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The Florida Grantor, Fall 2002

FGA UPDATE

2002 Honorees Recognized at Able Trust Ability Awards

Now Accepting Applications for Youth Leadership Forum

SSA Announces New Employment Initiatives

Commissioner of Social Security recently announced several new initiatives to assist people with disabilities who want to go to work. The initiatives, which were announced at the New Freedom Initiative Celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, include the Disability Program Navigator, a new position formed jointly with the Department of Labor and "Ticket to Hire", a specialized referral network linking employers to job-seekers with disabilities. Also announced at the celebration was a new website, www.disabilityinfo.gov, which is an online resources for Americans with Disabilities.

The Disability Program Navigator will link people with disabilities who visit the One-Stop Career Centers with employers and benefit planning assistance and outreach organizations. They will also provide information on Social Security work incentives, employment networks and the Ticket to Work program.

As an offshoot of Ticket to Work, "Ticket to Hire" was developed to help employers locate and recruit skilled employment candidates with disabilities. The service is free and specialists are available by phone to answer questions about Ticket to Work. Call toll-free 1.866.TTW.HIRE (1.866.889.4473).

New Website To Provide E-Government Resources

Recently at the New Freedom Initiative Celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Secretary Elaine L. Chao unveiled DisabilityInfo.gov, a new web site for people with disabilities.

DisabilityInfo.gov is the result of a collaborative effort across multiple federal agencies. Containing information on civil rights, education, employment, housing, health care, technology and transportation, among other subjects, the site is designed to be a one-stop source of government information relevant to people with disabilities, their families, employers, and service providers.

This site will provide individuals with one-stop access to government disability information and resources as well as updates on the New Freedom Initiative. While DisabilityInfo.gov will be managed by the Department of Labor, content for the portal will be a responsibility shared across multiple federal agencies.

DisabilityInfo.gov is part of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive plan designed to ensure that Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives, and participate fully in their communities. The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy is charged with providing national leadership to increase meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities and is primarily responsible for implementing the employment-related aspects of the President's Initiative.

New Centers To Provide Services on Workforce and
Disability

Two new technical assistance centers on workforce and disability are now available to assist the workforce development community to address issues affecting the employment of youth and adults with disabilities. Each are funded through grants administered by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, the National Center on Workforce and Disability for Adults (NCWD-A) and the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD-Y).

The National Center on Workforce and Disability for Adults (NCWD-Adult) is a comprehensive technical assistance resource that can assist organizations and professionals who provide workforce development and employment related services to adults with disabilities. The NCWD-Adult provides training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and information to improve access for all in the workforce development system. These services are available by phone at 1-888-886-9898 or on the web at www.onestops.info.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD-Y) is a comprehensive technical assistance resource to assist the workforce development community to address issues affecting the employment of youth with disabilities. The NCWD-Y includes partners with expertise in disability, education, employment and workforce development issues. The Collaborative strives to ensure that youth with disabilities are provide full access to high quality services in integrated settings that maximize employment and independent living opportunities . NCWD-Y services are available by phone at 1-877-871-0744 or via the website at www.ncwd-youth.info.