“To enact RS. 47:297.13, relative to income taxation; to provide relative to individual and corporation income tax deductions; to authorize an income tax deduction for taxpayers w employ certain qualified disabled individuals; to provide for certain definitions; to provide for certain requirements and limitations; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.”
“The Strategic Plan identifies four key goals critical to successfully achieving Louisiana’s vision:
Goal 1: Launching a One Door employment system, aimed at streamlining service delivery and maximizing effectiveness in meeting the needs of businesses, workers, and job seekers.
Goal 2: Employing comprehensive sector and regionally-based approaches to address skills gaps, facilitate pathways into the labor force, and inform the prioritization of education and training initiatives.
Goal 3: Launching new and expanding existing work-based learning initiatives, especially Registered Apprenticeship programs, that emphasize linkages between learning and job preparation.
Goal 4: Enhancing Louisiana’s referral process and integrating services to improve access to tailored supportive services for individuals seeking education and employment opportunities.”
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities “Resources”
The DHH Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities offers a variety and ever-changing collection of resources, trainings and literature to assist consumers, their families, providers, advocates, and others access relevant materials.
“Employment The Council provided financial support for the Employment Mentoring program with its Developmental Disability Network partner, the LSU Health Sciences Center Human Development Center, the state’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The program provided a competency-based training and mentoring program for employment support providers.
508 mentoring hours
27 employment support professionals mentored
113 job seekers with a developmental disability participated The Council has been instrumental in advocating for implementation of policy that encourages competitive integrated individualized employment.
Pushed forward implementation of Employment First within the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. With its partners, maintained the previous year’s state appropriation for Louisiana Rehabilitation Services while other programs were cut.”
Louisiana State University HDC Employment First Initiative: Supported Employment CORE Training
Louisiana State University School of Allied Health Professions Human Development Center
“HDC’s 40 Hour Supported Employment CORE Training
LSUHSC-Human Development Center (HDC) in collaboration with Louisiana APSE is providing statewide Employment Specialist Core Training. This 40 hour training meets LRS vendor training requirements and Medicaid Employment provider rules. It incorporates APSE’s CORE Supported Employment competencies, and includes three and a half days of classroom instruction, fieldwork assignments and online instruction.”
Louisiana Graduation Pathways for Students with Disabilities
“While most sudents with disabilities in Louisiana will pursue a traditional pathway to a high school diploma, certain students with disabilities who have an IEP have alternative pathways to a diploma available to them.
Students at the high school level who are eligible under the April Dunn Act* can pursue a standard high school diploma by meeting standard graduation requirements through alternate means.
Students at the high school level who are assessed on Louisiana Alternate Assessment Level 1 (LAA 1) can pursue a diploma pathway by meeting alternate requirements.
Resources are available which can assist both educators and families in planning and implementing a successful high school experience for students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).”
Louisiana Executive Order JBE 2020-8: Statewide Independent Living Council (2020)
“The State of Louisiana remains committed to promoting a philosophy of independent living in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities…”
Louisiana Executive Order JBE 2022-18: Statewide Independent Living Council (2022)
“WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana remains committed to promoting a philosophy of independent living in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities;
WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana also promotes the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of Louisiana’s communities;…
NOW THEREFORE, I, JOHN BEL EDWARDS, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows: SECTION 1: The State of Louisiana’s Statewide Independent Living Council (hereafter “Council”) is reestablished and recreated, and recognized by the Governor, in accordance with 29 U.S.C.A. §796d. This Order does not remove those members who are currently serving on the Council pursuant to a valid appointment.”
Louisiana SB192: An Act relative to postsecondary education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (2022)
Enacted, version date 06/18/22
“A.(1)(a) The Louisiana Postsecondary Inclusive Education Fund, referred to in this Section as the “fund”, is hereby created within the state treasury as a special fund for the purpose of funding an approved comprehensive inclusive postsecondary education program at each public postsecondary education institution in the state in order to provide pathways to postsecondary degree, certificate, and apprenticeship programs designed to increase independent living and employment opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”