer! Working gives me a sense of worth.
The extra money is helpful too.”
Updates
Actress and Comedienne, Geri Jewell, to Speak in Portland
Geri Jewell of Deadwood, The Young & the Restless, Strong Medicine and the ‘80s hit sitcom, The Facts of Life, will be the star of a special Disability Awareness Month event.
With her role as “Cousin Geri” in The Facts Of Life, she became the first person with a visible disability to become a regular performer on a national television show. During her run on the show, she broke important new ground by addressing issues of disability.
Geri will be mixing stand-up comedy with motivational speaking when she makes her appearance at the Abromson Community Education Center at the University of Southern Maine on October 19 tentatively from 2:30-4 p.m. Earlier in the day, Geri will meet with Maine employers who have committed to hiring people with disabilities.
Also, one of the event’s key sponsors, the Commission on Disability and Employment (CDE), will be having its annual meeting in the morning; people with disabilities are invited to attend. The meeting will be timed so that participants can go to the Jewell event afterward.
For additional information about the Geri Jewell event download this MS Word document. Contact Karen Fraser for more information about the CDE annual meeting at (207) 623-7961 or Karen.D.Fraser@maine.gov.
Maine Employers are Taking the Pledge
MEMIC, Stonewall Kitchen, and Coffee By Design are just a few Maine employers that have taken the Working Together Pledge.
Members of Working Together — a new coalition of Maine businesses seeking to expand the employment of people with disabilities — have taken a pledge to foster disability-friendly workplaces through conscientious recruitment, hiring and employment practices.
Are you an employer? Take
the pledge online! Not an employer but want
to help out? Ask your favorite businesses to sign up with Working Together!
For more information, visit: www.expandingmainesworkforce.com and click
on “Our Business Partners.”
Save The Date! Disability Mentoring Day is October 17
Disability Mentoring Day is a national event started in 1999 by the American Association of People with Disabilities. It brings employers and job seekers with disabilities together for a day of job shadowing and hands-on career exploration in the workplace.
Last year’s event was a success that resulted in over 20 Maine companies offering to serve as mentors to students and others with disabilities who want to work. Organizing for the 2007 event has already started in hope that this year’s Disability Mentoring Day will be even better.
Event organizers want to hear from employers, students and job seekers
with disabilities, and people interested in volunteering to be a liaison
between businesses and mentees. For more information visit: http://choices.muskie.usm.maine.edu/dmd/
Mark Your Calendar
Promoting Independence and Recovery through Work: Employment for People with Psychiatric Disabilities
July 31, 2007 2:30-4 pm EST
Webcast
Additional information here (pdf format) Pre-registration is not required.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Annual Conference
August 6 - 7, 2007
Crystal City, VA
8th Annual Conference entitled Empowering Employers
to Build an Inclusive Workforce.
US Business Leadership Network (USBLN)
Conference
September 23 - 26, 2007
Orlando, FL
This 10th Annual Conference entitled Building
the New Workforce – Inclusion
and Innovation will include a National Career Fair with over 30 Fortune
500 Companies.
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.
