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] ]

Are You a Day Habilitation Provider?
APSE Needs Your Input!

Dear APSE Community,

APSE has been a proud partner in the Office of Disability Employment Policy's (ODEP) NEON project [ [link removed] ] over the past several years, and we are seeking organizational leaders to participate in the next phase of this work.

Background: During Phase 1 of the NEON Project, APSE worked with two of our members, Melwood and Skookum, who have successfully transitioned their facility-based employment services to meet the goal of competitive integrated employment (CIE). This work focused on "reverse engineering" the processes that led to organizational success and, ultimately, became the foundation of APSE's Pathway to CIE Discussion Guide for Organizational Leadership.

Phase 2 allowed us to field test this guide with providers in two states, Colorado and Oklahoma, who were actively in the process of shifting their business models away from facility-based employment and the use of 14(c) certificates. Based on their feedback, modifications were made to the current version of the guide.

This year, during Phase 3, APSE intends to build on this work and follow a similar process to tackle the question of how to assist day habilitation programs and activity centers to be aligned with the goals of CIE.

We need your help!

APSE seeks members who are willing to join a Community of Practice (CoP) that will meet to discuss the issues involved in transforming Day Habilitation programs to be part of the pathway to CIE.

? Who: We will select up to 30 individuals to participate, with the majority being upper management of provider agencies.
? When: The CoP will meet twice a month between April and August (time commitment: approx. 5 hours per month).
? What: The end deliverable will be a revised guide to be field tested next year.

Are you interested in participating?

Click on the link below:

Application for Day Hab CoP [ [link removed] ]

DEADLINE to apply: Wednesday, February 28

Thank you for your support and consideration!

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Job Vacancy Announcements

Blue Cross/Blue Shield has posted some new job vacancies on their website [ [link removed] ].? Please feel free to share with others.?

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My apologies for this coming out a little late. The first public meeting was the 16th, but there are three more listed.? The "Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials: is attached below.?

FEMA Advisory

FEMA Seeks Feedback on "Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials"
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FEMA is seeking feedback from whole community partners on the draft ?Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials.?

An open comment period will begin on Feb. 15 and end on March 15.

Disaster recovery presents communities with the opportunity to rebuild in a thoughtful, equitable, and resilient way. This guide supports local officials in their efforts to identify needs, establish critical partnerships, leverage new opportunities, conduct strategic public engagement, and make a strong case for funding in an equitable manner. The guide is organized around eight goals focused on approaches to engaging and identifying the needs of all community members and ensuring a more accessible, inclusive and equitable recovery planning process.

This guide makes it easier for local leaders to understand, prepare for and execute their leadership responsibilities to help:
? Promote equity in recovery organizational structures
? Create accountability around equitable outcomes
? Establish an inclusive recovery planning process
? Recover from disasters

FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinar sessions to provide an overview of the draft guide and gather feedback from whole community partners. The sessions will include facilitated discussions with stakeholders to help improve the existing draft.

To attend one of the webinars, register in advance by clicking one of the links below:
? Session 1: 2 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 16
? Session 2 [ [link removed] ]: 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 23
? Session 3 [ [link removed] ]: Noon ET Monday, Feb. 27
? Session 4 [ [link removed] ]: 10 a.m. ET Monday, March 13

This national engagement period will conclude on March 15. This 30-day national engagement provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft equity guide to ensure that the information is relevant to all implementing partners and stakeholders.

To provide comments or recommendations to the draft equity guide, use the comment matrix (attached below) and email [email protected] no later than 5 p.m. ET on March 15, 2023.

To review the document and learn more about the webinar sessions, please visit fema.gov [ [link removed] ].
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Disability News and Updates

Title: ?Episode 110: Focus On Equity - Engaging Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Response and Recovery?

FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination serves to ensure our commitment to equity and inclusion for persons with disabilities before, during, and after disasters. On this episode, we catch up with Director Sherman Gillums, Jr. to explore his first hundred days in office, discuss the improvements that are being made in our program delivery, raise awareness for how to engage persons with disabilities, and lay out a plan on how to make the disaster response and recovery process more effective.

Web ? bit.ly/3wV5IJe [ [link removed] ]
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Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Office of External Affairs:
? Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at [email protected]
? Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at [email protected]
? Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at [email protected]
? Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at [email protected]
Follow Us
Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.
Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne.
FEMA Mission
Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
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Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief

February 17, 2023

Cape Youth: An Interview with Justin Tapp

In honor of Black History Month, The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth recently discussed intersectionality and disability employment with Justin Tapp, a graduate student and disability leader. Justin discussed how his experiences in disability studies, self-advocacy and networking can inform policy to help support youth and young adults ? particularly those with intersecting social identities ? as they transition to the workforce.

Read the Cape Youth Interview to learn more [ [link removed] ]

Employment of People with Disabilities in Skilled Trade Professions

In a recent DOL blog post, ODEP Senior Economist David Rosenblum and Data Scientist Alexandra Ruth explore the employment of people with disabilities in the skilled trades. Among the findings, which are based on American Community Survey data from 2017-2021, is that one-quarter of employed disabled people work in skilled trade jobs, with the largest representation in transportation.

Read the blog post [ [link removed] ]

ODEP Promotes Mental Health and Disability Employment Among State Workforce Leaders

Last week, ODEP's State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED) participated in the National Governors Association's Winter Workforce Symposium to promote disability employment and mental health in the workplace. The symposium included a panel featuring ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams, along with Elisabeth Arenales, Senior Policy Advisor to Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and Anne Oxrider, Senior Vice President and Benefits Executive at Bank of America. The panel, "Supporting Worker Mental Health to Promote Workforce Participation and Resilience," explored strategies for state workforce systems and the private sector to address barriers to accessing mental health care and to improve worker mental health.

Learn more about SEED [ [link removed] ]

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID: National Online Dialogue Snapshot and Summary Report

ePolicyWorks released a comprehensive summary report and snapshot of their national online dialogue, "Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID," which was hosted by five agencies from the U.S. Department of Labor. These documents include insightful breakdowns of dialogue participation, contributions, key themes and takeaways, registrant demographics, and much more. Find more information and visuals to gain a better understanding of the workplace challenges related to long COVID and the ways to address them.

Read the Long COVID Dialogue Snapshot

Read the Long COVID Dialogue Summary Report

Save The Date: JAN Long COVID in the Workplace Webinar

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in millions of people now experiencing chronic health conditions related to their initial COVID infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, post-COVID conditions, known as Long COVID, include a wide range of ongoing health issues that last for months or longer. Symptoms affect people in various ways, including the ability to work. Long COVID may be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, so employers need to ensure accommodation processes and practices are effective in retaining much-needed workers. Learn about the impact of Long COVID in the workplace, including recent findings from the Disability Management Employer Coalition, and receive tips for navigating the accommodation process, accommodation solutions, and practical resources from JAN and the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion. The webinar takes place Thursday, March 9 from 2-3 PM ET.

Register for the JAN Webinar [ [link removed] ]

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

View this newsletter on our website [ [link removed] ].

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* fema_achieving-equitable-recovery-a-post-disaster-guide-local-officials-draft (1).pdf [ [link removed] ]
* fema_equity-guide-comment-matrix.xlsx [ [link removed] ]

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