Virtual Series: Disability Employment – Looking Back & Moving Forward
Date: October 2020
Four Events (1 podcast & 3 webinars)
- Podcast: ADA Live! Celebrating 100 Years of Vocational Rehabilitation with RSA Commissioner Mark Schultz
- Webinar: Shaping Modern Disability Employment Policy through the Lens of Past Veterans’ Experience
- Webinar: RRTC Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Center
- Webinar: Future Images of the Face of Vocational Rehabilitation
Description
“Increasing Access and Opportunity” was the October 2020 theme for the annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year marks the 75th year of NDEAM lead by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). During 2020 we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 100th anniversary of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). In recognition of these important milestones, the Southeast ADA Center hosted a FREE four-event Virtual Series: Disability Employment – Looking Back & Moving Forward on each Wednesday in October 2020.
Individuals with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 over the past year and a half. Whether it be through lack of access to important health resources, obstacles to get COVID-19 testing and now the vaccine, as well as some of the long-term effects it can have on individuals with existing medical conditions.
Archives [1 podcast & 3 Webinars]
Podcast: ADA Live! Celebrating 100 Years of Vocational Rehabilitation with RSA Commissioner Mark Schultz
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Presenters
Description
For the past 100 years, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) under the guidance of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has enabled people with disabilities to overcome barriers to access, maintain, or return to employment. Join RSA Commissioner Schultz in discussing the past, present, and future of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Audio Recording – 45 minutes (October 7, 2020)
- Audio – Soundcloud – Podcast ADA Live! Celebrating 100 Years of Vocational Rehabilitation
Link: soundcloud.com/adalive/
Transcript
- Captions (CC) by interactive transcript for Podcast: ADA Live! Episode 86
Link: bit.ly/adalive86-captioning - Transcript [PDF] Podcast ADA Live! Episode 86
Link: adalive.org/episode86
Resources
- Resource List for Podcast: ADA Live! Episode 86: Celebrating 100 Years of Vocational Rehabilitation
Link: adalive.org/resources/episode-86-resources
Webinar 1 of 3: Shaping Modern Disability Employment Policy through the Lens of Past Veterans’ Experience
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Presenters

Description
What can the past tell us about contemporary employment policy for veterans with disabilities? For the past decade, Dr. Larry Logue and BBI Chairman, Dr. Peter Blanck have conducted research on Union army veterans’ experience with disabilities and federal government benefits. Their new book “Race, Ethnicity, and Disability: Veterans and Benefits in Post-Civil War America,” a volume in the Cambridge University Press Disability Law and Policy series investigates veterans’ longevity and African Americans’ treatment in the pension system. Join this webinar to discover the historical and contemporary views of the employment of veterans with disabilities.
Recording (October 14, 2020)
Transcript
Presentation
Post Test
Part 1: Post Test (link opens in new window)
Link: bit.ly/ndeam2020-test-1
Evaluation
Your feedback is important to help determine the effectiveness of this webinar in meeting your needs and to guide planning for future webinars.
Part 1: Evaluation Form (link opens in new window)
Link: bit.ly/ndeam2020-eval-1
Resources
Webinar 2 of 3: RRTC Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Center
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Presenters

Senior Adviser, Burton Blatt Institute Founder and Senior Strategic Advisor, National Disability Institute

Distinguished Professor School of Management and Labor Relations Rutgers University
Description
The unprecedented health, social, and economic challenges raised by the coronavirus pandemic have greatly affected employees with disabilities. What does the future of U.S. employment policy look like for people with disabilities? Learn about the newly funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Disability Inclusive Employment Policy (DIEP). The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) provides funding for this new initiative. The Center is formed by a key partnership of Syracuse, Harvard, and Rutgers Universities. This Center also brings together nationally recognized researchers from multiple disciplines, including economics, psychology, law, public policy, business management, and health.
Over five years, the anticipated outcomes of the Center are new evidence-based options for disability employment policy including:
- Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and workforce development professionals will have increased strategies to support job seekers with disabilities and businesses.
- Human resource (HR) professionals will have new evidence-based practices to enhance worker retention and quality of work experience.
- Employment service providers will have new evidence-based strategies to improve employment, re-engagement and job retention.
- People with disabilities will have access to explore new alternative paths to employment and career advancement.
- Researchers and students will have new data and evidence to support existing and next-generation research ideas.
- Across targeted audiences, there will be a next-generation disability policy framework to advance employment and economic self-sufficiency for working-age adults with disabilities.
For more information on the RRTC Disability Inclusive Employment Policy project, contact Peter Blanck, PhD. J.D, Principal Investigator (pblanck@law.syr.edu).
Recording (October 21, 2020)
Transcript
Presentation
Post Test
Part 2: Post Test (link opens in new window)
Link: bit.ly/ndeam2020-test-2
Evaluation
Your feedback is important to help determine the effectiveness of this webinar in meeting your needs and to guide planning for future webinars.
Part 2: Evaluation Form (link opens in new window)
Link: bit.ly/ndeam2020-eval-2
Webinar 3 of 3: Future Images of the Face of Vocational Rehabilitation
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Presenters

Director, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
President, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation

Director, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
California Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Description
In a final tribute to National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the first 100 years of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), a panel of VR innovative leaders will discuss issues around racial equity, service delivery design, employer engagement and reasonable accommodations, technology, transition services and statewide workforce system integration. This webinar will also cover future emerging issues, challenges and trends for public Vocational Rehabilitation.
Recording (October 28, 2020)
Transcript
Presentation
Post Test
Part 3: Post Test (link opens in new window)
Link: bit.ly/ndeam2020-test-3
Evaluation
Your feedback is important to help determine the effectiveness of this webinar in meeting your needs and to guide planning for future webinars.
Part 3: Evaluation Form (link opens in new window)
Link: bit.ly/ndeam2020-eval-3