Playing Together!
Winning the Employment Game!
Putting together
a winning game plan!
Carol Ruddell, Work Ability Utah
March 7, 2008
Work Ability Utah
Utah’s Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
CMS #11-P-92406-8/03
What does IDEA say?
• §300.1 The purposes of this part are to ensure
that all children with disabilities have available to
them a free public education that emphasizes
special education services designed to meet
their unique needs and prepare them for further
education, employment, and independent living.
(Italics added)
• §300.43 Transition services...coordinated set of
activities...facilitate the child’s movement...to
post-school activities including...integrated
employment (including supported employment...
IDEA also says...
• §300.320 (b) Transition services
– The IEP must include appropriate measurable
postsecondary goals based on age
appropriate transition assessments related to
training, education, employment, and, where
appropriate, independent living skills and
– The transition services (including courses of
study) needed to assist the child in reaching
those goals.
• §300.321 (b)(3) ...the public agency must
invite a representative of any participating
agency that is likely to be responsible for
providing or paying for transition services.
Where we want to be.
Getting to where
we want to be!
Where we are now.
• Who’s playing on our team?
• What equipment do we have?
• What game are we playing?
The Team Roster
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Student
Parents
Educators
Businesses
Local organizations (C of C, Rotary, etc.)
Agencies
– Division of Services for People with
Disabilities (DSPD), Vocational Rehabilitation
(VR, Rehab), Department of Workforce
Services (DWS), Choose to Work
Our Equipment!
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Hard skills
Soft skills
Personalities and values
Work supports ($$ and people)
Work site accommodations
Healthcare
Practice for the Game
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Positive Attitude
Punctual
Good Attendance
Follow policies and procedures
Be willing to listen, a good communicator
Separation of aspects of life
Learn all you can about the job and meet
expectations
Look over the Equipment!
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Are they old? Are they new? Are they strong?
Do we need other equipment?
How useful are they?
Can we use them for other purposes?
Are they innovative?
Can multiple people use them or have them?
Do we have the right equipment for this game?
ASSESS all the Equipment!
What games are we playing?
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Visitation Volley
Job Shadow Jaunt
Mentor Match
Intern Inning
Paycheck Slam Dunk
General Game Rules
• Assess that equipment
• Write your Game Plan
– What will happen, when, where, how long
• Create your team, pick your players
• Every player knows the Plan
• Every player knows their role
• Every player needs to train for their position
• Every player knows what’s expected
• The goal is for Everyone to win
How do you win?
How do you know you’ve won?
Monday Morning Quarterback
- Did all the players play their role
- What was the score?
- Are all the players winners?
- What will you do differently for the next
game?
Some Myths Around Working
Employers’ Myths
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Higher turnover
Excessive absence
Less productive
Safety risk
Too costly or demanding
Won’t fit in
Employer Realities
• More likely to stay on the job
• 81-93% rated above average in
performance
• Attendance same to better than people
without disabilities
• Safety rates significantly lower
• No effect to cost reported by 90%+ of
employers
• Represent an enormous market niche
Social Security
MYTH: If I go to work, I’ll lose my SS
REALITY:
• Which is it? SSI or SSDI?
– Supplemental Security Income
– Social Security Disability Insurance
• Lots of work incentives
• Look for ‘the student friendly’ SEIE
SSA Work Incentives
SSI:
SSDI:
•Earned Income
Exclusions
•Trial Work Period
•Student Earned Income
Exclusion
•Impairment-related Work
Expenses
•PASS plans
•Expedited Reinstatement
•Extended Period of Eligibility
•Subsidy
•Impairment-related Work
Expenses
•Extended Medicare
•Expedited Reinstatement
Health Care Coverage
MYTH: If I go to work, I’ll lose my health coverage
REALITY: Health care may be available
• Based on the company’s overall risk and
employee pool, not the individual’s health
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Medicaid through 1619(b)
Medicaid Work Incentive
PCN (Primary Care Network)
UPP (Utah’s Premium Partnership)
Resources
• Benefits Planning, Assistance and
Outreach (866) 454-8397
• State Office of Rehabilitation (866) 4548397
• Choose To Work (801) 538-7590
• Work Ability Utah (877) 246-9675
• Disability Law Center (800) 662-9080
Work Ability Utah
Utah’s Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
CMS #11-P-92406-8/03