Happy New Year from Disabilities At Work! Disabilities At Work Announces its ‘Honor Roll’ of Businesses Since Disabilities At Work announced its first ‘Honor Roll’ of businesses in October with 44 having been recognized for going above and beyond in their hiring practices and/or philanthropy, 13 more have been added to the list. These are businesses that have been endorsed by agencies, service providers, and organizations working in special education. Go to www.DisabiltiesAtWork.org to see the full list and patronize these businesses to thank them for their support of the disabled community. Lime Connect Toddy Gutner of Reuters reported on Lime Connect (think fresh approach to disability) on November 28. Lime Connect helps students with disabilities get internships and careers at top corporations. Gutner’s story focused on a Georgetown senior named Molly Kirk. Molly Kirk knows she's lucky to have a job offer in the human resources training program at Google after graduation. Even with her excellent credentials, the Georgetown senior is quick to thank Lime Connect, an organization that partners with the world's leading corporations to offer summer internships to high-potential students with disabilities. "Lime Connect helped me come to terms with my disability, gain confidence and make powerful connections so that I can achieve outside the classroom," says Kirk, who is severely hearing-impaired and wears hearing aides. Students in their sophomore year apply online for 20 Lime Connect Fellowship slots. The application process is open from December to February at www.limeconnect.com. In addition to networking experiences, fellows get support on disclosing a disability and asking for accommodations. But perhaps the most rewarding part of the program is "the connections with other students with disabilities," Kirk says. Lime Connect partners currently include Google, Target, PepsiCo, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Other companies that have employed Lime Fellows include Apple, Cisco, McKinsey & Company and Barclays. "There are no special internships or positions put aside for our candidates," Lang says. "They compete with everyone else. All they're getting is the connection," she says. After the internship, many of them have landed jobs, like Kirk. According to Gutner’s story, Lime Connect has data compiled from government sources that shows an estimated 2.5 million U.S. undergrad and graduate students reported disabilities in 2008 -- or one in 10 students on university campuses nationwide. That is 130 percent more than the 1.1 million reported in 1996. Companies need to reach their diversity hiring goals and Lime Connect helps. "Lime Connect is the best way to break the stereotype in the workplace," says Tom Wilson, a former head of global talent sourcing and recruiting at Merrill Lynch and a Lime Connect board chairman. "When these companies get exposed to our exceptionally talented men and women who have already climbed a mountain and overcome something in their short lives to be successful, they want them on their team," he says. The 7 Percent Rule The Labor Department proposed a rule on December 8 that would require most companies with federal contracts to set goals of having disabled workers make up 7 percent of their workforce. Labor officials hailed the plan as an economic game-changer at a time when a staggering eight of 10 working-age Americans with disabilities are out of the workforce entirely. The government long has used the leverage of federal spending to promote affirmative action in the hiring of women and minorities. The new rule would, for the first time, give similar treatment to people with disabilities. Some businesses have indicated concern about increased costs, including for record-keeping and other paperwork. And Republican lawmakers have complained frequently about the costs that new regulations impose on businesses. The Labor Department will take comments on the rule for 60 days before it considers final approval this year. Read about it at: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/sec503/Sec503_Media_Release_2011-12-07.htm Kessler Gets Major Grant The Kessler Foundation recently received two government grants to study the impact of culture, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on the rehabilitation and reintegration of people with spinal cord injury. The grants total $296,261 and were awarded to Denise Fyffe, PhD, a research scientist in the Spinal Cord Injury/Outcomes & Assessment Laboratories. Dr. Fyffe, a clinical psychologist, is an expert in health disparities in underserved populations including the elderly and the disabled. The two-year Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-related Research for $266,261 was awarded by the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, and Skin Diseases. Dr. Fyffe will study the impact of culture on perceived health-related quality of life among children and young adults with disabilities. This grant enables Dr. Fyffe to enhance her expertise in rehabilitation medicine, outcomes measurement, psychometric theory and practice, and cultural adaptation of measurement instruments. Dr. Fyffe also was awarded $30,000 for a pilot project that will use data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center database to investigate social, cultural and clinical factors associated with poor functional outcomes in people with spinal cord injury. The Fine Nine The National Organization on Disability (NOD) cited nine companies that made hiring of employees with disabilities a corporate priority. The “Fine Nine” are: * Sam’s Club, one of the first companies to fund the NOD’s “Bridges to Business” program. * J.B. Hunt, the trucking company that was the first employer to join the consortium and enlist the  NOD to assist with policy review, personnel training and connections to disability placement agencies for 50 new positions. * Tyson Foods, for training recruiting managers and looking to implement best practices on a national level. * Lowe’s, which has a long-time commitment to hiring people with disabilities and builds awareness of the company’s job opportunities for people with disabilities. * Aetna, one of several New Jersey employers seeking to build a pipeline of candidates with disabilities. * Sodexo, also of New Jersey, which has identified 15 sites across the state to recruit candidates with disabilities. * ADP, which developed a process for identifying and recruiting qualified job candidates with disabilities. * Saint Barnabus Health Care System, which made a commitment to actively recruit and hire people with disabilities. * Toys R Us, for launching a disability employment effort in two of its distribution centers. Micro-Business Becomes Big Idea Julie Stagis of the Hartford Courant reported in November on the growing trend of “micro-businesses” as a way to provide employment opportunities to the disabled. She cited three such businesses in Connecticut: The Arc of Farmington’s wood bundling crew, Oak Hill’s NEAT Disability Equipment Center, and The Arc of Meriden-Wallingford’s Eatery and thrift shop. In the couple of months since the October 29 snowstorm that damaged countless trees throughout the state and knocked out power for some towns for up to 12 days, The Arc of Farmington Valley's wood-bundling crew has worked nonstop to supply local businesses and residences with packaged firewood. "We were getting calls left and right. It was a real motivating factor for the crew," said Stephen Morris, executive director of the organization, which is commonly known as FAVARH. "They took an ordinary job and it allowed people to stay in their homes, which was … really a critical need." The wood-bundling crew is one of several "micro-businesses" run by FAVARH, known as such because it was originally called the Farmington Valley Association for the Retarded and Handicapped. FAVARH, like many other organizations throughout the state and nation that help people with intellectual, cognitive and developmental disabilities, has developed in-house, small businesses to provide jobs for those who want to work. "Small businesses here are how we've responded to the economy," Morris said. "I like to think we're helping to right-size the economy. There aren't jobs for everyone who wants one." Some clients still work in groups, rolling silverware in restaurants or organizing magazine racks at the grocery store, and others are able to be employed individually, many as cashiers or store greeters. But organizations have found success in creating unique opportunities for those they help. Hartford's Oak Hill, formerly known as the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, runs the New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Disability Equipment Center, where used medical equipment is refurbished and sold at a steep discount to people who might be uninsured. When it started nine years ago, 54 pieces of equipment were sold, according to vice president Bruce Stovall. Last year, more than 1,500 pieces of equipment were sold. "We're not just employing people with disabilities, we're helping them," Stovall said. At the Arc of Meriden-Wallingford, the Arc Eatery and Dot's Thrift Shop were both born from clients' dreams. The restaurant was started as a pie-making enterprise years ago because it was hard for the individuals to find jobs in food service and, for many, "it's their real love," according to Pamela Fields, the agency's executive director. The restaurant employs 17 people, has a full menu and operates from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. And it has "regulars," many from surrounding businesses. Chef Joe Berg oversees the operation and works with people like Ray Weise to help them reach their goals. Weise, 21, dreams of going to culinary school and eventually opening his own restaurant. As recently as 10 years ago, much of the employment at places like FAVARH and the Arc of Meriden-Wallingford consisted of what was called sheltered workshops — generally, piecework from factories where clients would sit in a room and put together nuts and bolts, or whatever the factory needed. At the time, the Meriden Arc had 107 people doing that type of work, according to Fields. Today, there are 10 people doing piecework there. "The goal [today] is to get them out in the community," Fields said. Job Bank for Disabled Vets On November 11, the nation paid tribute to the country’s veterans. But veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan need more than just a celebratory show of support — they need jobs. The unemployment rate for these veterans is higher than the average for the general population, and for many — especially those returning with disabilities — transitioning to the civilian workforce can be daunting, despite the fact that veterans are a ready source of qualified candidates with transferable skills proven in real world situations. Now, a new tool can help businesses support veterans by specifically targeting them in workforce recruitment efforts. The recently launched Veterans Job Bank on NRD.gov offers veterans quick and easy access to hundreds of thousands of private-sector job opportunities, specifically targeted to veterans, by providing a list of current openings based on search criteria such as zip code and military occupational code (MOC). Businesses of all sizes and in all industries can participate in the Veterans Job Bank by tagging job announcements as "Veteran Committed" to ensure they are discoverable by the search engine. To learn how to do so, read Instructions for Employer Participation. The Veterans Job Bank is powered by the National Resource Directory (NRD), a collaborative effort among the U.S. Departments of Labor, Defense and Veterans Affairs. Congress Urged to Improve Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities At a Senate hearing in November, disability rights advocates urged Congress to consider the need for accessible public transportation. “The lack of available, affordable and accessible transportation is one of the most significant and persistent problems faced by people with disabilities,” said Billy Altom, executive director of the Association of Programs for Rural and Independent Living (APRIL). During the hearing at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), the challenges faced by people with disabilities was described - lack of accessible taxi cabs, lack of available transportation options in rural areas, and difficulties traveling by air. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public transportation services and requires it to be accessible to the disabled. Advocates said accessible transportation was critical for people with disabilities to pursue opportunities in education and employment. “This attitude that it can be optional to provide accessible transportation has got to change,” said HELP Chairman Tom Harkin, D. Iowa, at the closing of the hearing. International Disabilities Day On December 2, President Barack Obama, by presidential proclamation, declared December 2 to be International Day of Persons With Disabilities. “We recommit to ensuring people living with disabilities enjoy full equality and unhindered participation in all facets of our national life,” said the proclamation. “We recognize the myriad of contributions that persons with disabilities make at home and abroad, and we remember that disability rights are universal rights to be recognized and promoted around the world.” “We have striven to bring the American dream and comprehensive opportunities in education, health care, and employment within reach for every individual. These actions -- made possible only through the tireless and ongoing efforts of the disability community -- affirm our commitment to an equitable and just society where every American can play a part in securing a prosperous future for our Nation.” “To fulfill this promise not only in America, but around the world, my Administration is putting disability rights at the heart of our Nation's foreign policy. With leadership from the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development, we are collaborating across governments and in close consultation with the global disability community to expand access to education, health care, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and other development programs.”