Maine's CHOICES CEO Project
Working Together News
A newsletter about Maine's efforts to increase work opportunities for people with disabilities
In Focus
For Businesses! The Working Together Symposium
The inaugural Working Together Symposium will be held on Friday, October 19, at the Maple Hill Farm Conference Center in Hallowell, Maine from 8:00 -10:45 a.m. The symposium will bring together employers who are working toward a more diverse workforce that is inclusive of people with disabilities. Participants will include employers who are already members of the Working Together network, in addition to those who have yet to “take the pledge” and join.
Working Together, formed earlier this year, is made up of both Maine businesses and organizations that help employers capitalize on an untapped source of employees: people with disabilities. The network’s message is simple: Employing people with disabilities makes good business sense. Network members hope to involve other Maine employers interested in leading by example to shape the future of our workforce. To join Working Together, a business must make a pledge to create a disability-friendly workplace and strive to hire workers with disabilities.
The symposium will begin at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast, followed by remarks by Governor Baldacci and a presentation of the Working Together Business Awards. The keynote address will be given by Geri Jewell, an actress, comedienne, and powerful motivational speaker.
Businesses that want to participate should respond by Friday, October 12, 2007. Online registration
is available at www.ExpandingMainesWorkforce.com. Or register by calling
the USM Conference Department at Voice: (207)780-5960; TTY: (207)780-5646;
Fax: (207)780-5963; or E-mail: conferences@usm.maine.edu.
The State Takes the Pledge!
It is anticipated that in early October, the state’s largest employer, the Maine state government, will become the newest member of the Working Together network. This will be an important achievement for the CHOICES CEO project and for the Maine Commission on Disability and Employment, both of which have been working closely with the state to help it become a model employer of workers with disabilities.
In the past, the state had been recognized for its leadership role and creative practices related to employing people with disabilities. Efforts to revive these past successes include a survey of state employees about disability (see separate story) as well as a new brochure (PDF or HTML) aimed at recruiting more workers with disabilities to state jobs. Everyone is excited to be welcoming the state government to the Working Together network.
State Affairs
Thousands Respond to State Employee Survey
Over 3,400 people completed the Maine State Employee Survey. Findings include:
- Ten percent of state employees are people with disabilities; this is a slightly higher percentage than among the overall Maine workforce (8 percent).
- The majority of state employees reporting a disability responded that their primary disability was physical (67 percent); this was followed by those reporting a mental health condition (13 percent) and a sensory condition (also 13 percent).
- Over half (53 percent) of respondents with disabilities reported that they had requested a job accommodation. Eighty percent of those that had asked for an accommodation were granted their request.
- About one in four respondents (22 percent) reported someone in their household or immediate family had a disability.
At the close of the survey, participants were asked if they would like to participate in a discussion group that would address issues of employment and disability. Over 50 people said they were interested in participating — a great response! Discussions will be held this October in several locations across of the state. What is learned from these discussions will help the State better interpret the survey results and will be used to improve the design of any future surveys. Read a full report on the survey results (MS Word Doc).
Navigating the System: Four People Hired to Help Workers with Disabilities
As of August 2007, Maine has hired four new Disability Program Navigators. Navigators will help people with disabilities “navigate” through the different systems that impact their ability to find and obtain a job. Navigators will be located at the Career Centers of the four workforce regions. The positions are funded by a two-year grant from the federal Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration. Maine joins 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, in having a Disability Program Navigator grant.
Navigators will build partnerships to facilitate a more accessible and thorough system for people with disabilities and employers. They will work with Career Center staff on access issues, connect with employers, assist youth with disabilities transitioning to employment, and act as a resource for Social Security work incentives and employment support programs.
In Maine, Navigators will focus on improving access to Career Center services, which can lead to
better employment outcomes. The Navigators will also be working to learn
about, and respond to, the specific needs of the regions in which they
work. For more information visit: http://www.doleta.gov/disability/new_dpn_grants.cfm
New Law to Benefit Students Who Experience Academic Disruption
On September 20, a new bill designed to minimize the effects of educational disruptions for Maine students went into effect. This law should benefit youth with disabilities who experience breaks in their academic work that are beyond their control/whose schooling is sometimes interrupted due to their disability.
The law creates a process to identify students experiencing academic disruption and procedures for school personnel and other officials that are involved with students. Disruptions may include homelessness, unplanned hospitalization, foster care placement, and youth development center placement.
"Our economy — present and future — depends on a well-educated and well-trained workforce," said Governor Baldacci at the ceremonial signing of the law (LD 1860, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force to Engage Maine's Youth Regarding Successful School Completion). "We know that youth who experience disruptions in their education lose valuable instruction time, become disengaged from school, often fail to advance to the next grade level and eventually give up on attaining a high school diploma. This law helps those students stay connected and complete their high school education."
Mark Your Calendar
For upcoming Disability Employment Awareness Month events in Maine see Updates column (above right).
Closing Sheltered Workshops
Conference
October 29 – 30, 2007
Hilton Burlington; Burlington, VT
In 2002, Vermont closed its last sheltered workshop for people with developmental
disabilities. Learn how Vermont changed its vocational services for individuals
with developmental disabilities. Hear state representatives, service providers,
self-advocates and their families, and employers talk about the issues faced
and the strategies implemented in this conversion process.
Supported Employment Conferences/Resource Fairs
BANGOR - November
7, 2007, 9 am – 4
pm, Spectacular Events Center
PORTLAND - November
8, 2007, 9 am – 4
pm, Best Western Merry Manor Inn
Join us for a day of learning, discussion, and resource
gathering about increasing employment of people with developmental
disabilities in Maine. Cost: $20.00
MEMIC Comp Summit 2007
November1 - 2, 2007
Sunday River, Bethel, ME
The 11th Annual Conference for MEMIC's policy holders. Working Together will have a booth to
share information and showcase its business partners.
Spotlight on Workers
Judith and Duane have been married for six years. Both have disabilities, including deafness, and both work. Judith is employed at a steakhouse on the busiest nights of the week — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. She does prep-work, such as rolling silverware in napkins. Judith likes earning a wage but especially enjoys the camaraderie of her fellow co-workers. Duane, an accomplished artist, works a five-day-a-week, part-time schedule. Like Judith, he is in the food service industry — clearing and cleaning tables and putting away dishes.
The Portland office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) was instrumental in helping Duane and Judith on the path to employment. About the time that they married, a job developer at DVR found Judith the position at the steakhouse. They provided job coaching and sign language interpreting — essential to getting Judith trained for her new job.
Having a job coach on site was important to Duane as he trained for his job in a hospital cafeteria. Because Duane has difficulty communicating with hearing people, he had no way of finding or training for a job without the assistance of a coach and interpreter. Like his wife, Duane takes pride in his job and enjoys and values his relationships to co-workers. He does his best to keep positive relationships with those he works with.
Both Duane and Judith are committed to working hard and both find satisfaction
from their work experience. "If you like to be kept busy and enjoy
people, a job can be wonderful," Judith said.
Updates
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Since 1945, contributions that people with disabilities have made to the
workforce have been recognized in October. The theme for 2007
is “Workers
with Disabilities: Talent for a winning team.” See this year’s poster above.
Governor Baldacci is expected to sign a new Proclamation about
Disability Employment Awareness Month 2007, as he did last
year (MS Word Doc). Other
upcoming events in Maine include:
- Actress and Comedienne, Geri Jewell, to Speak At Event -
FREE PUBLIC EVENT!
A Disability Community Awareness event open to the general public is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on October 19th at the Abromson Community Education Center, University of Southern Maine. Geri Jewell of Deadwood, The Young & the Restless, Strong Medicine and the ‘80s hit sitcom, The Facts of Life, will take center stage for stand-up comedy and a motivational talk about her experiences with disability and with promoting a true celebration of disability in work and all aspects of life. Download more information on this event (MS Word Doc).
- Road to Freedom Bus Tour Coming to Augusta
On Friday, September 28, the Road to Freedom bus will be at the State House in Augusta at 1 p.m. The bus tour has been traveling across the country since November, calling attention to the Americans with Disabilities Act and new federal legislation introduced this July – the ADA Restoration Act. The tour was inspired by the historic journey of Justin and Yoshiko Dart, who traveled America to mobilize support for passage of the ADA. There have been large crowds in other states to welcome the bus, view the exhibits, and celebrate. This is a great opportunity to highlight the disability community's success in preserving the protections in the Maine Human Rights Act, and to push for the needed revisions to the ADA, such as making sure it provides protections against discrimination in employment as originally intended. And, what better time for this event than just before Disability Employment Awareness Month in October! Learn more at: http://roadtofreedom.org/cs/home.
- Disability Mentoring Day: Get Involved!
October 17 is Disability Mentoring Day in Maine and across the nation. Business representatives will mentor young people and adults with disabilities about their professions. Last year’s event was highly successful with over 20 Maine companies offering to serve as mentors; let’s build on last year’s successes! Go here to find out how to get involved!
- Maine CDE Annual Meeting on October 19
The Maine Commission on Disability and Employment will hold its annual meeting on October 19, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. The Commission invites everyone interested in disability and employment issues in Maine to this meeting! The meeting will be an extended public discussion about the commission’s mission, recent accomplishments and plans to continue to address major challenges we face here in Maine. Please come and share your successes, pose your concerns, and tell the Commission your priorities. RSVP required by October 10th - To register and request accommodations needed for participation, contact: Nancy Labbe at Tel. (207) 623-7941 or E-mail Nancy.L.Labbe@maine.gov
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.
