New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission -Disability Issues Committee

The Disability Issues Committee was established in April 2001 as a permanent Committee within the State Employment and Training Commission (SETC).

The mission of the Disability Issues Committee is to improve access for individuals with disabilities to New Jersey’s workforce programs and services. In carrying out this work, the Committee develops policies and program strategies that focus on identifying the training needs and resources specific to individuals with disabilities, ensuring the needs of the disabled are integrated into the One-Stop system and that workplace education addresses the needs of the disabled community. The Disability Issues Committee also serves as the Leadership Council for a national grant to the New Jersey Department of Human Services in the implementation of its DiscoverAbility Strategic Plan. Nicholas Gacos, SETC member and President of Colorado Caf� Associates, Chairs this Committee.

Key Action Items

Required Local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to establish a Disability Issues Committee: Provided education and guidance on the mission and responsibilities of the newly formed committee to local WIBs and local Department of Vocational Rehabilitation managers.

Autism Subcommittee: Examined critical issues related to this disability. Provided training on Autism to all vocational counselors for the first time.

Increasing accessibility in One-Stop Career Centers: Created criteria for identifying and assessing accessibility in One-Stop Career Centers for individuals who have disabilities, providing recommendations for purchasing new equipment, as well as upgrading present equipment and facilities.

One-Stop Career Center Integration: Work continues on improving services through the One-Stop Career Centers. Issues to be addressed include an analysis of barriers that limit participation of people with disabilities in One Stop Career Center services, developing staff training and guidance for better referrals, integration and treatment of individuals with disabilities, lack of assessment tools, lack of widespread communication on services, limited staff resources, increasing outreach and services, and improving the collection of data on the number and types of services accessed by individuals who have disabilities.

DiscoverAbility: In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the SETC and the Heldrich Center, the Disability Issues Committee is overseeing implementation of the goals of New Jersey’s DiscoverAbility Plan. Goals include:

Increase public understanding and awareness of the employment-related assets of people with disabilities and their ability to work.
Improve information and communication to, about and for people with disabilities.
Engage, educate and assist the employer community.
Provide people with disabilities with better preparation for work and offer more effective connections to jobs.
Offer supports for working to people with disabilities.
Increase the state’s leadership, management and coordination efforts in the employment of people with disabilities.
Strengthen disability and employment research, evaluation, performance measurement, data collection and data analysis.

In its first round of funding in 2009, the following key activities were accomplished:

Performance & Accountability: A dashboard was created that provides monthly and quarterly updates on the status of individuals with disabilities who are enrolled in training and the rate of placement.

DiscoverAbility Employment Conference: 270 individuals with disabilities and their family members attended a conference which provided attendees with information on employment in New Jersey, including available supports, career and educational options, assistive technologies, and tips and techniques for job searching.

DiscoverAbility website: Planning is underway to develop an interactive website that will support the employment-related needs and issues of individuals with disabilities, their family members, employers and service providers. It will be designed to provide information on employment in New Jersey and the supports available to individuals with disabilities and employers and to link individuals with disabilities to various opportunities and education and training programs. It will also serve as an information portal and professional development resource for service providers.

DiscoverAbility – Phase II: In December, 2009, DHS was notified their grant submission for $1.7 million was approved which will expand upon and continue the implementation of DiscoverAbility. Specific goals for this second round in 2010 include:

Create and implement a co-branding and marketing strategy with the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leadership Network.
Develop stronger employer communication and feedback loops and improve capacity of service providers to deliver marketable skills to clients.
Work with the Business Leadership Network to deploy the Disability Supplier Diversity Program.
Develop and implement a DiscoverAbility NJ Innovations Fund.
Build the Capacity of Workforce System Service providers, both staff that work exclusively with individuals with disabilities, as well as staff that work in the One-Stop Career Center system.
Support an Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program for Individuals with Disabilities.
Develop and Implement a Conference for Consumers on Job Search and Career Planning.
Conduct a Transportation Funding Study to Determine Potential Alternative Funding Sources.
Implement Disability Benefits 101 v. 4.0 and provide 4 Train-the-Trainer sessions.
Increase knowledge of SSI & SSDI Work Incentives Training Program.