Information, resources and research about work and disability issues
Upcoming HVRP Free Webcast
Overview of Benefits Programs for Veterans with Disabilities
Date: Jan. 21 | Time: 2:00 pm ET
By: Beth Keeton, Griffin-Hammis Associates
This presentation provides an overview of the various benefits programs available to veterans with disabilities. Included in the discussion will be:VA Disability Compensation, VA Disability Pension, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income. Additionally, information will be provided on VA services available through the One-Stop Centers, and the Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service as well as on state VR programs. The impact of wage or self-employment income on cash and health benefits will be discussed and tools and guidelines for how to maximize all available resources will be provided.
Register Online for the entire HVRP webcast series
HVRP (Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project) Technical Assistance Center is funded by grant #HV-16488-07-75-5-51with the US DOL.
START-UP/USA Self-Employment Fact Sheet
Assistance not Assessment: Getting at the Heart of Small Business FeasibilityThe big question in everyone’s mind when someone suggests self-employment as a vocational option is, “Will the business be successful?” While there is almost universal agreement that this is a critical question, the literature on business feasibility testing is sparse. Fortune 500 companies have large research and development budgets to test new ideas, but these resources are not available to most prospective business owners, especially prospective business owners with disabilities. Read the fact sheet
Start-Up-USA is funded by cooperative agreement # E-9-4-6-0111 from the U.S. DOL-ODEP.
JVR Article
Saving for post-secondary education: Strategies for individuals with disabilities
by Lucy Axton Miller, Susan O'Mara, and Elizabeth E. Getzel
Many students with disabilities receive some form of disability benefit from the Social Security Administration. There is a common misconception among individuals with disabilities, their families and the disability services provider community that saving for post secondary education is not permitted under the Social Security disability benefit program rules. In fact, for individuals receiving disability benefits authorized under title II of the Social Security Act, there are no restrictions placed upon asset accumulation or the amount of resources a beneficiary may have.
The title II disability programs include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Childhood Disability benefits (CDB) and Disabled Widow(er)s Benefits (DWB). Many other students receive benefits from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Currently, SSI program rules require that eligible individuals have no more than $2,000 of countable resources with a $3,000 limit for two SSI recipients who form an eligible couple.
The Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation is published by IOS Press.
2010 Online Courses
Testimonials:
"This was my first experience with taking an online course. I was a bit unsure of how it would be, but I must say it has been a great experience."
"I really enjoyed the course and learned so much from the material. I felt that the discussion boards were extremely helpful and allowed me to get opinions and ideas from other professionals in our line of work."
Overview of Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (2/15/10 - 3/22/10)
Self-employment is increasingly recognized as a viable employment option for people with disabilities. Self employment for individuals with disabilities involves minimizing the fears of the prospective business owner, as well as the rehab & local small business development professionals who assist them. A person does not need to“get ready” to own a business, if a customized approach is used. Details, CEUs, CRCs & Registration
Customized Employment (2/15/10 - 3/15/10)
This course covers the important topics in customized employment. Customized employment is a process for individualizing the employment relationship between a job seeker and an employer in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on a match between the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the job candidate with a disability, and the identified business needs of the employer or self-employment. Details, CEUs, CRCs & Registration
Into Adulthood: Transition to Work for Individuals with Autism (3/1/10 - 4/4/10) - Careful transition planning from secondary education is critical for young people with autism spectrum disorders to be successful in the community however; there is limited information on this topic. This 5 week course will provide the participant with an in-depth understanding of the concepts related to positive transition planning for youth with autism. Details, CEUs, CRCs & Registration
ACRE Approved Courses
Supported Employment Web-based Certificate Series
(3/1/10 - 5/24/10) - Details, ACRE Approved, CEUs, CRCs & Registration
Supported Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness (3/1/10 - 5/24/10) - Details, ACRE Approved, CEUs, CRCs & Registration
VCU-RRTC is funded by grant #H133B040011 with the US DOE
- NIDRR.
Assets for Independence (AFI) Fact Sheet
Overcoming Common Misconceptions
The AFI Family Support 360 IDAs Initiative aims to increase the availability of AFI IDAs and other effective asset building services to people with disabilities and their families. This initiative provides high quality training, technical assistance, and information on this important topic to AFI grantees. The first step in supporting AFI grantees to expand asset development opportunities for participants with disabilities is to identify commonly held misconceptions about this population and to provide accurate information about how individuals with disabilities can benefit from inclusion in asset-building programs. There are six common misconceptions about serving persons with disabilities in IDA programs. Read the AFI Fact Sheet
The Lewin Group & VCU are key collaborators in the Office of Community Services' initiative to increase IDA participation for people with disabilities
VCU-RRTC is funded by grant #H133B040011 with the US DOE - NIDRR.
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (#H133B040011)
1314 West Main Street | P.O. Box 842011 | Richmond, Virginia 23284-2011
Phone: (804) 828-1851 | TTY: (804) 828-2494 | Fax: (804) 828-2193
| |
The contents of this newsletter were developed under a grant from the Department of Education, NIDRR grant # H133B040011. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.