“An Iowa ABLE savings plan trust is created… The general assembly finds that the general welfare and well-being of the state are directly related to the health, maintenance, independence, and quality of life of its disabled residents, and that a vital and valid public purpose is served by the creation and implementation of programs that encourage and make possible savings to secure funding for disability-related expenses on behalf of individuals with disabilities …”
“ID Waiver services are individualized to meet the needs of each member. The following services are available:
“The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is re-evaluating existing strategies and identifying new ones to enhance our commitment to ensuring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to the least restrictive setting to support high quality of life. The Department will work in partnership with the Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), residents, guardians, community providers and other stakeholders.
The goal of this effort is to take a thoughtful approach to the community integration process, to include all key stakeholders including families and guardians—in the discussion to ensure we are able to assure meaningful options and choice to individuals and their families.
Iowa has a thoughtful Olmstead Plan that identifies outcome goals and objectives to serving individuals with disabilities in the community. This work plan is intended to augment the Olmstead Plan, focusing specifically on persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are currently served by a State Resource Center (SRC) or who could seek admission to a State Resource Center.”
“This form is used to stage, structure, capture and record the major events of Discovery. The recorder(s) should pay particular attention to how the tasks are typically performed, any accommodations, technology, supports, or specialized training strategies that should be employed.” Discovery is a key tool in finding community-based, integrated employment through the customized employment process.
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This report is looking at building the capacity and expertise of employment specialists to support individual, integrated employment outcomes. MHDS is encouraged to consider what to include in an Employment Supports Core Training, how to provide ongoing professional development, and ideas for offering provider-level training and technical assistance. |
The Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) is a three-year federal grant-funded program that improves education, training, employment opportunities, and employment outcomes for people who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. In 2012, Iowa was awarded a Round 3 DEI grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment Training Administration.
“The State of Iowa has been working for over a decade to support employment outcomes by raising awareness of federal work incentives for people concerned about losing Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits, and by focusing attention on the transition of young people with disabilities from school to work and independent living. In the last three years this work has been accelerated and enhanced under the Employment First, State Employment Leadership Network, the Iowa Coalition for Integrated Employment, and other initiatives.”
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“Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has been keenly focused on improving opportunities for Iowans with disabilities to become employed in quality jobs in Iowa communities since 2000 when first awarded a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG), a federal program providing financial assistance to states to facilitate the competitive employment of people with disabilities. Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) and Iowa’s Medicaid Enterprise (IME), both divisions of DHS, have been working together along with their stakeholders, to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities with a particular focus on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Iowa.” |