“Hire Abilities Hawaii represents an innovative collaboration among the Department of Human Services (DHS), University of Hawai`’ College of Education Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS), the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor (DOL) and its statewide Workforce Development Council.“
“In 2006, Hawaii received a grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities. The Medicaid Infrastructure Grant Program, known as Hire Abilities Hawaii, ran from 2006 to 2009. It was authorized under Section 203 of the Ticket-to-Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act. MIG provided funding to states for Medicaid infrastructure development that built supports for people with disabilities seeking employment. States are encouraged to use grant funding to implement and develop the optional working disabled eligibility group (Medicaid buy-in), increase the availability of statewide personal assistance services, form linkages with other state and local agencies that provide employment related supports, and create a seamless infrastructure that will maximize the employment potential of all people with disabilities. The Hire Abilities website grew out of these goals and objectives.”
The Hawaii Medicaid state plan details the agreement between the state and the Federal government. It describes how Hawaii administers its Medicaid program and explains how the state will abide by Federal rules. It also explains how Hawaii may claim Federal matching funds for its program activities.
~~“The Council is responsible to engage in advocacy , capacity-building, and systemic change activities that are consistent with the policy in the federal law; and contribute to a coordinated, consumer and family-centered and consumer and family-directed, comprehensive system that includes needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
The Council carries out its responsibilities through policy development, implementation and analysis; researching and promoting new approaches and best practices to services and supports; educating and informing policymakers and the public about developmental disabilities; developing and supporting coalitions; fostering interagency collaboration and coordination; providing training in leadership development and legislative advocacy; and eliminating barriers and enhancing design and redesign of systems.”
“These Customized Employment (CE) videos, each specifically focused on Employers, Youth, or a General audience, highlight the benefits of CE, an employment strategy which matches the skills and preferences of the individual with the specific business needs of the employer. This process results in expanded employment opportunities for those who utilize and engage in this innovative, evidenced-based approach to employment. The General audience video has been created in both English and Spanish.”
This website is intended to provide resources to support employment for individuals with disabilities. It is intended to be used by job seekers with disabilities, service providers, agencies and businesses. This site was revamped December 2013 and now has many new features and content. Some major additions to the website include: -The Benefits Finder can search for eligibility and work incentive information for Hawaii’s state and federal disability programs. -Use our Resource Finder to search a database of articles, web sites and provider agencies for employment resources. -Learn more about how Hawaii’s proposed Medicaid Buy-In Program could help workers with a disability who require Medicaid . Hire Abilities Hawaii is a comprehensive database of articles, web sites and provider agencies for employment resources. It represents an innovative collaboration among the Department of Human Services (DHS), University of Hawai`i College of Education Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS), the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor (DOL) and its statewide Workforce Development Council. Originally started through a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.
This brief article defines customized employment and outlines the case for using it with job seekers with disabilities. It outlines the different forms customized employment can take, including "task reassignment," "job carving," and "job negotiation."
Each Individualized Education Program includes: -a statement of the child's present levels of educational performance; -a statement of annual goals, including short-term instructional objectives; -a statement of the specific special education and related services to be provided; -the extent that the child will be able to participate in regular educational programs; -the projected dates for initiation of services and the anticipated duration of the services; and -appropriate objective criteria and evaluation procedures and schedules for determining, on at least an annual basis, whether the objectives are being achieved. The IEP for each student, beginning no later than age 16, must include a statement of needed transition services.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides services to Hawai’i community members who experience barriers to employment due to a physical or cognitive disability. DVR is designed to assist job seekers with disabilities prepare, secure, and retain competitive employment in an integrated work setting. DVR furnishes the finest resources and opportunities for training, support, and career placement. Productive partnerships with other state agencies, private non-profits, and employers pave the way for our consumers to find successful employment with the reality of competitive wages. The underlying philosophy and goal of the DVR is thorough employment, individuals with disabilities are empowered toward economic self-sufficiency, independence, inclusion, and integration into society.
Our vision at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is “Move Forward to Work.” We would like to think of ourselves as the agency of choice for persons with disabilities who are looking to enter or retain integrated, competitive employment. As Hawai‘i’s primary agency directly responsible for the employment needs of our citizens with disabilities, we are committed in Hawai‘i’s efforts in establishing a 21st century workforce. With service offices on Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i the Division is entrenched within our communities to meet the needs of those seeking our services. With the passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in July of 2014, the Hawai‘i VR program has been actively working with core partners from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawai‘i and the Community Colleges as well as divisions within the Department of Human Services in developing the kinds of services all of Hawai‘i can be proud of.