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News and Notes 537 November 9

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 11/09/2022 - 13:37

NARIC staff mourns the passing of Lois Curtis, the L.C. the 1999 landmark Supreme Court decision, Olmstead vs L.C., that cemented the right of Americans with disabilities to live and participate in communities of their choosing; NIDILRR/ACL seeks input from key stakeholders in the development of its 2024-2029 Long Range Plan by November 21st; Research in Focus researchers explored the impact of COVID-19 on personal assistance services and steps people took to access supports needed to stay independent; This Just In... presents study examining results from service providers undergoing organizational transformation away from sheltered employment; the Southeast ADA Regional Center posts latest episode of ADA Live! series, Supporting Our Veterans: Tips for Job Seekers and Returning Veterans; the Disability Statistics Compendium Annual Report of 2021, published by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) featured in Forbes article, Why is the employment gap for people with disabilities so consistently wide?; the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Veterans with Disabilities: An Overview of Veteran Affairs (VA) Resources Supporting Independence an Inclusion; the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (CeKTER) hosts webinar, The Knowledge Action Cycle: How Do I Apply It to My Work?; the Mid-Atlantic ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Common Myths and Mix-Ups; the project Elevate, Evaluate: Self-Evaluation Resource for Behavioral Health Community-Based Organizations conducts survey on state of program evaluation for community-based organizations (CBOs); the Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) publishes report, The Impact of COVID-19 on Disability Research: A 2022 Update.

Date sent: 
2022-11-09
NARIC news: 

This week, the independent living community lost a true pioneer with the passing of Lois Curtis. Ms. Curtis was the L.C. in Olmstead vs L.C., the landmark Supreme Court decision that cemented the right of Americans with disabilities to live and participate in the communities of their choosing. In 1999, Ms. Curtis, co-plaintiff Elaine Wilson, and their legal team convinced the court that their civil rights were being violated by being unnecessarily segregated in an institution when they wanted and were able to live in the community. By fighting for their rights, they changed history. Each year, the Association of People Supporting Employment First gives out the Lois Curtis Award, recognizing "an individual's personal achievement in advocating for inclusive, individualized, community-based employment and/or independent living." Our thoughts are with Ms. Curtis' family and friends in her chosen community.

This Just In: 
The benefits of active, person-centered job placement: Results from service providers undergoing organizational transformation away from sheltered employment. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Volume 60(3), Pgs. 234-245. NARIC Accession Number: J89610.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study examined the impact of participation in a comprehensive technical assistance program designed to support service providers to transition away from sheltered workshops towards competitive integrated employment (CIE) and delivering job development supports on the employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Among the job seekers and service providers who participated in the program over one year, the results showed that CIE is attainable if given the appropriate organizational emphasis and when effective job development practices are implemented to a strategically identified group. Implications highlight the values of slowly preparing individuals for CIE; facilitating an active, person-centered job placement process; engaging key stakeholders in job development; and focusing on individual job placement in the context of organizational transformation. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Research in Focus: 
Study Highlights the Impact of COVID-19 on the Delivery of Personal Assistance Services for People with Disabilities
In this week's Research In Focus, researchers explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted personal assistance services and steps people took to stay safe while accessing the supports they needed to stay independent.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Podcast: ADA Live! Supporting Our Veterans – Tips for Job Seekers and Returning Workers
The NIDILRR-funded Southeast ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0005) posted the latest episode of the ADA Live! series, Supporting Our Veterans: Tips for Job Seekers and Returning Veterans. Presenters provided a general overview of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) structure and programs it offers to returning Veterans. Presenters discussed the employment of Veterans with disabilities and the barriers they face in returning to civilian employment. A transcript and a list of resources for this episode are available on the episode's description webpage.
 
News items: 
Disability Statistics Compendium Highlighted in Forbes
The Disability Statistics Compendium Annual Report for 2021, published by the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) (90RTGE0001), is featured in Why is the employment gap for people with disabilities so consistently wide? in Forbes. The article cites the report's comparative employment rates and discusses the consistent gaps for workers and job seekers with disabilities.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: Veterans with Disabilities – An Overview of Veteran Affairs (VA) Resources Supporting Independence and Inclusion
The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0012) will host a webinar, Veterans with Disabilities: An Overview of Veteran Affairs (VA) Resources Supporting Independence and Inclusion, November 15th, 2 – 3:30 pm ET. Presenters will provide a general description of basic concepts and resources available to Veterans with disabilities, their families, and service providers. Participants will be able to ask questions after the presentation. Registration is free and required. Continuing education credits are available upon request.
 
Webinar: The Knowledge to Action Cycle: How Do I Apply It to My Work?
The NIDILRR-funded Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (CeKTER) (90DPEM0004) will host a webinar, The Knowledge to Action Cycle: How Do I Apply It to My Work?, November 16th and December 12th, 1 – 2:30 pm, ET. In this two-part series, presenters will discuss the Knowledge to Action cycle and its seven stages, from determining the knowledge-practice/policy gap to sustaining the change. Presenters will describe how to apply the Knowledge to Action cycle to a project or initiative to turn research findings into activities. Registration is free and required.
 
Webinar: Title III of the ADA – Common Myths and Mix-Ups
The NIDILRR-funded Mid-Atlantic ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0008) will host a webinar, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Common Myths and Mix-Ups, November 16th, 2 – 3:30 pm ET. Presenters will discuss the myths and mix-ups that create or contribute to confusion and consternation for business owners and operators. Presenters will address what Title III of the ADA covers and what it requires in terms of facility access, operational policies and practices, and communicating with customers with disabilities. Presenters will share how Title III interplays with other federal, state, and local laws. Registration is free and required.
 
Participate: 
Community-Based Organization Survey
The NIDILRR-funded project Elevate, Evaluate: Self-evaluation Resource for Behavioral Health Community-Based Organizations (90BISA0060) is conducting a survey to learn about the current state of program evaluation for community-based organizations (CBOs). Survey responses will help researchers develop tools to support small CBOs in conducting program evaluation. The survey is open to individuals who represent CBOs that offer programs and services to support the well-being of people with mental health and substance use concerns. Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
New Report Highlights the Impact of COVID-19 on Disability Research
The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR), of which NIDILRR is a member, published a report, The Impact of COVID-19 on Disability Research: A 2022 Update. This report is an update from a 2021 report and details impacts of the pandemic on the field of disability research. The new report presents recent information on how the field of disability research has changed and adapted throughout the pandemic, highlighting important areas of new research and how the shift to virtual research methods has modified the research landscape. The report also describes issues experienced by the disability community during the pandemic including employment, health, access to services, and the disproportionate impact on people of color with disabilities.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=936348&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c