State: New York

New York Employment First Commission Report and Recommendations (2015)

Everyone has the right to work. It is this underlying premise that is the driving force behind the development of an Employment First policy in New York State. On September 17, 2014 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed Executive Order 136 to create a commission to establish an Employment First policy for New York State. The state seeks to build on important economic development investments the governor has made to ensure that individuals with disabilities equally benefit from the improving economy and have sustained opportunities to engage in the competitive labor market. Specifically, the state aims to increase the employment rate of individuals with disabilities by 5%; decrease the poverty rate of individuals with disabilities by a comparable 5%; and engage 100 businesses in adopting policies and practices that support the integrated employment of individuals with disabilities.

This report outlines the recommendations of the Employment First Commission, which held two statewide public listening sessions and received verbal and written input from more than 30 advocacy, trade, and provider organizations, as well as several individuals.

Links:

New York Employment First Commission Report and Recommendations (2015,PDF)

New York AB 6516: ABLE (2015)

“Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “New York achieving a better life experience (NY ABLE) savings account act”.

§ 2.  Legislative intent. The legislative intent of this act is to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain health, independence and quality of life; and to provide secure funding for disability related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through existing sources.”

Links:

New York AB 6516: Text

New York Disability Employment Initiative Round 6

“NYDEI will hire four Disability Resource Coordinators and focus on health care and technology/manufacturing and:

  1. increase employment, retention and wage outcomes through aligned services and expanded partnerships;
  2. assist jobseekers through training and support in navigating Career Development (WDBs/AJCs), Education and Training (Community Colleges) and Disability Service Resources (VR, developmental services, benefits counseling, Ticket to Work, etc.);
  3. increase credential attainment through strengthened academic transitions incorporating innovative program design and delivery through postsecondary and/or industry-recognized credentials; and
  4. increase work- based training approaches.

Systems change activities include:

  1. expanded access to technical training and education in industry sectors;
  2. increasing the number and type of businesses employing individuals with disabilities with a focus on emerging and in-demand job clusters;
  3. expanding AJC capacity to use core, intensive, and training services as a part of Integrated Resource Teams;
  4. increasing partnerships to strengthen alignment, braid and blend resources, integrate expertise, and actively engage businesses to improve services and outcomes; and
  5. developing policies and practices to increase participation in job training and career pathways by all New Yorkers including those with disabilities.”

Links:

New York Disability Employment Initiative Round 6

EmployAbility: A Toolkit for Employers

“This handbook is meant to provide you with the information you need to begin employing people of all abilities, including financial and tax incentives, how and why hiring people of all abilities is good for your business and where to find qualified employees….

The Employability Toolkit was compiled by a consortium of New York State agencies and disability organizations to assist you. We are joined by the New York State Business Leadership Network, New York’s chapter of the US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®), a national non-profit that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace.”

Links:

EmployAbility: A Toolkit for Employers

New York Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities Policy Brief (2017)

“The New York State Education Department has developed the attached policy brief, Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities, to remind Committees on Special Education and school districts of their specific responsibilities under federal and State law and regulations to provide appropriate transition planning and services for students with disabilities. This guidance also identifies technical assistance resources available to assist school districts, students, and families in the transition planning process”

Links:

New York Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities Policy Brief (PDF)

NY Community First Choice

“The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the State's Medicaid Plan Amendment to add the Community First Choice Option (CFCO) set of services. CFCO, authorized in the Affordable Care Act, allows states to expand access and availability of long term services and supports.”

Links:

NY Community First Choice
NY State Plan Amendment

New York Tax Credit for Employment of Persons with Disabilities

“You are entitled to this nonrefundable credit if you or your business employed a qualified employee within New York State who is certified by the New York State Education Department’s Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) or by the State of New York Office of Children and Family Services’ Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) as a person with a disability that constitutes or results in a substantial handicap to employment and who has completed or is receiving services under an individualized written rehabilitation plan approved by VESID or CBVH.”

Links:

New York Tax Credit for Employment of Persons with Disabilities

New York Disability Employment Initiative Round 8

“NY DEI will fund four Disability Resource Coordinators and implement activities that will improve education and employment outcomes for youth with disabilities by increasing their participation in existing Career Pathways programs. Expanding the capacity of the New York State Career Center system to serve youth with disabilities using a career-development approach. Developing a broader business engagement approach within existing Career Pathways programs to address business needs and develop a sustainable talent pipeline. Targeted industry sectors will include Healthcare, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Agricultural/Food Production, Hospitality and Financial Services.”

Links:

New York Disability Employment Initiative Round 8

Employment First: Benefits Advisory System Training Webinars

“As part of the Employment First initiative, the New York Employment Service System (NYESS) team has been working over the last several months to develop a series of tools that will directly benefit individuals with disabilities who are either working or are determining whether to seek employment. To this end, we are pleased to announce the roll out of a unique approach to benefits advisement that will initially seek to assist individuals with wage reporting, the 1619b program, the Medicaid Buy-In Program, and in the near future will assist with other benefits and work incentives.

In preparation for the roll out of this process in the first quarter of 2018, we are initially inviting all professionals who support individuals with disabilities to attend a webinar to learn more about the process design, to understand what your role will be as a provider/advocate, and to obtain an overview of each benefit that will be addressed in the process.”

Links:

Employment First: Benefits Advisory System Training Webinars
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