DETAC Announces Results and Innovation in Systems Excellence (RISE) e-Learning Community
DETAC Announces Results and Innovation in Systems Excellence (RISE) e-Learning Community: The Past, Present, and Future of CILs Facilitating Pre-Employment Transition Services
Applications Due: April 5, 2024
The Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) is is excited to announce another CILs exclusive e-Learning community launching in April; The Past, Present, and Future of CILs Facilitating Pre-Employment Transition Services with the Results and Innovation in Systems Excellence (RISE) e-Learning Community, Peer Support for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Building Employment Services.
The purpose of this RISE e-Learning Community is to provide CILs supporting the employment outcomes of youth with disabilities with an overview of Pre-ETS, lessons learned from other CILs, and consideration for student engagement in Pre-ETS planning and implementation.
About the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Centers for Independent Living (CIL) play a pivotal role in assisting individuals with disabilities in every aspect of community living including (but not limited to) self-direction of services and equal access to them, peer advocacy, support, and empowerment, to support the full integration of people with disabilities in mainstream society. One of the most crucial elements of supporting individuals with disabilities is assuring that they have employment opportunities in the community at commensurate wages alongside their non-disabled counterparts. Fostering the process of Discovery to enable and empower a person to identify strengths, talents, and conditions for employment is vital to ensuring proper job matches to sustain employment and advance. However, resources are scarce, and programs are limited so capacity is needed in best practices to support persons with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment (CIE). Also important is knowing who to connect with and what partnerships are crucial to advancing CIE for people with disabilities.
When it was signed into federal law in 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) brought major changes to the landscape of publicly funded employment services for people with disabilities. One of the largest changes came from a new mandate requiring state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to allocate 15% of their federal grant allotment to Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to support in-school youth with disabilities who are potentially eligible for VR services. As a result, many state VR agencies have dramatically expanded their target population and supported the development of a wide range of programmatic approaches to providing Pre-ETS. As these approaches have been implemented, relatively little has been written on how students with disabilities are effectively engaged in delivering these services. As a disability-led organization, CILs are a natural partner in implementing and providing Pre-ETS services.
This is a peer-to-peer discussion-based community with expert facilitators from Able South Carolina, who will guide conversation and share resources as applicable.
For complete information check out the DETAC website today!