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Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns News - June 17, 2022

Government and Politics

June 17, 2022

From: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly

Job Vacancy Announcements

The Mission Project (TMP) is currently providing services for 32 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The participants all reside in apartments in Mission KS, and most are competitively employed.  TMP is seeking an Executive Director to provide fund raising and program promotion on a part-time or full-time basis. The salary range is $45,000 to $65,000.  Persons interested in this opportunity should contact Larry Rouse ([email protected]) (913.221.3000).  

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief

Driving Change | Creating Opportunity

June 17, 2022

State Exchange on Disability Employment Policy

In collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability initiative, the Council of State Governments hosted a two-day peer learning event on disability employment policy among government leaders and policymakers from five states – Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Oregon. The “State Exchange,” which convened in Portland, Oregon last week featured panels on mental health in the workplace, work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities, inclusive COVID-19 responses, stay-at-work/return-to-work policies and more. It culminated in action plans designed by each state team to advance disability employment policies in their states.

Learn more about the State Exchange on Employment & Disability

Inclusive Apprenticeships Interview

Josh Christianson, the Project Director of the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship, was interviewed by WorkingNation, a nonprofit journalism organization with a focus on the future of work and pathways to employment. In the interview, Josh discussed how employers can benefit from creating inclusive apprenticeship programs and how these apprenticeships can create lifelong career opportunities for people with disabilities.

Watch Josh Christianson’s interview with WorkingNation

“Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?” PSA Workplace Resources

To complement the messages of its newest PSA, focused on workplace mental health, the Campaign for Disability Employment developed two resources for use in the workplace—a poster and a workplace guide—both of which are now available online and for order in hard copy. The poster features the PSA’s four participants and is available in two sizes, while the workplace guide outlines concrete steps people at all levels of an organization can take to foster a mental health-friendly workplace culture.

Download or order the “Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?” poster
Download or order the “Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?” workplace guide

Juneteenth Observance

The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act officially designates Juneteenth as a national holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the events of June 19, 1865, the day on which enslaved Americans in Texas finally received word they were freed from bondage. Due to the distance the message of freedom had to travel and resistance to the overall concept of the freedom of African Americans that was rooted in institutional practices and attitudes toward slavery, these enslaved Americans were unaware of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued in January 1863. Juneteenth was a pivotal moment in the history of this country and the history of African Americans. It is a day to celebrate the resilience, joy, and progress of those who were enslaved, as well as their descendants’ continued contributions to our nation. The observance of Juneteenth helps remind us of the need to ensure our messages of equality, fair pay, and safe working conditions are heard in all workplaces.

Read the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act

New Webinar! Celebrating Olmstead: How Blending, Braiding, and Sequencing Leads to Integrated Employment

State and local agencies and partners are eager to help people with disabilities enter high-quality jobs and careers. As they support people through their employment journeys, they want to do so in the most effective and efficient way possible. Blending, braiding, and sequencing of funding and resources are three strategies that can achieve those goals. This federal interagency webinar, hosted by the LEAD Center, is the second in a series of webinars on blending, braiding, and sequencing resources and funding to support employment outcomes, and to promote equity and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Join the Webinar Wednesday, June 29, 3:00-4:00 P.M. ET

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE • CREATING OPPORTUNITY

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