Here is today's KCDC Disability News message. I hope you have a wonderful day.?

Martha

*Martha K. Gabehart* | "Executive Director
"Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC)
*Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
*900 SW Jackson, Suite 100 | Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-6525 (direct) | (785) 260-4027 (cell)

[email protected] | www.kcdcinfo.ks.gov [ [link removed] ]

*****

This message is from Joe Scarlet.?

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Real Work For Real Pay: A Self-Advocate?s Guide to Employment Policy

There are many benefits to having a fulfilling job ? and when we have the supports we need, disabled people can succeed at jobs that pay well and bolster our self-confidence. There are policies in place to help disabled people find and keep good jobs, like Employment First. But there are also policies that have kept us stuck in low-paying jobs away from our communities.

It?s important for self-advocates to understand employment policy and how things could be different?so that we can effectively advocate for an end to policies that hurt us, and for the adoption of policies that help us. That?s why we?re pleased to announce our latest plain language toolkit, Real Work For Real Pay: A Self-Advocate?s Guide to Employment Policy.

This toolkit will explain:

What Employment First is
What sheltered workshops are
What the minimum wage is
The law that lets some companies pay disabled workers less than minimum wage.
How we can solve problems disabled people have with employment
What work requirements are, and why they are a bad idea for people with disabilities

The Employment toolkit is available in two versions:

Our Easy Read Edition. The Easy Read version is split into seven parts. Each part has its own glossary, and there is also a separate glossary with all of the terms from every section. The Easy Read version uses pictures along with larger text, and has more white space.? It is attached below.

A Plain Language Version for either those with vision-related disabilities or those who would prefer a version without accompanying graphics. It is attached below.??

Easy Read Edition

The Easy Read Edition is split into parts. Each part has its own glossary, and there is also a separate glossary with all of the terms from every section.?

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Overview: Employment First

Part 3: Why do we need Employment First?

Part 4: Why do we still have sheltered workshops?

Part 5: How can we solve these problems?

Part 6: What to Know About Work Requirements

Part 7: Glossary

Plain Language Version

The Plain Language version is available as one document below.?

*****

This information is from the monthly AskEARN ((Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion) newsletter.?

View this email in your browser [ [link removed] ]

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Ask EARN?
In this Issue: Mental Health Awareness Month and More! May 2023

EARN IN ACTION: A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

Supporting Workplace Mental Health [ [link removed] ]

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Check out EARN?s resources on creating mentally healthy workplaces and follow us on social media for more tools and information.

Department of Labor (DOL) Mental Health at Work Initiative [ [link removed] ]

DOL launched the Mental Health at Work initiative to advance workplace wellness and increase awareness of employee mental health and well-being.

Workplace Mental Health PSA [ [link removed] ]
The Campaign for Disability Employment?s (CDE) ?Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?? public service announcement (PSA) and other resources can help employers create workplace cultures that support employee well-being.

Disability-Inclusive Recruitment and Outreach [ [link removed] ]

EARN presented at the DirectEmployers Association?s annual conference about ways to engage job candidates with disabilities.

DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT IN THE NEWS

Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) [ [link removed] ]

Learn about the importance of accessible workplace technologies and environments to ensure digital access and inclusion for disabled workers.

Data Spotlight on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPI) with Disabilities in Skilled Trade Professions [ [link removed] ]

A new DOL data spotlight explores employment of disabled AA and NHPI workers in skilled trades.

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Launches Disability Inclusion Pledge [ [link removed] ]

A new initiative launched in collaboration with DOL?s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ABLE today provides human resource (HR) professionals and business executives with tools and resources to support workplace disability inclusion.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Report on Workplace Accommodations [ [link removed] ]

A new JAN report highlights the findings of employer surveys indicating that workplace accommodations are typically low cost, but highly beneficial for both employers and employees.

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Updates Self-Identification of Disability Form [ [link removed] ]

DOL?s OFCCP updated its Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form to include preferred language related to disability and examples of types of disabilities.

ASK EARN

Q: My company is transitioning staff back to in-office work, but we want to strengthen our hybrid work policy to ensure telework remains an option for employees who request it, especially disabled employees. Does EARN have resources to help? [ [link removed] ]
A: Yes! Allowing telework is an important part of workplace flexibility. Offering a hybrid work schedule, which combines in-office and remote work, can be a good option for many organizations. EARN has several resources on telework that can help employers develop disability-inclusive hybrid work policies [ [link removed] ]. It is also important to remember that telework can be a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

May 17, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
Webinar: Mental Health: When Professional Becomes Personal

May 17, 2023, 2 p.m. ET
EARN Webinar: Navigating Mental Health in Skilled Trade and Industrial Occupations

May 23, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
Webinar: Accessibility and Accommodations in the Federal Workplace: Driving Success in Employment and Performance

June 2, 2023, 12 p.m. ET
Webinar: nTIDE Lunch and Learn

June 8, 2023, 2 p.m. ET
Webcast: What to Do When Performance and Conduct Factor into the Accommodation Equation

View Calendar [ [link removed] ]

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT

Accessibility and Inclusion at Lincoln Park Zoo [ [link removed] ]

During a webinar held last month, Lincoln Park Zoo representatives discussed programs and policies that help ensure a fully accessible and inclusive experience for the zoo?s visitors, employees, and volunteers.

Stay Up-to-Date on Disability Employment News & Information
Subscribe to the EARN Newsletter! [ [link removed] ]

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) is a resource for employers seeking to recruit, hire, retain, and advance qualified employees with disabilities. This item is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Labor?s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) under cooperative agreement No. OD-33975-19-75-4-36 with Cornell University's K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Disability and Employment [ [link removed] ]. The total four-year cost of this agreement amounts to $10,000,000. This item does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For more information, visit AskEARN.org [ [link removed] ].

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* Real-Work-For-Real-Pay-A-Self-Advocates-Guide-to-Employment-Policy-Plain-Language.pdf [ [link removed] ]
* Real-Work-For-Real-Pay-A-Self-Advocates-Guide-to-Employment-Policy-Easy-Read.pdf [ [link removed] ]

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