INNOVATIVE PROGRAM & POLICY WORK >
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Through its numerous workforce development projects, HDA works to expand and strengthen programs that enable people with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce and maximize self-sufficiency. The organization advocates on the local, state, and national levels to ensure that crucial public benefits programs are structured in such a way that individuals with disabilities are encouraged to seek and maintain employment.
HDA is the founder and convener of the National Consortium for Health Systems Development (NCHSD), a technical assistance partnership of states that have joined together to assist state Medicaid agencies, workforce development agencies, legislatures, consumers and advocates in their efforts to share information and build competitive employment for individuals with disabilities. NCHSD promotes state-to-state information sharing, provides individualized technical assistance, and disseminates best practices to a broad range of stakeholders around the country. This unique partnership is member-driven, and its work provides HDA with a solid perspective on the challenges facing state Medicaid agencies.
Through its Work Incentives Support Center (WISC), HDA provides training and technical assistance on the impact of employment income on Social Security Administration benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, subsidized housing, and other federal and state public benefits. WISC also works with government agencies, advocates, and service providers to ensure that these benefits systems properly implement their work-incentives programs. It enables individuals in Illinois to receive direct assistance on how work affects benefits and learn more about self-employment opportunities in their communities.
The Self-Employment Resources Network (SERN) seeks to locate self-employment resources, translate those resources into user-friendly terms, facilitate networking opportunities, and to identify best practice procedures for interested persons with disabilities wanting to be self-employed.
More information on these HDA programs and other ongoing workforce development activities is available in this section of the HDA website.
Online Library
HDA has a wide variety of documents related to workforce development in our online Materials Library.Here are some of the valuable resources you'll find there:
Understanding the New Outcome Milestone Ticket Payment System: What Kind of Revenue Can My State Expect?
This briefing paper will assist MIG grantees in better understanding what is required to receive payment under the Outcome Milestone payment system, which is, by far, the most common payment system chosen by Employment Networks . By understanding of how ENs are paid, MIGs will be better equipped to analyze where Ticket outreach can be most effectively targeted, determine what work incentive infrastructure may be necessary to create a more "Ticket friendly" environment, and estimate reasonable projections of what new revenue a state can expect. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work webpage in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
Quick Questions for Analyzing Ticket to Work for Your Agency
This document will help service providers who are Employment Networks estimate how much the new Ticket to Work payment system could impact agency revenue. It contains a short set of questions and a simple chart to make the analysis easy. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work page in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
Continuing Disability Reviews Process
Recipients of Social Security benefits, including SSI and SSDI, are subject to Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) or periodic checks of their medical condition to determine if they continue to meet disability standards. This document explains the CDR process. It describes how and when CDRs are conducted, and lists individuals' rights and protections within the review process.
