Breaking Barriers for Oregonians with disabilities
Improving Lives through systems change
Focus on Disability and Inclusive Employment
America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion, is this year’s national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of individuals with disabilities.
Recognition: Individuals with disabilities are vital members of a workforce, pursuing or sustaining opportunities for independent living that include a variety of roles. Shifting attitudes toward a practice of inclusion may help to expand individual expectations and reach for jobs that use their skills long term.
Education: Youth in transition from high school to adulthood benefit from developing individualized transition plans starting in middle school years. Transition planning identifies needs and strengths to build skills, gain early work experience and set goals for adulthood and future employment.
Families: Families of individuals with disabilities expect children to gain employment. They provide key support in navigating practical and personal barriers to meaningful work. Families also share in the benefits of a family member’s increased social networking, relationships and experiences outside the home environment that develop through work.
Community: Community services and agency supports such as Vocational Rehabilitation facilitate employment outcomes. Early work experience that is community based contributes to long term employment.
Opportunity: For employers, the benefits of including people with disabilities has been shown to contribute to lower turnover, increased productivity, and access to a broader pool of skilled workers. A 2017 survey of Employment and Disability showed that usual training practices and job sharing/flexible employment are effective in improving ability to employ or accommodate people with disabilities, as well as people without disabilities.
Our CAC members recently convened to discuss issues in employment and their experiences. Look for this in the latest the CAC Blog.
Companies report reduced turnover, lower recruiting costs, increased productivity and improved customer outreach.
Office of Disability Employment: Learn about tax credits, incentives and tools available for employers
Partner with community based agencies and free external organizations:
Lived Experience of Disability Video Series
Institutions of Higher Education have a responsibility to encourage promoting diverse voices and experiences. Historically, those with disabilities are often not included in the development of curriculum-related content. Videos created for this series can be used to bring the lived experience into higher education or even to professional development opportunities.
Videos cover content from the lived experience of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD), Autism, and Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD), suggestions for general or special education teachers, suggestions for a solid IEP meeting, and a review of the complexity of disability and language.
The Lived Experience Video Project, inclusively created by a neurodiverse team, provides brief videos to enhance learning opportunities such as university courses or professional development opportunities. These videos encourage viewers to listen to the suggestions, considerations and experiences and use that information to further improve their work.
Spotlight on COVID & Disability
Recent studies find higher rates of risk for COVID in people with developmental and intellectual disabilities than any other condition, regardless of age.
At the center of our work to advocate and improve lives for individuals with disabilities is our own Community Advocacy Council (CAC), vital members of the wider disability community who lend their voice and expertise to provide guidance on key issues and concerns for those with disabilities.
As COVID-19 continues to spread, and we are faced with an imperative to protect ourselves and others, we call attention to the particular needs and risks of Oregonians experiencing disabilities.
CAC members recently convened to discuss the impact of COVID, their fears, concerns and ways to cope.
Don’t Come Too Close, a poem by Anna Scott-Hinkle, along with personal experiences of other CAC members are shared in the CAC Blog.
Coronavirus information and resources for people with disabilities, families and providers.
This new free hotline has trained staff who can help people with disabilities and their families to make personal decisions that support independent living.
Call the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL), Administration of Community Living. Call 888-677-1199 Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m (West coast) or email DIAL@n4a.org.
Our original support materials, video and downloadable guides created for people with disabilities, their families, and service providers.
More Resources
Access our CHD training materials including short training videos, presentations, and upcoming CHD training events.
Volunteer
Learn about ways to support the disability community.
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