Are you looking for stories about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are working in their communities?  The Institute for Community Inclusion has collected some great stories on their website.  Here's what they say:

This site highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative, front-line employment support…

Press release from the office of Governor Walker, Wisconsin:

February 6, 2013

For Immediate Release

Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303

Investing in Wisconsin: Governor Scott Walker Announces Mental Health Funding in Upcoming Budget 

Today, Governor Scott Walker announced a near $30 million investment in state taxpayer funds for mental health programs to enhance and expand services provided by state and…

The following article is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

Marketwire

January 24, 2013

Allsup (http://www.allsup.com/)

Unemployment for People With Disabilities Drops to Four-Year Low,…

New York Times

January 15, 2013

Forging Path to Starting Line for Younger Disabled Athletes

By Mary Pilon

Some young disabled athletes are having their own Oscar Pistorius moments — not by breaking barriers in the Olympics, but by battling sports officials over whether and how they should be accommodated in competitions with able-bodied athletes.

During his ascent as a world-class runner, Pistorius, a double amputee from South…

The following information is from the Research & Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota:

The latest Policy Research Brief from the Research and Training Center on Community Living reviews commonly-used state employment measures in intellectual and developmental disability services. This Research Brief summarizes publicly-available data sources that provide information about the employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.…

This month’s VCU Project Empowerment webcast is presented by Ms. Jessica Venable from VCU and is entitled “Grant Writing 101: It’s Not Rocket Surgery.”

Details: The webcast will be streamed on Wednesday, January 16^th at 2:00pm though our website: http://www.vcu-projectempowerment.org/training/webcastDetails.cfm/256. If you cannot watch it on this day, it will be immediately archived at:…

Step'nStones, a small business start-up by special education students in Manitowoc Public School District, is looking for community members interested in visiting Washington, D.C. this May.  However, the students need more registrants.  26 students, family members, and school staff have registered.  With a minimum of 45 participants, everyone on the trip will receive a value package rate of $520 (4 to a room) or $598 (2 to a room).  This is a great rate!  All costs are…

ODEP Launches Media Campaign Encouraging Youth with Disabilities to Pursue Career Goals

For Immediate Release

January 10, 2013

Contact: Anita Howard

Phone: …

The following information is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

The Assistive Technology for Employers and Businesses Web Portal features information on AT solutions in the workplace. This…

The following article is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

December 31, 2012

Post-traumatic stress poses new challenge

At a recent weekly staff meeting, human resources manager Zetta Ferguson noticed that one of her employees wasn't sitting at the conference…

The following article is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

JDSUPRA Law News

December 31, 2012

What You Say Can and Will be Held Against You: ADA Confidentiality Requirements Extend Beyond Termination of Employment

By Amber K. Dodds and James H. Kizziar Jr.,  Bracewell & Giuliani…

New Corporate Index Being Developed for People with Disabilities in the Workplace

American Association of People with Disabilities and US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) Partner to Create New Benchmarks for Employers

For Immediate Release

December 19, 2012

Contact: Anita Howard

Phone: 800-706-2710…

Another Chance to Complete BPDD’s Advocacy Survey

Here is another opportunity to complete this survey if you missed it the first time. If you have already completed the survey your time and effort is appreciated.

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) would like to learn about…

Wisconsin Youth First is excited to unveil the "Going to Work" video series. The stories of six Wisconsin youth with disabilities who have transitioned to competitive employment are depicted in five parts.

You can find these videos here on the Employment Network.



Video #1:  Meet the Characters (5:34)…

The following article is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)

December 10, 2012

Don't be afraid to hire people with disabilities

Learning from one another has its benefits

Ask Rex Huppke: I Just Work Here

One of the best experiences of my…

Disability.gov Asks, “What’s Your Connection?”

By the Disability.gov Team  

There are nearly 57 million individuals with disabilities in the United States, and all of them are connected to the people around them in some way. They are sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, coworkers, neighbors and friends. 

Yet people with disabilities are often…

The following information is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

I am a researcher for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (also known as the Wireless RERC). We are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to promote the accessibility and usability of wireless technologies by people with all types of…

Disability Scoop (www.disabilityscoop.com)

December 4, 2012

Senate Rejects UN Disability Treaty

By Michelle Diament

Despite strong support from disability advocacy groups, Republican opposition led the U.S. Senate to reject an international disability rights treaty on…

Here are a couple great resources from DVR & Let's Get to Work:

• How to Use Paid Work and Training Options in DVR: Information for Youth
• DVR On the Job Hiring and…