Cross-System Collaboration
The LEAD Center fosters cross-system collaboration by partnering with federal agency leaders, state and local agency policymakers, and practitioners and subject matter experts to build a progressive vision to improve the employment outcomes and economic advancement of youth and adults with disabilities. No single organization or resource is able to respond effectively to the diverse needs of each individual with a disability, and others who face multiple barriers to employment. The LEAD Center facilitates and highlights promising practices in resource coordination across systems by proactively engaging with agencies and organizations to spur systems change that translates into significant improvements in the employment and economic advancement of individuals with disabilities.
Categories - LG Tablet
Categories - SM Tablet
Resources
- A Resource Developed by LEAD Center for ODEP
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 2019 | Tool/Manual
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document.
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
| September 2018 | Report/Brief
Employment is central to all of our lives and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with disabilities who seek competitive integrated employment (CIE). This paper provides stakeholders some suggestions for...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
Website
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 2017 | Tool/Manual
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can...
Provider Transformation Issue Brief: Transforming Employment Services from Sheltered Work to Competitive, Integrated Employment for all Job Seekers with Disabilities
| November 2016 | Report/Brief
LEAD Center
ODEP’s Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) aims to prioritize competitive integrated employment over sheltered work and to transform work centers into competitive integrated employment models as a core element of provider...
Practical Steps to Change Social and Human Service Delivery
| November 2016 | Presentation
LEAD Center
On November 2, 2016, LEAD Center Public Policy Co-Chair and National Disability Institute Executive Director, Michael Morris, led a conference session at the 2016 APSE Regional Institute in Sacramento, Calif.
Model Cooperative Agreements Between VR Agency and Medicaid, Mental Health, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies
| October 2016 | Tool/Manual
LEAD Center
Title IV of WIOA requires that VR agencies include in its State Plan an assurance that it has entered into a formal cooperative agreement with various state agencies. LEAD Center has created a summary of the VR policy framework for cooperative...
HCBS Advocacy
Website
Association of Unversity Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
This website, supported by Association of Unversity Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), serves as a “one-stop shop” for all information, resources and news related to CMS’ new HCBS regulations.
LEADing to Employment Information Brief: Funding for Assistive Technology - Transitioning from Secondary School to VR and Work
| May 2016 | Report/Brief
Learn about how Assistive Technology (AT) can follow people with disabilities from secondary school to post-secondary education, vocational rehabilitation and employment. LEADing to Employment Information Briefs provide a summary on topics useful t
Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs
| March 2016 | Tool/Manual
LEAD Center
The Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs is a collection of resources for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American Job Centers (AJC) to deepen their understanding of each other’s services and structure...
- A Resource Developed by LEAD Center for ODEP
Webinars
Competitive Integrated Employment as a Civil Right for People with Disabilities
November 8, 2016
View the archive of this webinar for a discussion with presenters from the Department of Justice, Administration for Community Living (ACL) and APSE on how supporting transformation to competitive integrated employment aligns with changing laws and...
Cooperation and Collaboration: The Role of Interagency Coordination in Securing Competitive Integrated Employment for Transition
March 22, 2017
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) makes clear that facilitating Transition from School to Work is not – and cannot be – the effort of a single agency or organization.
Implications of HCBS Final Rule on Non-Residential Settings – The Impact of New HCBS Guidance on Employment & Day Services
February 27, 2014
ODEP, in collaboration with the CMS Disability & Elderly Public Health Group will host two upcoming educational webinars for state policy-makers and disability policy stakeholders to discuss recent Federal policy guidance issued by CMS.
Innovative Strategies for Using Medicaid State Plan and Waiver Options to Promote Integrated Employment of People with Disabilities
February 20, 2014
ODEP, in collaboration with the CMS Disability & Elderly Public Health Group will host two upcoming educational webinars for state policy-makers and disability policy stakeholders to discuss recent Federal policy guidance issued by CMS.
Medicaid Managed Care and Its Implications on Employment Services
May 28, 2014
As states continue to transition their Medicaid systems into managed care models, numerous opportunities and risks to Medicaid-financed employment services have emerged.
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
October 24, 2017
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems.
National Employment First Website Launch
October 1, 2015
Are you interested in learning more about what is going on in other states relevant to Employment First but don’t know how to access the information?
New CMS Regulation on HCBS Settings: Implications for Employment Services
June 25, 2014
In the aftermath of CMS' recent regulation defining acceptable and unacceptable settings for Home and Community Based Services, states and stakeholders are now considering how to transition their service-provision systems into compliance with the
Promoting Leadership: Effective Strategies for Integrating Employment Outcomes and Services into Managed Care Models
September 25, 2013
During this webinar we will provide a brief overview on the emergence of managed care as the preferred model for delivering Medicaid-funded long-term supports to individuals with disabilities.
Redefining Home & Community Based Services: CMS Guidance on Non-Residential Services and its Implications for Employment
March 25, 2015
This webinar will include presenters from CMS and national subject matter experts, who will discuss the HCBS rule and its applications in supporting individuals with disabilities to seek and attain competitive integrated employment.
Policy Updates
A.J. Drexel Autism Institute Releases National Autism Indicators Report for 2017
August 31, 2017
The A.J.
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Truyven Health Analytics Release Report on Medicaid-Funded Long-term Services and Supports Expenditures for FY 2015
August 31, 2017
Truyven Health Analytics, a division of IBM Watson Health Business, produces annual reports each year of Medicaid long-term services and supports expenditures and how they change over time.
HCBS Transition Plans Update
August 31, 2017
Kentucky Receives Final Approval for Its HCBS Transition Plan
Kentucky Submits Amendment to add a Work Requirement to its Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver
August 31, 2017
On July 3, 2017, Kentucky submitted an amendment to its Section 1115 waiver proposal,
Mathematica Policy Research Releases Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program Annual Report for 2015
August 31, 2017
Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) recently released its 2015 Annual Evaluation Report for CMS’s national Money Follows the Person (M
Senate Finance Committee Announces Bipartisan Hearings on Health Care in September
August 31, 2017
The U.S.
CMS Releases National Data Report for 2012 on Demographics of Beneficiaries Receiving Medicaid-Funded Long-Term Services and Support
November 29, 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its report “Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Beneficiaries in 2012,”
CMS RFI Seeks Information on How to Accelerate Access to Home and Community-Based Services
November 29, 2016
On November 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Request for Information (RFI) entitled, “Medicaid Program Request for Information (RFI): Federal Government Interventions to Ensure the Provision of Timely and Q
LEAD On! Articles
News
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 6, 2018
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey.
Launch of the National Employment First Website
October 8, 2015
The platform provides a unique comprehensive resource for policymakers, researchers and external stakeholders to learn about national trends and activities in Employment First
Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 1, 2015
The entire month of October, we will join countless nonprofits, organizations, all levels of government, and individuals with disabilities, their family and friends, as well as disability advocates raising awareness about disability employment...
Letter to Governors on Employment First
July 23, 2015
On July 21, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Tom Perez, joined by Delaware Governor Jack Markell and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, sent a letter to governors of every state highlighting their commitment to advancing the Employment First...
LEAD Center Travels to Baltimore for Reinventing Quality 2014
August 6, 2014
From Aug. 3- 5, Baltimore, Maryland, served as host to the 2014 Reinventing Quality Conference.
LEAD Presents at 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 31, 2014
On July 31, LEAD Center Public Policy Lead and Executive Director of National Disability Institute (NDI) Michael Morris presented at the 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living.
White House Office of Public Engagement to Hold Next Disability Community Call February 26th
February 21, 2014
The next White House Office of Public Engagement disability community conference call featuring a senior Administration official will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 3:00-4:00 PM EST.
LEAD Center Policy Roundtable Report Available
February 5, 2014
The LEAD Center released recently the report from its first bi-annual 2013 Policy Roundtable held July 17-18, 2013 in Washington, DC.
White House Office of Public Engagement to Hold Disability Community Call on Thursday, Jan. 30
January 29, 2014
This Thursday, January 30 at 3 p.m. ET the White House Office of Public Engagement will re-launch its disability community conference White House call featuring a senior Administration official.
New CMS Rule On Home and Community-Based Services Gives States Greater Flexibility to Serve the Disability Community
January 17, 2014
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released recently new regulations on state Medicaid home and community-based service (HCBS) programs.
Blogs
Being Part of the Solution: Building on the Promise of the ADA
July 21, 2020
This blog highlights some of the progress made since the ADA’s signing to support the employment and economic advancement of people with disabilities, and how the LEAD Center is working to promote equal opportunity and access.
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018
In LEAD Center's newest blog, Alec Frazier, Director, Autistic Reality, discusses disability employment, shares his employment journey as an individual with autism, and highlights the importance of networking. He also provides some of his best...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 9, 2017
In LEAD Center's new blog, Marlene Ulisky, Financial Empowerment & Disability Benefits Manager at National Disability Institute, talks about how the military engrains many skills that are transferable to civilian jobs and how hiring a veteran...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean:
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017
Rebecca Salon, Project Director for LEAD, shares her perspective on the transformative power of work and reflects on the Americans with Disabilities Act, 27 years after it was signed into law.
High Expectations
October 17, 2016
I have a deep appreciation for my mom because she always had the courage to stand up for me.
From Screen to Society: How Television Increases Disability Inclusion
October 11, 2016
We may watch television to relax, but watching that screen can also widen our world view.
In The Know: The Impact of Employment on the Health Status and Health Care Costs of Working-age People with Disabilities
April 4, 2016
In the Know is a bi-monthly feature on the LEAD Center blog that highlights important resources and information about the employment, policy and economic advancement of people with disabilities.
In The Know: I'm In To Hire
February 19, 2016
I’m In To Hire is an initiative founded by Best Buddies International that aims to create a more inclusive workplace by promoting the business benefits of hiring those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
CMS’ New HCBS Regulations Opens the Door to Competitive Employment for People with Disabilities
October 9, 2015
As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it is important that we take account of the incredible progress that has been made in the fight to ensure all people, including people with disabilities, have access to gainful...
Categories - Phablet
Resources
- A Resource Developed by LEAD Center for ODEP
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 2019 | Tool/Manual
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document.
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
| September 2018 | Report/Brief
Employment is central to all of our lives and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with disabilities who seek competitive integrated employment (CIE). This paper provides stakeholders some suggestions for...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
Website
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 2017 | Tool/Manual
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can...
Provider Transformation Issue Brief: Transforming Employment Services from Sheltered Work to Competitive, Integrated Employment for all Job Seekers with Disabilities
| November 2016 | Report/Brief
LEAD Center
ODEP’s Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) aims to prioritize competitive integrated employment over sheltered work and to transform work centers into competitive integrated employment models as a core element of provider...
Practical Steps to Change Social and Human Service Delivery
| November 2016 | Presentation
LEAD Center
On November 2, 2016, LEAD Center Public Policy Co-Chair and National Disability Institute Executive Director, Michael Morris, led a conference session at the 2016 APSE Regional Institute in Sacramento, Calif.
Model Cooperative Agreements Between VR Agency and Medicaid, Mental Health, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies
| October 2016 | Tool/Manual
LEAD Center
Title IV of WIOA requires that VR agencies include in its State Plan an assurance that it has entered into a formal cooperative agreement with various state agencies. LEAD Center has created a summary of the VR policy framework for cooperative...
HCBS Advocacy
Website
Association of Unversity Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
This website, supported by Association of Unversity Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), serves as a “one-stop shop” for all information, resources and news related to CMS’ new HCBS regulations.
LEADing to Employment Information Brief: Funding for Assistive Technology - Transitioning from Secondary School to VR and Work
| May 2016 | Report/Brief
Learn about how Assistive Technology (AT) can follow people with disabilities from secondary school to post-secondary education, vocational rehabilitation and employment. LEADing to Employment Information Briefs provide a summary on topics useful t
Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs
| March 2016 | Tool/Manual
LEAD Center
The Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs is a collection of resources for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American Job Centers (AJC) to deepen their understanding of each other’s services and structure...
- A Resource Developed by LEAD Center for ODEP
Webinars
Competitive Integrated Employment as a Civil Right for People with Disabilities
November 8, 2016
View the archive of this webinar for a discussion with presenters from the Department of Justice, Administration for Community Living (ACL) and APSE on how supporting transformation to competitive integrated employment aligns with changing laws and...
Cooperation and Collaboration: The Role of Interagency Coordination in Securing Competitive Integrated Employment for Transition
March 22, 2017
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) makes clear that facilitating Transition from School to Work is not – and cannot be – the effort of a single agency or organization.
Implications of HCBS Final Rule on Non-Residential Settings – The Impact of New HCBS Guidance on Employment & Day Services
February 27, 2014
ODEP, in collaboration with the CMS Disability & Elderly Public Health Group will host two upcoming educational webinars for state policy-makers and disability policy stakeholders to discuss recent Federal policy guidance issued by CMS.
Innovative Strategies for Using Medicaid State Plan and Waiver Options to Promote Integrated Employment of People with Disabilities
February 20, 2014
ODEP, in collaboration with the CMS Disability & Elderly Public Health Group will host two upcoming educational webinars for state policy-makers and disability policy stakeholders to discuss recent Federal policy guidance issued by CMS.
Medicaid Managed Care and Its Implications on Employment Services
May 28, 2014
As states continue to transition their Medicaid systems into managed care models, numerous opportunities and risks to Medicaid-financed employment services have emerged.
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
October 24, 2017
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems.
National Employment First Website Launch
October 1, 2015
Are you interested in learning more about what is going on in other states relevant to Employment First but don’t know how to access the information?
New CMS Regulation on HCBS Settings: Implications for Employment Services
June 25, 2014
In the aftermath of CMS' recent regulation defining acceptable and unacceptable settings for Home and Community Based Services, states and stakeholders are now considering how to transition their service-provision systems into compliance with the
Promoting Leadership: Effective Strategies for Integrating Employment Outcomes and Services into Managed Care Models
September 25, 2013
During this webinar we will provide a brief overview on the emergence of managed care as the preferred model for delivering Medicaid-funded long-term supports to individuals with disabilities.
Redefining Home & Community Based Services: CMS Guidance on Non-Residential Services and its Implications for Employment
March 25, 2015
This webinar will include presenters from CMS and national subject matter experts, who will discuss the HCBS rule and its applications in supporting individuals with disabilities to seek and attain competitive integrated employment.
Policy Updates
A.J. Drexel Autism Institute Releases National Autism Indicators Report for 2017
August 31, 2017
The A.J.
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Truyven Health Analytics Release Report on Medicaid-Funded Long-term Services and Supports Expenditures for FY 2015
August 31, 2017
Truyven Health Analytics, a division of IBM Watson Health Business, produces annual reports each year of Medicaid long-term services and supports expenditures and how they change over time.
HCBS Transition Plans Update
August 31, 2017
Kentucky Receives Final Approval for Its HCBS Transition Plan
Kentucky Submits Amendment to add a Work Requirement to its Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver
August 31, 2017
On July 3, 2017, Kentucky submitted an amendment to its Section 1115 waiver proposal,
Mathematica Policy Research Releases Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program Annual Report for 2015
August 31, 2017
Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) recently released its 2015 Annual Evaluation Report for CMS’s national Money Follows the Person (M
Senate Finance Committee Announces Bipartisan Hearings on Health Care in September
August 31, 2017
The U.S.
CMS Releases National Data Report for 2012 on Demographics of Beneficiaries Receiving Medicaid-Funded Long-Term Services and Support
November 29, 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its report “Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Beneficiaries in 2012,”
CMS RFI Seeks Information on How to Accelerate Access to Home and Community-Based Services
November 29, 2016
On November 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Request for Information (RFI) entitled, “Medicaid Program Request for Information (RFI): Federal Government Interventions to Ensure the Provision of Timely and Q
LEAD On! Articles
News
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 6, 2018
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey.
Launch of the National Employment First Website
October 8, 2015
The platform provides a unique comprehensive resource for policymakers, researchers and external stakeholders to learn about national trends and activities in Employment First
Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 1, 2015
The entire month of October, we will join countless nonprofits, organizations, all levels of government, and individuals with disabilities, their family and friends, as well as disability advocates raising awareness about disability employment...
Letter to Governors on Employment First
July 23, 2015
On July 21, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Tom Perez, joined by Delaware Governor Jack Markell and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, sent a letter to governors of every state highlighting their commitment to advancing the Employment First...
LEAD Center Travels to Baltimore for Reinventing Quality 2014
August 6, 2014
From Aug. 3- 5, Baltimore, Maryland, served as host to the 2014 Reinventing Quality Conference.
LEAD Presents at 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 31, 2014
On July 31, LEAD Center Public Policy Lead and Executive Director of National Disability Institute (NDI) Michael Morris presented at the 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living.
White House Office of Public Engagement to Hold Next Disability Community Call February 26th
February 21, 2014
The next White House Office of Public Engagement disability community conference call featuring a senior Administration official will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 3:00-4:00 PM EST.
LEAD Center Policy Roundtable Report Available
February 5, 2014
The LEAD Center released recently the report from its first bi-annual 2013 Policy Roundtable held July 17-18, 2013 in Washington, DC.
White House Office of Public Engagement to Hold Disability Community Call on Thursday, Jan. 30
January 29, 2014
This Thursday, January 30 at 3 p.m. ET the White House Office of Public Engagement will re-launch its disability community conference White House call featuring a senior Administration official.
New CMS Rule On Home and Community-Based Services Gives States Greater Flexibility to Serve the Disability Community
January 17, 2014
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released recently new regulations on state Medicaid home and community-based service (HCBS) programs.
Blogs
Being Part of the Solution: Building on the Promise of the ADA
July 21, 2020
This blog highlights some of the progress made since the ADA’s signing to support the employment and economic advancement of people with disabilities, and how the LEAD Center is working to promote equal opportunity and access.
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018
In LEAD Center's newest blog, Alec Frazier, Director, Autistic Reality, discusses disability employment, shares his employment journey as an individual with autism, and highlights the importance of networking. He also provides some of his best...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 9, 2017
In LEAD Center's new blog, Marlene Ulisky, Financial Empowerment & Disability Benefits Manager at National Disability Institute, talks about how the military engrains many skills that are transferable to civilian jobs and how hiring a veteran...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean:
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017
Rebecca Salon, Project Director for LEAD, shares her perspective on the transformative power of work and reflects on the Americans with Disabilities Act, 27 years after it was signed into law.
High Expectations
October 17, 2016
I have a deep appreciation for my mom because she always had the courage to stand up for me.
From Screen to Society: How Television Increases Disability Inclusion
October 11, 2016
We may watch television to relax, but watching that screen can also widen our world view.
In The Know: The Impact of Employment on the Health Status and Health Care Costs of Working-age People with Disabilities
April 4, 2016
In the Know is a bi-monthly feature on the LEAD Center blog that highlights important resources and information about the employment, policy and economic advancement of people with disabilities.
In The Know: I'm In To Hire
February 19, 2016
I’m In To Hire is an initiative founded by Best Buddies International that aims to create a more inclusive workplace by promoting the business benefits of hiring those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
CMS’ New HCBS Regulations Opens the Door to Competitive Employment for People with Disabilities
October 9, 2015
As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it is important that we take account of the incredible progress that has been made in the fight to ensure all people, including people with disabilities, have access to gainful...
Categories - Phone
Resources
- A Resource Developed by LEAD Center for ODEP
Understanding Medicaid Buy-in: A Tool to Advance Employment for People with Disabilities
July 2019 | Tool/Manual
This document was initially distributed through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) listserve. LEAD Center worked with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and ACL on this document.
Five Ways You Can Help Expand Opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment in Your Community
| September 2018 | Report/Brief
Employment is central to all of our lives and is critical to financial stability and independence. The same is true for people with disabilities who seek competitive integrated employment (CIE). This paper provides stakeholders some suggestions for...
Employment First Community of Practice: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
Website
In addition to the robust technical assistance and training being offered to the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) core states, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has created an Employment First Community of...
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
December 2017 | Tool/Manual
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can...
Provider Transformation Issue Brief: Transforming Employment Services from Sheltered Work to Competitive, Integrated Employment for all Job Seekers with Disabilities
| November 2016 | Report/Brief
LEAD Center
ODEP’s Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) aims to prioritize competitive integrated employment over sheltered work and to transform work centers into competitive integrated employment models as a core element of provider...
Practical Steps to Change Social and Human Service Delivery
| November 2016 | Presentation
LEAD Center
On November 2, 2016, LEAD Center Public Policy Co-Chair and National Disability Institute Executive Director, Michael Morris, led a conference session at the 2016 APSE Regional Institute in Sacramento, Calif.
Model Cooperative Agreements Between VR Agency and Medicaid, Mental Health, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies
| October 2016 | Tool/Manual
LEAD Center
Title IV of WIOA requires that VR agencies include in its State Plan an assurance that it has entered into a formal cooperative agreement with various state agencies. LEAD Center has created a summary of the VR policy framework for cooperative...
HCBS Advocacy
Website
Association of Unversity Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
This website, supported by Association of Unversity Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), serves as a “one-stop shop” for all information, resources and news related to CMS’ new HCBS regulations.
LEADing to Employment Information Brief: Funding for Assistive Technology - Transitioning from Secondary School to VR and Work
| May 2016 | Report/Brief
Learn about how Assistive Technology (AT) can follow people with disabilities from secondary school to post-secondary education, vocational rehabilitation and employment. LEADing to Employment Information Briefs provide a summary on topics useful t
Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs
| March 2016 | Tool/Manual
LEAD Center
The Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs is a collection of resources for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American Job Centers (AJC) to deepen their understanding of each other’s services and structure...
- A Resource Developed by LEAD Center for ODEP
Webinars
Competitive Integrated Employment as a Civil Right for People with Disabilities
November 8, 2016
View the archive of this webinar for a discussion with presenters from the Department of Justice, Administration for Community Living (ACL) and APSE on how supporting transformation to competitive integrated employment aligns with changing laws and...
Cooperation and Collaboration: The Role of Interagency Coordination in Securing Competitive Integrated Employment for Transition
March 22, 2017
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) makes clear that facilitating Transition from School to Work is not – and cannot be – the effort of a single agency or organization.
Implications of HCBS Final Rule on Non-Residential Settings – The Impact of New HCBS Guidance on Employment & Day Services
February 27, 2014
ODEP, in collaboration with the CMS Disability & Elderly Public Health Group will host two upcoming educational webinars for state policy-makers and disability policy stakeholders to discuss recent Federal policy guidance issued by CMS.
Innovative Strategies for Using Medicaid State Plan and Waiver Options to Promote Integrated Employment of People with Disabilities
February 20, 2014
ODEP, in collaboration with the CMS Disability & Elderly Public Health Group will host two upcoming educational webinars for state policy-makers and disability policy stakeholders to discuss recent Federal policy guidance issued by CMS.
Medicaid Managed Care and Its Implications on Employment Services
May 28, 2014
As states continue to transition their Medicaid systems into managed care models, numerous opportunities and risks to Medicaid-financed employment services have emerged.
Most Integrated Employment Settings: Tools to Advance System Outcomes in Your State
October 24, 2017
ODEP developed the Most Integrated Employment Settings (MIES) State Self-Assessment to promote cross-system coordination and to track progress within and between systems.
National Employment First Website Launch
October 1, 2015
Are you interested in learning more about what is going on in other states relevant to Employment First but don’t know how to access the information?
New CMS Regulation on HCBS Settings: Implications for Employment Services
June 25, 2014
In the aftermath of CMS' recent regulation defining acceptable and unacceptable settings for Home and Community Based Services, states and stakeholders are now considering how to transition their service-provision systems into compliance with the
Promoting Leadership: Effective Strategies for Integrating Employment Outcomes and Services into Managed Care Models
September 25, 2013
During this webinar we will provide a brief overview on the emergence of managed care as the preferred model for delivering Medicaid-funded long-term supports to individuals with disabilities.
Redefining Home & Community Based Services: CMS Guidance on Non-Residential Services and its Implications for Employment
March 25, 2015
This webinar will include presenters from CMS and national subject matter experts, who will discuss the HCBS rule and its applications in supporting individuals with disabilities to seek and attain competitive integrated employment.
Policy Updates
A.J. Drexel Autism Institute Releases National Autism Indicators Report for 2017
August 31, 2017
The A.J.
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2017 and Gains Made by People with Disabilities in Employment and Community Integration
August 31, 2017
July 26, 2017 of this year marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s foremost civil rights law for people with disabilities.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Truyven Health Analytics Release Report on Medicaid-Funded Long-term Services and Supports Expenditures for FY 2015
August 31, 2017
Truyven Health Analytics, a division of IBM Watson Health Business, produces annual reports each year of Medicaid long-term services and supports expenditures and how they change over time.
HCBS Transition Plans Update
August 31, 2017
Kentucky Receives Final Approval for Its HCBS Transition Plan
Kentucky Submits Amendment to add a Work Requirement to its Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver
August 31, 2017
On July 3, 2017, Kentucky submitted an amendment to its Section 1115 waiver proposal,
Mathematica Policy Research Releases Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program Annual Report for 2015
August 31, 2017
Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) recently released its 2015 Annual Evaluation Report for CMS’s national Money Follows the Person (M
Senate Finance Committee Announces Bipartisan Hearings on Health Care in September
August 31, 2017
The U.S.
CMS Releases National Data Report for 2012 on Demographics of Beneficiaries Receiving Medicaid-Funded Long-Term Services and Support
November 29, 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its report “Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Beneficiaries in 2012,”
CMS RFI Seeks Information on How to Accelerate Access to Home and Community-Based Services
November 29, 2016
On November 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Request for Information (RFI) entitled, “Medicaid Program Request for Information (RFI): Federal Government Interventions to Ensure the Provision of Timely and Q
LEAD On! Articles
News
LEAD Center Website Survey
September 6, 2018
The LEAD Center wants to learn more about how you use the resources on our website so that we can continue to improve what we offer. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey.
Launch of the National Employment First Website
October 8, 2015
The platform provides a unique comprehensive resource for policymakers, researchers and external stakeholders to learn about national trends and activities in Employment First
Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 1, 2015
The entire month of October, we will join countless nonprofits, organizations, all levels of government, and individuals with disabilities, their family and friends, as well as disability advocates raising awareness about disability employment...
Letter to Governors on Employment First
July 23, 2015
On July 21, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Tom Perez, joined by Delaware Governor Jack Markell and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, sent a letter to governors of every state highlighting their commitment to advancing the Employment First...
LEAD Center Travels to Baltimore for Reinventing Quality 2014
August 6, 2014
From Aug. 3- 5, Baltimore, Maryland, served as host to the 2014 Reinventing Quality Conference.
LEAD Presents at 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 31, 2014
On July 31, LEAD Center Public Policy Lead and Executive Director of National Disability Institute (NDI) Michael Morris presented at the 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living.
White House Office of Public Engagement to Hold Next Disability Community Call February 26th
February 21, 2014
The next White House Office of Public Engagement disability community conference call featuring a senior Administration official will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 3:00-4:00 PM EST.
LEAD Center Policy Roundtable Report Available
February 5, 2014
The LEAD Center released recently the report from its first bi-annual 2013 Policy Roundtable held July 17-18, 2013 in Washington, DC.
White House Office of Public Engagement to Hold Disability Community Call on Thursday, Jan. 30
January 29, 2014
This Thursday, January 30 at 3 p.m. ET the White House Office of Public Engagement will re-launch its disability community conference White House call featuring a senior Administration official.
New CMS Rule On Home and Community-Based Services Gives States Greater Flexibility to Serve the Disability Community
January 17, 2014
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released recently new regulations on state Medicaid home and community-based service (HCBS) programs.
Blogs
Being Part of the Solution: Building on the Promise of the ADA
July 21, 2020
This blog highlights some of the progress made since the ADA’s signing to support the employment and economic advancement of people with disabilities, and how the LEAD Center is working to promote equal opportunity and access.
My Dream Job: On the Importance of Networking
March 29, 2018
In LEAD Center's newest blog, Alec Frazier, Director, Autistic Reality, discusses disability employment, shares his employment journey as an individual with autism, and highlights the importance of networking. He also provides some of his best...
Double Duty: Hire a Veteran with a Disability
November 9, 2017
In LEAD Center's new blog, Marlene Ulisky, Financial Empowerment & Disability Benefits Manager at National Disability Institute, talks about how the military engrains many skills that are transferable to civilian jobs and how hiring a veteran...
Your First Job Should Not Be Your Last
October 12, 2017
I want a job, or two, or three… Can you answer the following question? On a load chart, values above the bold line mean:
The Transformative Power of Work and Inclusion: Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2017
Rebecca Salon, Project Director for LEAD, shares her perspective on the transformative power of work and reflects on the Americans with Disabilities Act, 27 years after it was signed into law.
High Expectations
October 17, 2016
I have a deep appreciation for my mom because she always had the courage to stand up for me.
From Screen to Society: How Television Increases Disability Inclusion
October 11, 2016
We may watch television to relax, but watching that screen can also widen our world view.
In The Know: The Impact of Employment on the Health Status and Health Care Costs of Working-age People with Disabilities
April 4, 2016
In the Know is a bi-monthly feature on the LEAD Center blog that highlights important resources and information about the employment, policy and economic advancement of people with disabilities.
In The Know: I'm In To Hire
February 19, 2016
I’m In To Hire is an initiative founded by Best Buddies International that aims to create a more inclusive workplace by promoting the business benefits of hiring those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
CMS’ New HCBS Regulations Opens the Door to Competitive Employment for People with Disabilities
October 9, 2015
As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it is important that we take account of the incredible progress that has been made in the fight to ensure all people, including people with disabilities, have access to gainful...