Senator Murray (D-WA), Senator Isakson (R-GA), Senator Harkin (D-IA), and Senator Alexander (D-TN) introduced the Workforce Investment Act of 2013. The Workforce Investment Act amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to revise requirements and reauthorize appropriations for funding core employment programs including Section 511 of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act in the State of Maine. We would like you to vote in support of the Workforce Investment Act

Davis, Kimberly

Valencia, Laura

English

University of Maine

The University of MaineDigitalCommons@UMainePolicy Analysis Center for Community Inclusion and DisabilityStudies2014Workforce Investment Act of 2013Kimberly DavisUniversity of Maine - MainLaura ValenciaUniversity of Maine - MainFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/ccids_policyPart of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations CommonsThis Policy Brief is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Policy Analysis by anauthorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact um.library.technical.services@maine.edu.Repository CitationDavis, K., and Valencia, L. (2014). Workforce Investment Act of 2013. (Policy Brief).May 4, 2014POLICY BRIEFWorkforce Investment Act of 2013Executive SummarySenator Murray (D-WA), Senator Isakson (R-GA), Senator Harkin (D-IA), and Senator Alexander (D-TN) introduced the Workforce Investment Act of 2013. The Workforce Investment Act amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to revise requirements and reauthorize appropriations for funding core employment programs including Section 511 of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act in the State of Maine.1 We would like you to vote in support of the Workforce Investment Act of 2013.Prevalence and Rate of Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities: •	 In	2008,	about	1	in	6	children	in	the	U.S.	had	a	developmental	disability,	ranging	from	speech	and	language	impairments	to	intellectual	disabilities,	cerebral	palsy,	and	autism.2	•	 19.5%	of	the	labor	force	is	identified	as	people	with	disabilities.3•	 Maine	identifies	approximately	24,000	individuals	with	a	diagnosis	of	developmental	disability.4•	 During	the	Workforce	Investment	Act	(WIA)	2012	program	year,	26	individuals	with	disabilities	attempted	access	to	employment	through	the	WIA	program.	Twenty-one	of		these	individuals	were	eligible	for	assistance.	Of	the	21	individuals,	19	retained	their		position	at	the	six-month	follow-up.	The	average	earnings	of	these	individuals	totaled	$9,744.00	as	compared	to	$11,668.00	for	an	adult	without	a	disability	who	participated					in	the	programming	offered.5	Growing Support for Employment for People with Disabilities:•	 Between	1988	and	2008,	the	number	of	individuals	receiving	day	or	employment	supports	nearly	doubled,	growing	from	287,860	to	550,818.6•	 Since	1995,	the	Workforce	Recruitment	Program	(Federal)	has	provided	assistance	in	temporary	and	permanent	employment	opportunities	to	over	6,000	students	with	disabilities.7	•	 Employment	First,	a	philosophy	and	policy	that	focuses	on	employment	as	a	priority	for	people	with	disabilities,	is	currently	established	in	four	states.	Additionally	there	are	another	20	states	that	are	exploring	initiatives.8	In	2013,	Maine	passed	an	Employment	First	Act.1 Workforce Investment Act of 2013, S.1356, 113 Cong. (2013) Retrieved from: http://beta.congresss.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/13562 Boyle, C. A., Boulet, S., Schieve, L. A., Cohen, R. A., Blumberg, S. J., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., Visser, S., & Kogan, M. D. (2011). Trends in prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children, 1997-2008. Pediatrics, 127, 1034-1042. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-2989.3 Office of Disability Employment Policy. (2014). Current Disability Employment Statistics, March 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.dol.gov/odep/ on April 24, 2014.4 Maine Developmental Disabilities Council. (2013). Report to the 126th legislature state of Maine, April 2, 2013. Retrieved from www.maineddc.org on April 24, 2014.,5 State Workforce Investment Board. (2013). Workforce Investment Act Program Year 2012 Annual Report. Retrieved from http://www.maine.gov/swib/documents/index.shtml on April 24, 2014.6 Hall, A.C., Freeze, S., Butterworth, J., & Hoff, D. (2011). Employment funding for intellectual/developmental disability systems. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 34, 1-15. doi: 10.3233/jvr-2010-0529.7 Workforce Recruitment Program. (2014). Retrieved from wrp.gov on April 24, 2014.8 Association of People Supporting Employment First. (n.d.). National APSE Employment First Toolkit. Retrieved from http://employmentfirst.net on  April 24, 2014.Kimberly Davis, OTD, MS, OTR/L; NH LEND Program Trainee 2013-14Laura Valencia, BS; NH LEND Program Trainee 2013-14Past Policies Funding Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities:•	 “Prior	to	1997,	waivers	had	minimal	impact	on	the	growth	of	supported	employment	as	compared	to	the	impact	of	the	Vocational	Rehabilitation	(VR)	system”	(Hall,	2011	p.	1-2).6	The	waiver	available	for	this	population	was	the	Medicaid	Title	XIX	-	Home	and	Community-Based	Waiver	Service,	and	prior	to	1997,	was	limited	to	only	those	who	had	been	institutionalized.•	 Prior	to	WIA	1998,	VR	services	were	provided	at	the	discretion	of	individual	states.	The	positive	results	were	most	common	when	rates	were	negotiated	with	the	individual	providers	over	a	statewide	fixed	rate.9Current Policies Funding Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities:•	 “The	Balanced	Budget	Act	Amendments	of	1997	expanded	the	eligibility	for	integrated	employment	services	to	all	people	served	under	the	Home	and	Community-Based	(HCBS)	Waiver,	by	removing	the	requirement	that	participants	had	to	be	previously	institutionalized”	(Hall,	2011	p.	2).6	•	 Title	IV	Rehabilitation	Act	Amendments	of	1998	“empower[s]	individuals	with	disabilities	to	maximize	employment,	economic	self-sufficiency,	independence,	and	inclusion	and	integration	to	society.”10	•	 The	funding	allocated	from	WIA	Section	511	of	Title	V	in	Maine:	- Will	encourage	and	support	individuals	with	disabilities	to	obtain	competitive,	integrated	employment	and	limit	the	routine	transition	from	school	into	subminimum	wage	jobs	in	non-integrated	settings.		- This	section	authorizes	more	training	and	supports	for	people	with	disabilities	to	attain	competitive	integrated	employment	and	ensures	individuals	are	recognized	as	eligible	for	services.	Opposition to Workforce Investment Act of 2013:•	 There	are	several	groups	that	are	concerned	that	Section	511	does	not	eliminate	the	use	of	subminimum	wage	jobs	and	potentially	could	even	increase	the	funneling	of	individuals	with	disabilities	into	these	jobs.		- It	is	felt	that	there	are	several	potential	loopholes	in	the	wording	of	this	section	that	will	allow	people	to	access	these	jobs	through	different	avenues	(i.e.,	use	of	a	prescription	to	allow	subminimum	wage	employment	for	youth	with	disabilities).11		- The	language	will	increase	the	number	of	referrals	to	the	VR	system	without	adequate	support	causing	an	automated	review	of	needs	rather	than	appropriate	evaluation	and	determination.8,	11•	 The	National	Council	on	Disability	and	several	other	constituents	feel	that	eliminating	the	use	of	sheltered	workshops	may	hinder	the	ability	of	those	with	disabilities	to	practice	skills	needed	to	enter	competitive	employment.12•	 The	House	also	passed	their	version	of	an	alternate	Act	titled	Supporting	Knowledge	and	Investing	in	Lifelong	Skills	(SKILLS)	Act,	H.R.	803.13	This	act	consolidates	the	funding	which	will	reduce	the	amount	of	funding	to	VR	services	substantially.	The Workforce Investment Act of 2013 ensures Maine:14 •	 Can	coordinate	efforts	of	the	CareerCenters	and	the	Employment	First	Act	to	provide	services	focused	on	competitive,	integrated	employment.•	 VR	services	are	adequately	educated	and	sufficient	in	number	to	manage	services	for	those	with	disabilities.•	 Designs	strategies	preparing	students	with	disabilities	for	post-school	employment.•	 Can	provide	customized	employment	as	a	VR	service	which	will	allow	for	flexibility	in	the	employment	process	to	best	match	the	needs	of	the	employee	and	the	employer.	This	will	allow	for	people	with	disabilities	to	better	explore	task	reassignment,	job	carving	and	or	job	sharing.3•	 Receives	funds	to	support	dissemination	of	evidence-based	research	related	to	youth	transition	services	such	as	those	offered	at	the	Bangor	CareerCenter.About the New Hampshire Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program Partnership9 Revell, W. G., West, M., Cheng, Y. (1998). Funding supported employment: Are there better ways? Journal of Disability Policy Studies 9, 59-79. doi: 10.1177/10442073980090010410 Workforce Investment Act 1998, 29 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq. (1998).11 National Federation of the Blind. (2013). National Federation of the Blind position statement on Section 511 of Title V of the Workforce Investment Act. Retrieved from http://nfb.org on April 25, 2014.12 National Council on Disability. (2013). Letter to Senate HELP Committee opposing Section 511’s inclusion in WIA Reauthorization. Retrieved from www.ncd.gov on  April 25, 201413 No Author  (2014, April). Education and employment fact sheet.  Disability Policy Seminar. Seminar conducted at the meeting of The Disability Policy Advocates, Washington, DC.14 Association of University Centers on Disabilities (n.d.). Title V of the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (WIA 2013): Section by section analysis of changes. Retrieved from http://www.aucd.org/docs/policy/employment/WIA_Title_V_section_by_section.pdf on April 25, 2014.The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies is a partner with the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, in the New Hampshire Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH LEND) Program. The NH LEND Program provides graduate-level interdisciplinary training for students and professionals from diverse disciplines, including developmental pediatrics, early childhood education, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, health management and policy, and speech language pathology. This partnership is made possible through the NH LEND Program and is supported by a grant (#T73 MC00024) from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and administered by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.ccids.umaine.edu

Workforce Investment Act of 2013

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&amp;context=ccids_policy

Workforce Investment Act of 2013

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Maine