Florida is an Employment First state. The Employment First Act became law in January 2016. It defined employment as:
Integrated employment…where an individual is paid by an employer at minimum wage or greater or receives earnings through one’s self-employment business, fully integrated in the community workforce, with a goal of maximum self-sufficiency.
People with disabilities are LESS likely to work and MORE likely to live in poverty when compared to people without disabilities. Poverty is incredibly limiting. It limits where you live, how you get places, what you do in your free time, and the number of people you know.
Employment not only helps to reduce poverty, it also gives us independence and control over our own lives. It presents us with the opportunity to learn new things, gain skills, and make friends with people we meet through our job.
The Florida Employment First Collaborative Training (EFCT) Toolkit provides a guide for all employment service professionals — from executive directors and managers to front-line direct support staff — to assess their current capacity and training needs and to identify options for addressing them. Directors and managers may refer to the EFCT Toolkit as a resource to plan overall training for agency staff as a whole as well as to identify specific training needs of individual staff. Evaluating training needs on an individual basis allows customization of staff training to meet the specific needs of each particular staff member — a far more effective strategy for addressing ongoing professional development needs. The guide is a companion to the domain videos also found on this website. Continue reading “Florida Employment First Collaborative Training Toolkit: A Resource for Funders and Employment Service Providers”
On May 18, Employment First Florida interviewed Suzanne Sewell, presidents and CEO of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and Kirk Hall, executive director of The ARC of Florida
Suzanne and Kirk joined us for the first session of the Profiles of the Employment First Florida Interagency Collaborative Team online series. The series provides people with an update on the progress being made by the agencies who signed the Employment First Florida Interagency Collaborative Agreement. Watch the recording to learn about the projects, initiatives, and experiences both FL ARF and the Arc have had since the original signing.
Interview text coming soon!
Save-the-Date
Session 2: Tuesday, July 28, 2020 3-4pm ET
Session 3: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 3-4pm ET
In recognition of the renewal of the Employment First Florida Interagency Collaborative Agreement, Employment First Florida will be hosting 3 online presentations to profile the work being done by each of the signatory agencies of the agreement. Join us to learn about their efforts to improve employment services and outcomes for Floridians with disabilities.
Session 1: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 3-4pm ET
Register now for May 19
Session 2: Tuesday, July 28, 2020 3-4pm ET
Session 3: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 3-4pm ET
Registration information for these events is TBA
For more information, contact Jean at jean.winsor@umb.edu.
The Institute for Community Inclusion, in partnership with self-advocates in New York and Massachusetts, is hosting a webinar this Friday, May 8th at 3pm ET entitled Our Stories: Young Adults, Work, and Personal Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Join them to hear self-advocates’ stories about the impact social distancing and technology has had on their work, and other parts of their lives, such as staying in touch with family, friends, and support staff. Each of the presenters work on a research project that focuses on transition practices. Register online for this event!
For more information, please email: Allison.Hall@umb.edu
Ron Sharpe, executive director of ARC of the Bay, joined Employment First Florida for a presentation on the ways the ARC has prioritizing Employment First.
Watch the presentation recording.
Two type of benefits that people with disabilities may receive are Supplemental Security Income (called SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (called SSDI). Both programs have rules that let you try working without worrying about losing your benefit payments. There are a lot of resources to help you figure out what benefits you may still need once you are working. It is important that you talk to someone that can get to know you and your individual situation. Below are important resources.
What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18 [PDF]
Work Incentives – General Information
Disability Benefits 101
Chris, an employee at Home Depot, speaks about a recent recognition he received for providing excellent costumer service. Christina is a secretary at the Conklin Center for the Blind. She talks about the accommodations they provide to her to make her job easier. They are both part of a self-advocacy group from East Volusia.
Each person served by Florida’s Division of Blind Services (DBS) works with a counselor to determine how much assistance the individual needs, and which supports and services are best for their life. Counselors have helped many DBS clients adapt to living with blindness or visual impairment and regain confidence in their abilities.
Continue reading “Division of Blind Services: Employment Placement Specialists and Counselors Meeting Regularly to Improve Employment Services”
