Promoting Access for Individuals with Disabilities - PAID

White Cane Day

October 15, 2024
11a to 1p

Sara Hightower Library
205 Riverside Pkwy
Rome, GA 30161

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Snacks provided. We will be discussing all aspects of low vision/blindness, AT, peer support, demonstration glasses, discuss mobility, Braille, service dogs, white canes and much more!

No judgement. Just help.

9/8/24

nTIDE Deeper Dive - Internships for People with Disabilities

Friday, August 23, 2024
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Please join us for our Deeper Dive mid-month webinar. Each month, we focus on the employment trends of people with disabilities from a certain demographic subgroup. Learn more about how this demographic subgroup is fared during COVID and in today's economy.

Register now for this free webinar.

https://tinyurl.com/4xu2ahs9

Note: All webinars will be recorded and closed-captioned and will be added to the website archives along with full transcripts following the live broadcast.

Disaster Preparedness

Lunch and Learn with the NWGA Center for Independent Living.

Are you prepared for a disaster? They will be going over how to make ready kits and a safety plan for any emergency!

Friday, September 13th, 2024
12pm to 2pm.

Fire Lab
409 E. 12th Street
Rome, GA 30161

For more info, call 706.314.0008.

Tuesdays With Tootle helps people with disabilities by talking about important things happening in the world. Stan Tootle, who cares about disability rights, leads these conversations to help everyone understand and feel included.

SPECIAL GUEST:
Chris Wells, Exec Director
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Chris Wells, a resident of Smyrna, as Executive Director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency in June 2020. Prior to his appointment, Chris served as the Division Director of the Physical and Economic Development Division at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. He has been a leader in budget analysis for the Georgia Department of Labor and the South Carolina Executive Budget Office.

He currently serves as a member of Georgia’s Employee Benefit Plan Council and State Workforce Development Board. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and a graduate of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2019.

Wells earned degrees in Political Science and Mathematics from Francis Marion University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Augusta University.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Shameka, and their dogs, Duke and Asher, in Cobb County.

Tuesday
08/20/2024 @ 6:30pm EST
________________________________________

Register in advance at the following link for Tuesdays with Tootle:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrdumsrDwvHNZa0Q_Yt7m2r27Vca9Xq-rE

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

WorkSource Northwest Georgia provides education, training, and employment opportunities for eligible individuals in Northwest Georgia.

At WorkSource Northwest Georgia, our number one priority is to increase employment opportunities and earnings while increasing the quality of the workforce, reduce unemployment, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the customer.

For more information, please visit our website at www.careerdepot.org .

Helping Workers with Disabilities Get Ahead Through Good Jobs: A Toolkit of Practical Strategies

People with disabilities are experiencing record employment rates. In 2023, the employment rate for working-age people with disabilities was the highest on record at 37.2%. Disabled people also work in a wide variety of occupations and industries including construction, advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors. Federal investments in good jobs can create opportunities for greater inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce and in these industries.

For the toolkit, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/good_jobs/toolkit .

Get ready for NDEAM!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) encourages businesses and organizations across the country to participate.

Held annually, NDEAM educates about disability employment topics and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. Although national in scope, NDEAM’s true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level. Employers of all sizes and in all industries can take part.

For specific ideas about how our partners can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit dol.gov/NDEAM. Suggestions range from simple, such as putting up a poster to comprehensive, such as implementing a disability education program. Regardless, all play an important part in fostering a more accessible and equitable workforce, one where all people are recognized for their abilities—every day of every month.

Great tips for making your emails more accessible.

How To Make Your Emails More Accessible - accessiBe Make your emails more accessible and inclusive using built-in features, along with these best practices.

Pickens County Town Hall Meeting

Join the NWGA Center for Independent Living for free pizza and discussions regarding the topics of transportation, housing, disaster readiness, accessibility, and mental health support for the Pickens County area.

Monday, July 29, 2024 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM
100 Library Lane, Jasper, GA 30143

July is Disability Pride Month. Here's what you should know. The fight for community, inclusion and acceptance is still going strong 34 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.

From the U.S. Department of Labor~

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or NDEAM, we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM takes place annually each October, but its purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled works have access to good jobs, every month of every year. ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams announces this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”

https://youtu.be/g1uTmUw-EYE?si=D4DR95H1GP6-UPpH

nTIDE Lunch & Learn Season 9 - Episode 6

Friday, June 7, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Welcome to the National Trends in Disability Employment (or nTIDE) Lunch & Learn series. On the first Friday of every month, corresponding with the Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report, we will be offering a live broadcast via Zoom Webinar to share the results of the latest nTIDE findings. In addition, we will provide news and updates from the field of Disability Employment, as well as host an invited panelist who will discuss current disability related findings and events.

12:00 p.m.: Introduction & Welcome
12:10 p.m.: Overview of National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report
12:15 p.m.: Announcements from the field of Disability Employment
12:30 p.m.: Guest Presenters: Kimberly Knackstedt and Jenny Leland, Starbucks
12:45 p.m.: Question and Answer for Attendees

Register Now
https://unh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4pAJTT5RRl2e4CBeOefKxA?mc_cid=bc046446ce #/registration

Please join the NWGA Center for Independent Living for upcoming Town Halls!

Chattooga County
May 23, 2024
11:00 a.m.
Trion Recreation Department
90 Dalton St.
Trion, GA, 30753

Polk County
May 29, 2024
11a - 2p
Sarah Hightower Regional Library
245 East Ave.
Cedartown, GA 30125

Haralson County
May 30, 2024
2:00 p.m.
CCC Resource Center
734 Bowdon St.
Tallapoosa, GA, 30176

Attention Gordon County! Please plan to attend.

Candid + RespectAbility: Attracting, Hiring, and Retaining People with Disabilities

Wednesday, April 10
2 p.m. ET

Duration: 90 minutes

RespectAbility will offer guidance on recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities into the workspace and how to make your workplace accessible by demonstrating the best practices in disability inclusion. Our team will discuss tips for increasing your pipeline of people with disabilities, navigating reasonable accommodations, improving accessibility for all and how disability increases diversity, equity, and inclusion with your nonprofit.

Register here: https://www.respectability.org/2024/01/candid-putting-disability-to-work/

nTIDE Lunch & Learn Season 9 - Episode 4

Friday, April 5, 2024
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)

"Welcome to the National Trends in Disability Employment (or nTIDE) Lunch & Learn series. On the first Friday of every month, corresponding with the Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report, we will be offering a live broadcast via Zoom Webinar to share the results of the latest nTIDE findings. In addition, we will provide news and updates from the field of Disability Employment, as well as host an invited panelist who will discuss current disability related findings and events."

Agenda:

12:00 p.m.: Introduction & Welcome
12:10 p.m.: Overview of National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report
12:15 p.m.: Announcements from the field of Disability Employment
12:30 p.m.: Guest Presenters: Liz Weintraub, AUCD; Carolyn LeBrane Tilton, Disability Rights LA; and Alexander Andreson, Disability Rights LA
12:45 p.m.: Question and Answer for Attendees

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/vmx7ftnb

April 5 is the last day to apply to our IdeaSpark Program! The FREE six-week, virtual program starting May 14 is designed to help individuals with disabilities interested in starting or expanding a business. This program is a partnership with Iona University. Visit https://www.viscardicenter.org/disability.../ to apply

A great resource!

GVRA empowers older individuals who are Visually-Impaired or Blind, to pursue independence through Project Independence! We provide assistance in daily tasks, community engagement, and more. Visit our Project Independence page to learn more: https://gvs.georgia.gov/sensory-services/older-blindproject-independence

Disability Employment Hits Record High

"The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 22.5% of people with disabilities had jobs in 2023. That’s an increase of 1.2 percentage points from the year before and is the most since the agency started collecting data on disability employment in 2008."

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/02/27/disability-employment-hits-record-high/30759/

Please join us!

Supporting Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: Family Perspectives

Join the Administration on Disabilities (AoD) Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET for our February 2024 National Community of Practice (CoP) webinar. This event will highlight the importance of family support for people with disabilities who own their own businesses. We will begin with a brief recap of the work DETAC has done to advance self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Then, Sue Babin from the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC) will facilitate a panel session featuring three family members of entrepreneurs with disabilities. The panelists will offer their perspectives on how to best support loved ones with disabilities who have goals of owning their own business.

Presenters:

Sue Babin
Special Projects Coordinator at the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC)

Sue Baron
Mother of Bryan Baron
(Bryan Baron is the owner of Double-B Photography)

Iraida Williams
Mother of Alton Stuckey
(Alton Stuckey is the owner of Alton Stuckey Art, Portraits and More)

Karen Rasnick
Mother of Rachel Rasnick
(Rachel Rasnick is the owner of Rachel Rasnick Art)

Registration is required.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q8Sl5cWZS3ikmgRay_Bu7w #/registration

nTIDE Lunch & Learn Season 9 - Episode 2

Friday, February 2, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)

The National Trends in Disability Employment (or nTIDE) Lunch & Learn series takes place on the first Friday of every month, corresponding with the Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report, and offering a live broadcast via Zoom Webinar to share the results of the latest nTIDE findings. In addition, updates from the field of Disability Employment are shared, as well as host an invited panelist who will discuss current disability related findings and events.

Register here: https://unh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K09yVtM8TxiLoflI-U0qlQ?mc_cid=b0fb171f50 #/registration

nTIDE Deeper Dive - 2023 Year-in-Review

Friday, January 19, 2023
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)

The next nTIDE Deeper Dive mid-month webinar will take place on January 19th at Noon. Each month, the focus is on the employment trends of people with disabilities from a certain demographic subgroup. Learn more about how this demographic subgroup is fared during COVID and in today's economy.

Register here: https://unh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bib0zlfETue4Ry5lF-Fq4w?mc_cid=d3cbe8d0be #/registration

ONLINE SEVEN DAYS WEEKLY

Georgia’s Peer Support, Wellness, and Respite Centers have moved our daily wellness activities online!

The New Normal is a peer-led mutual support group where participants are able to receive support for whatever is going on in their lives right now.

Peer Connections is a peer-led wellness activity that varies from day to day, but always provides an opportunity to connect.

Support for people living with mental health and substance use challenges is offered through both All Recovery and Double Trouble in Recovery meetings, which meet online multiple times weekly.

Learn more (including how to use the Zoom technology) here:

https://www.gmhcn.org/online-wellness-resources

It is time to mandate true airplane accessibility for people who use wheelchairs.

"Flying has become hell for passengers with wheelchairs"

https://youtu.be/MRntgEiTHIY

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities

The proposed rule would apply to web content that a state or local government makes available to the public or uses to offer services, programs, and activities to the public. This is, of course, in addition to the current laws which require that resources be made available in an accessible format upon request.

Have a comment about the proposed rulemaking? Written comments must be postmarked, and electronic comments must be submitted, on or before October 3, 2023.

"The Department of Justice is proposing to revise the regulation implementing title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to establish specific requirements, including the adoption of specific technical standards, for making accessible the services, programs, and activities offered by State and local government entities to the public through the web and mobile apps."

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/04/2023-15823/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web-information-and-services-of-state

Transportation Town Hall

August 31st
2p - 4p

Greystone Apartments
90 East 2nd Avenue
Rome, GA 30161

For more information: 706.314.0008 or [email protected]

"People with disabilities maintained their job numbers, reflecting all-time highs in July, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – semi-monthly update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). nTIDE experts stated that more people with disabilities are engaged working and seeking work."

For more information, follow Research on Disability.