Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) Newsletter: April 12, 2024

Spring into action this month with the PaRC!

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, check out these great resources for both employers and employees

Awareness Drives Acceptance: Join IN to Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month

https://disabilityin.org/neurodiversity-autism/awareness-drives-acceptance-join-in-to-celebrate-autism-acceptance-month-24/

Neurodiversity at Work Playbook: Employee Engagement & Growth Series

https://disabilityin.org/resource/neurodiversity-at-work-playbook-employee-engagement-growth-series/

Autism @ Work Playbook

https://disabilityin.org/resource/autism-work-playbook/

An Employer’s Guide to Supporting Workers with Autism

https://hbr.org/2024/03/an-employers-guide-to-supporting-workers-with-autism

Employees with autism – it’s time to destroy the stereotypes

https://www.tlnt.com/articles/employees-with-autism-its-time-to-destroy-the-stereotypes

Organization for Autism Research (OAR) Employment Support

https://researchautism.org/self-advocates/job-seekers-resources/

OAR Resources for Military Families

https://researchautism.org/families/military-families/

‘Dimensions of Diversity’ podcast: Breaking Through Barriers Embracing Neurodiversity and Disabilities at Work

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dimensions-of-diversity/

Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month? 

Behind the Screen: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month in the Workplace

https://disabilityin.org/mental-health/celebrating-mental-health-awareness-month/

Mental Health Awareness Month Communications Toolkit

https://www.contactmonkey.com/blog/mental-health-awareness-month

Celebrate mental health awareness month at work

https://www.goodera.com/ideas/celebrate-mental-health-awareness-month-at-work

10 ways to promote Mental Health Awareness Month at work

https://atlasgo.org/10-ways-to-promote-mental-health-awareness-month-at-work/

Mental Health Awareness Month

https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month

Video – WISE Webinar: Reasonable Accommodations and the Path to Employment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb3kCDN4Zgs 

Veterans Resources

CareerOne Stop Veteran and Military Transition Center

https://www.careeronestop.org/Veterans/default.aspx

Apprenticeships

https://www.careeronestop.org/Veterans/BackToSchool/enter-an-apprenticeship.aspx

Veteran’s Employment Training Service, Transition Assistance Program

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap

NAMI Resources for Veterans and Active Duty

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Veterans-Active-Duty

Did you know OVR helps businesses and employers?

Did you know businesses can benefit from no-cost OVR Solutions such as staffing, accessibility analysis, financial incentives, disability awareness and networking resources? Learn more about Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Business Services at the following link.

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/other-programs/Pages/Business-Services.aspx

As an employer, do you have questions how OVR may be a resource to you?

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/other-programs/Pages/Answers-to-Employers-Questions.aspx

Learn more about OVR’s On-the-Job Training or OJT Program

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/ovr/Pages/OJT.aspx

Are you an employer with staffing needs or would like to learn more about becoming a more inclusive workplace?

ODEP Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-to Guide for Employers

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/ovr/Documents/InclusiveInternshipPrograms.pdf

Are you an employer registered with PA CareerLink? Learn how to sign up along with other CareerLink programs including the Disability Service Partnerships.

https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/Common/LandingPage/Employer

The ADA includes specific requirements for employers to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to employment. Learn more about these requirements on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s guidance for employers.

EEOC Disability-Related Resources for Employers

https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources/disability-related-resources-employers

Is advocacy for Disability Rights

and employment for people with disabilities

something you are passionate about?

Please help spread the word! 

The PaRC is accepting applications for candidates to fill the following categories of representation that are currently open:

• Business/Industry/Labor
• Pennsylvania Department of Education
• State Workforce Development Board
• Veteran
• Young Adult

As of July, 2024 the categories of representation listed below will also be available. PaRC encourages all applicants to apply as early as possible to ensure a timely transition of membership:

• Mental Health
• Sensory Disabilities

If you are interested or know of someone who is interested in becoming a member of the PA Rehabilitation Council, please go to our new website (https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/get-involved/become-a-member/) and fill out an application.

Learn more about upcoming events by visiting the links below.

PA Employment - Recruitment, Job Fairs, and Hiring Events Calendar

https://www.employment.pa.gov/Pages/events.aspx

NAMI Webinar - How Employment Supports Mental Health Recovery, April 18, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM

https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Podcasts-and-Webinars/NAMI-s-Ask-the-Expert/2024/NAMI-Ask-the-Expert-How-Employment-Supports-Mental-Health-Recovery

PaRC Full Council Meeting - May 8, 2024

https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/get-involved/full-council-meetings/

Webinar - Ask JAN! Q&A: Cognitive / Neurological Team Edition, Thursday May 9, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

https://askjan.org/events/index.cfm?calview=eventdetails&dtid=815AC287-E65F-A4C1-3B4BA1FC04DE305D

Webinar - PA ABLE and Social Security Disability Programs, Friday, May 10, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

https://paable.gov/webinar/

Advancing Accessibility: Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Celebrated Annually on the 3^rd Thursday of May

https://disabilityin.org/accessibility/24-hours-of-global-accessibility-awareness-day-gaad-in-a-box/

PA State Board of VR Quarterly Meeting – June 6, 2024

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/Board-and-Committee-Info/Pages/PA-State-Board-of-Vocational-Rehabilitation.aspx

Benefits Corner

Benefits Counseling can be one of the most important tools for the successful attainment and maintaining employment for individuals with a disability. It can also be complicated but very much worth the effort. That is why members of the PaRC have created a ‘Benefits Corner’ which is a compiled list of helpful resources of both benefits counseling topics and OVR services included below. Check the PaRC's Benefits Corner regularly for more updates and resources at https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/benefits-corner/

Benefits Counseling Resources,

Videos, Webinars, and More

Video – 5 FAQs About Working While Receiving Disability Benefits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYX8I9dpHv4

Video – Exploring a New Career with Ticket to Work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SxPx1TIIxY

Video – ASK an Expert: Work Incentives and Planning Assistance (WIPA)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsSuyabdYdk

Video – Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) 5 Tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49eWvGitLPw

Video - WISE Webinar: Ticket to Work for America’s Veterans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH3RoK2XXiw

Webinars - PA ABLE and Social Security Disability Programs

https://paable.gov/webinar/

PA CareerLink Resources for Individuals with Disabilities

https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/Persona/PersonaPage/IndividualDisabilities

PA Department of Human Services - Work Without Losing Benefits

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/WeCanWork/Resources/Pages/Work-Without-Losing-Benefits.aspx

Do You Qualify for This Tax Credit?

https://choosework.ssa.gov/blog/2024-03-14-do-you-qualify-for-this-tax-credit.html

Ticket to Work Service Provider Outreach Toolkit

https://yourtickettowork.ssa.gov/related-resources/service-provider-outreach-toolkit.html

Ticket to Work Success Stories

https://choosework.ssa.gov/success-stories/

WISE Webinars

Are you interested in learning about how work will affect your Social Security benefits? Social Security hosts free online Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinars. WISE webinars can help you and your family members learn about the Ticket to Work Program and other Social Security work incentives. They’re generally held on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

https://choosework.ssa.gov/wise/

How can you show your support

and share your success in 2024?

PaRC has continued to expand its Social Media outreach as part of fulfilling our mission to inform and educate on the diverse issues affecting employment of people with disabilities. Please show your support by following us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Just in case you missed it over the summer, OVR's first edition of 'The Story' features success stories from students involved in Project Search. 'The Story' also provides great information about other success stories throughout the Commonwealth including those from Project Career Launch, BVRS, and BBVS.

PaRC Social Media / Outreach Committee would like to continue to highlight additional OVR Employment Success Stories on the PaRC website, social media, Annual Report, and other communications. If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing an important employment related milestone achieved with the assistance of OVR services, please let us know. Such achievements may include attaining a dream job, a promotion, an important anniversary of successful integrated competitive employment, or other successes.

Spotlighting the important work and successful attainment of employment that is made possible through OVR services is the foremost mechanism for the PaRC to fulfill its mission. Please feel free to contact us with your information, questions, or comments at parc@parehabilitationcouncil.org

Help spread the word about the PaRC Newsletter by inviting your friends and colleagues to sign up!

Our newsletter is intended to broaden the conversation about the diverse issues affecting employment of people with disabilities. Those interested in receiving our newsletter may send an email to parc@parehabilitationcouncil.org with their contact info or fill out the contact form provided on the PaRC website at the following link: https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/contact/