Resources Related to the Employment of People with Disabilities

This section contains resources related to the employment of people with disabilities that (a) are "gateways" to research or other resources, (b) provide foundational information, or (c) may be of assistance to educators working with youth with disabilities.

Resources

Abilities Work
Florida's Employment First Initiative has developed the Florida Abilities Work Web Portal and Helpdesk to help employers find qualified candidates with disabilities who are ready and able to work in their communities and provide them with information that would help with their hiring decisions. The web portal offers employment information for both employers and job seekers.

The Able Trust
A public-private foundation providing Floridians with disabilities (including youth) fair employment opportunities. It funds new and creative programs of existing organizations, associations and agencies that cannot otherwise be provided through a state agency with a priority on programs using effective cost-sharing or multiple funding sources.

Department of Education Disability Services
Contains links to the Division of Blind Services, the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and their many resources and publications.

Department of Education Workforce Education
Contains information and links for career planning, career and technical education, the Apprenticeship Advisory Council, career academies, professional development, products, catalogs, technical assistance papers and more.

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy
Formerly DisabilityInfo.gov, this Web site provides information to people with disabilities on federal and state benefits, civil rights, community life, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation.

Disability Statistics
This website from Cornell University's Employment and Disability Institute provides national and state statistics that link employment and disability including employment rates, earnings, SSI, educational attainment, veterans, poverty, health insurance coverage, household income and more.

Division of Career Development and Transition, Council for Exceptional Children
Promotes efforts to improve quality of and access to career/vocational/transition services, increase the participation of education in career development and transition goals and influence policies affecting career development and transition services for persons with disabilities. Publications and resources include a long list of related web links.

Employment First Initiative
Florida became an Employment First state by Executive Order in October 2013. Employment First is both a philosophy and policy. It means that employment is the first option for all individuals, including those with significant disabilities.

Employment Resources and Self-Help Guide for Individuals with Disabilities (pdf)
Contains information for job-seekers with disabilities (government/private resources, laws and organizations that support the transition to employment, resources for finding and applying for employment and rights of employees with disabilities) and employers (employment laws and regulations including the Americans with Disabilities Act, employer incentives and workforce investment resources in Florida.)

Employment Transition Plan Template and Instructions
Project 10 developed an Employment Transition Plan Template and Employment Transition Plan Instructions with the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) to guide school district staff in the completion of the employment transition plan, which is required by section 1003.4282(11)(2)(a-d). The employment plan template and instructions may also be found on the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) BEESS Secondary Transition website.
This plan must be completed for any student with a disability for whom the individual educational plan (IEP) team has determined that mastery of academic and employment competencies is the most appropriate way for a student to demonstrate his or her skills. It is recommended that school districts build flexibility into the plan to ensure student mastery of competencies and success in the workplace.
Please note: Districts are not obligated to use this template. The template is available in Microsoft Word which enables users to modify the plan to fit the need of the student.

Institute for Community Inclusion
Offers training, clinical and employment services, conducts research and provides assistance to organizations to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in school, work, and community activities. Some documents are available in Spanish.

JobTIPS
This free program and website are designed to help individuals with communication, socialization, and learning differences explore career interests, seek and obtain employment, and successfully maintain employment. Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning differences, ADD, speech or language disorders, and other areas of exceptionality may find the site particularly helpful. The program (printables, assessments, and videos) is also suitable for use by educators, family members, clinicians, mentors and job coaches.

Let's Get Everyone to Work!
(scroll down to Employment section)
These videos, developed by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC), focus on preparing youth with developmental disabilities for employment and independence. Two 45-minute videos, the Resource Toolkit for Students and Families and the Teaching Toolkit for Pre-Service Professionals discuss employment and independence strategies, high expectations, person-centered planning and support networks. The five-minute Marketing Toolkit for Employers video describes the benefits of hiring people with developmental disabilities and available employer supports. Youth success stories are included in each video.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
Provides information about employment and youth with disabilities including publications, best practices and an online "feedback" form for comments, questions and information requests.

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
Coordinates resources, provides technical assistance, disseminates information related to secondary education and transition. Has a link to questions.

National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
Helps states build capacity to support and improve transition planning, services and outcomes for youth with disabilities; disseminates information; and provides technical assistance on scientifically-based research practices.

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition, Postsecondary Education and Employment Preparation
NTACT is a partnership between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of Oregon, Western Michigan University, the Transition Coalition at the University of Kansas and TransCen, Inc. NTACT serves as a transition resource for state and local educational agencies and vocational rehabilitation agencies and service providers. The link provided is NTACT's temporary website. The organization is in the process of building a new website. Announcements, resources, and webinars are available on the website.

Skills to Pay the Bills
This curriculum was developed by the Office of Disability Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor. It focuses on youth ages 14-21 and provides short videos and instructional modules with hands-on activities in six skill areas including communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professionalism. Users may download the full publication, individual modules, and the videos.

Transitions RTC
The Learning and Working during the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research & Training Center focus on improving supports for youth ages 14-30 with serious mental health conditions so that they can move into rewarding work lives. The website contains information on research studies conducted by the RTC, RTC publications and related resources.

USAJOBS - Individuals with Disabilities
USAJOBS is the Federal Government's official one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information and is maintained by the Office of Personnel Management. This page explains federal employment options for individuals with disabilities including competitive employment, noncompetitive appointments for veterans with disabilities and noncompetitive schedule A appointments for individuals with mental retardation, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities.

U.S. Department of Justice - Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page
Information and technical assistance on the ADA as well as links to other federal agencies with ADA responsibilities.

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy
Provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities.

WorkSupport
Virginia Commonwealth University’s new web site contains information, resources, and research about work and disability issues for employers as well as people with disabilities and their families.