Here is today's Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) Disability News message.  

State of Kansas offices will be closed Wednesday, December 25th for the Christmas holiday.  The KCDC office will also be closed Thursday and Friday, December 26th and 27th.  We will reopen on Monday, December 30th. 

Happy Holidays, 

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] ]

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Job Vacancy Announcements

The Intrust Bank job vacancy listing is attached below. 

Frito-Lay in Topeka has posted two new job vacancies on their website. Both are Warehouse positions.  Warehouse [ [link removed] ]  Warehouse [ [link removed] ]

The closing date to apply for the executive director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK) position is now January 8, 2025. 

*Job Posting & Announcement*

*Executive Director - Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK)*

Are you an innovative leader with disability lived experience and committed to advancing rights and justice for the disability community? The Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK) is looking for a new Executive Director to oversee its day-to-day operations, implement its organizational strategic vision, and ensure it fulfills its federally required duties and authorities to help drive its mission – "To promote the integration and full inclusion of Kansans with disabilities into the mainstream of society."

SILCK seeks a visionary leader who:


* Identifies as a person with a disability, preferably from a marginalized community. *
* Has a deep commitment to the Independent Living Philosophy and disability rights and justice.
* Can cultivate and sustain strong partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, advocacy groups, and the Kansas disability community. 
* Brings expertise in public policy, systems change, and resource development to push forward the SILCK mission and Independent Living principles.
* Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion across all levels of the Kansas Independent Living Network.

Key Responsibilities:


* Lead advocacy efforts and conduct trainings and education that empowers Kansans with disabilities to lead and control their lives, particularly from underserved communities.
* Support SILCK with its development, monitoring, and evaluation responsibilities with the Kansas State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). 
* Conduct resource development to secure funding through partnerships and other avenues to sustain and grow the impact of SILCK.
* Develop and implement long-term strategies that address the evolving needs of the Kansas disability community.
* Foster an inclusive, safe, and empowering work environment for staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.

Qualifications:


* Background working or advocating within the Independent Living Movement.
* Leadership experience in nonprofit, advocacy, or government sectors.
* Proven track record of policy advocacy and financial management.
* Knowledge of disability-related legislation (ADA, Rehabilitation Act, etc.).
* Strong communication, collaboration, and conflict-resolution skills.
* Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To learn more about SILCK and view the full job description for the SILCK Executive Director Position: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

To apply for the SILCK Executive Director position, please submit your resume or alternative documents and information that outline your qualifications and showcase your skills, talents, and expertise to: [email protected].

*Deadline to Apply Extended to: _Wednesday – January 8, 2025_ *

To request any reasonable accommodations to apply for this position contact: [email protected]

"*SILCK is committed to the hiring of individuals with disabilities, supported by its federal affirmative action mandate as indicated in Section 704 of the Rehabilitation Act. As such, SILCK prefers to hire an individual with a disability for the SILCK Executive Director position and strongly encourages individuals with disabilities, especially those from marginalized communities, to apply."

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This information is from the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) Center.

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

SECTION 188 WEBINAR SERIES
Effective Outreach and Recruitment of Underserved Populations
January 9, 2025, [ [link removed] ]
3:00-4:30 PM ET [ [link removed] ]

This webinar will provide information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements for individuals with disabilities in Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Civil Rights Center, and the Employment and Training Administration, have updated the “Promising Practices In Achieving Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide [ [link removed] ]” to provide the workforce system with additional practices, ideas, and resources that address the systemic barriers individuals with disabilities may face because of intersecting identities and increase cultural competence of service providers who serve them.

The Section 188 Guide provides information and technical assistance that can help American Job Centers and their partners in the workforce development system meet the affirmative outreach requirements for individuals with disabilities in Section 188 of WIOA.

This webinar is the first of a three-part series that will highlight the new language in the guide and provide perspective from the field from both the state and local levels. The first webinar will showcase the new language in the guide that advances Affirmative Outreach with a focus on two main themes:

- effectively reaching out to and serving individuals representing underserved communities. This includes people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

- access and communication for the deaf or hard of hearing community.

This webinar will:
• Highlight updates to the Section 188 Disability Reference Guide.
• Demonstrate effective strategies for outreaching, engaging, and serving individuals from underserved communities, including people with disabilities.
• Feature effective practices for outreach to people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Featured Speakers:
• Naomi M. Barry-Perez, Director of Civil Rights Center, U.S. Department of Labor
• Lisa Jones, Assistant Deputy Director, Office of Employment & Training, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Kelly Lapetino, Ed.D., Northern Illinois Regional Workforce Manager, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
• Renee Thomas, Director of Human Services, Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD)
• David Evans, Project Manager, Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD) Employment Services

REGISTER FOR THE JANUARY 9 WEBINAR! [ [link removed] ]

The LEAD Center is committed to ensuring that all attendees can participate fully in its webinars. We provide live CART and ASL interpreting for all our webinars. If you would like an additional accommodation, please email Courtney Williams at [email protected] within seven days of the event.

The disability community is diverse. The LEAD Center is committed to being intentionally inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and disability in our research, programs, and partnerships. Talking about “intersectional identities” is important, and we strive to foster a learning environment. Therefore, we invite you to join our events with empathy and open-mindedness. Learn more about our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) [ [link removed] ].

www.LEADCenter.org [ [link removed] ]

The LEAD WIOA Policy Development Center is led by National Disability Institute. This grant is fully funded by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the amount of $8 million under Grant Number: OD-38977-22-75-4-11. 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.

*****

This information is from the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Business Sense Newsletter.

 

Business Sense
December 2024

Advancing the Inclusive Spirit: A Focus on Small Business

Small businesses are the heart of America’s communities and the backbone of this nation’s economy. They are significant drivers of job creation, accounting for nearly half of private-sector employment [ [link removed] ]—with some industries, such as retail and hospitality, taking on additional staff during the holidays.

Whether during the festive season or any time of year, small businesses can reap big benefits through disability inclusion. Businesses that hire workers with disabilities enjoy an expanded market reach, reduced turnover and insight into a large customer base. To help all small businesses effectively recruit and retain disabled employees, the ODEP-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) [ [link removed] ] offers a number of tools developed specifically for these employers.

A good place to start, EARN’s Small Business Toolkit [ [link removed] ] provides guidance on creating an inclusive workplace and supporting disabled workers across the employment lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to long-term retention and advancement. The toolkit also addresses specific topics such as tax credits and financial support, digital accessibility, employee benefits, special considerations for federal contractors and subcontractors, relevant laws and regulations, workplace mental health and more.

As part of our focus on small business, EARN also hosted a series of webinars in 2024 addressing specific topics in a small business context, including:

• How small businesses can improve job success for disabled employees through low- or no-cost, high-impact accommodations [ [link removed] ];
• Financial incentives [ [link removed] ] offered by the Federal Government as well as state and local government programs to help small businesses hire and retain workers with disabilities; and
• Community partnerships [ [link removed] ] with state vocational rehabilitation agencies as a strategy for building a pipeline of disabled talent.

These archived EARN webinars [ [link removed] ] are available to all small businesses seeking practical strategies for advancing disability hiring—and entering 2025 with a more inclusive spirit.

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

View the Business Sense newsletter on our website [ [link removed] ]


* Job Openings for INTRUST Bank.pdf [ [link removed] ]

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