In 1994, the Vermont General Assembly included language in the Appropriations Bill directing the Department of Aging & Disabilities to develop recommendations for reducing disincentives to work for people with severe disabilities. The resulting report, Barriers to Employment Faced by Persons with Disabilities: Problems and Solutions documented a primary disincentive to work as the link between cash assistance and health care coverage, that is, individuals with severe disabilities could not risk gainful employment at the price of their health coverage. In a parallel fashion in 1993, the Wisconsin Office for Persons with Physical Disabilities contracted with a nonprofit agency, Employment Resources, Inc., and a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin to undertake a similar work disincentive study. The Wisconsin study was followed by an 18-month feasibility project funded by RWJF to develop and evaluate a comprehensive approach for mitigating identified employment barriers. The panelists for this session will describe the political, organizational, and policy development process that resulted from the early data gathering and advocacy activities of these states. Included in the topics will be a discussion of the barriers to employment as experienced by individuals with severe disabilities and the role played by a major philanthropic foundation in supporting the development of a comprehensive work incentive initiative to demonstrate, evaluate, and disseminate state level activities directed at reforming federal and state disability policy.
Learning Objectives: see session overview
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.