NYAPRS Note: In October, 2014, Governor Cuomo established a Commission to create an Employment First policy in NY. The Commission released a report and recommendations for the creation and implementation of this ambitious policy. The impact of this policy will contribute to initiatives that invest in the employment of community members with disabilities, including social indicators like transportation and social service benefits as barriers to gainful employment. Below is the Executive Summary of the Commission’s report. Click here to read the full document.
New York State Employment First Commission
Executive Summary; 3/1/2015
Everyone has the right to work. It is this underlying premise that is the driving force behind the development of an Employment First policy in New York State. On September 17, 2014 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed Executive Order 136 to create a commission to establish an Employment First policy for New York State. The state seeks to build on important economic development investments the governor has made to ensure that individuals with disabilities equally benefit from the improving economy and have sustained opportunities to engage in the competitive labor market. Specifically, the state aims to increase the employment rate of individuals with disabilities by 5%; decrease the poverty rate of individuals with disabilities by a comparable 5%; and engage 100 businesses in adopting policies and practices that support the integrated employment of individuals with disabilities.
This report outlines the recommendations of the Employment First Commission, which held two statewide public listening sessions and received verbal and written input from more than 30 advocacy, trade, and provider organizations, as well as several individuals. Based on this input, the commission has developed the following recommendations:
1. Cultural Modeling: New York State agencies can model the integrated employment of individuals with disabilities. Whether through enhancements to the governor’s programs to hire persons/veterans with disabilities (sections 55-b and -c of New York State Civil Service Law), or through community-based organizations directly hiring individuals, a strong culture of employment first must be established (page 13).
2. Energizing the “Demand-Side” of the Equation: Redesign and reinvigorate the New York Business Leadership Network to pursue the aggressive goal of engaging 100 business partners. A business first platform can be established through promoting existing tax credits, supporting businesses to pursue federal contracts, and harnessing the power of New York’s regional economic development efforts (page 13).
3. New York Employment Services System (NYESS): The NYESS system has already distinguished New York as the leader in moving individuals with disabilities into the world of employment as the largest Social Security Administration Ticket to Work (TTW) network in the nation. Ensuring the full adoption of the system across community providers and state agencies will utilize the power of New York’s integrated employment case management system to comprehensively monitor and support employment outcomes in New York State (page 14).
4. Benefits Advisement: Benefits systems are complex and only limited resources are available to help individuals accurately understand eligibility requirements and the impact of employment on benefits. New York State can utilize emerging tools like Disability Benefits 101 (DB101) and a network of “life coaches” to expand benefits advisement (page 15).
5. Medicaid Buy-In for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD): New York can integrate the MBI-WPD program into the online New York State of Health application portal, automating and standardizing eligibility determinations and referring applicants who require additional assistance (page 15).
6. Transportation: Transportation to work is a key element for employment success. A cross-agency taskforce can examine barriers to integrated transportation; identify potential solutions, such as a rural transportation tax credit; and build on initiatives like the proposed mobility transportation project (page 16).
7. Education: New York State will continue to support schools in embracing approaches that increase the integration of students in their communities. The Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE) grant will guide ongoing policy and practice around early employment supports for individuals with disabilities and offer coaching for their families. Options for local school districts include implementation of a “school of choice” for students, and revisiting the array of available credentials/diplomas. Local schools districts should be supported with best practices that would give them the ability to place a greater emphasis on career planning and counseling for all students, resulting in better long-term outcomes (page 16).
8. Creating an Employment First Service Culture: Training is recommended for direct support professionals, with an emphasis on the skills needed to deliver employment support services focused on achieving individualized goals (page 17).
9. Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship: Expanding upon the New York State Education Department’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) model of engaging New York State entrepreneurial assistance programs and/or small business development centers will facilitate the development of small businesses operated by individuals with disabilities (page 17).
10. Expanded Access to Assistive Technology: Increasing access to assistive technologies through a strategic partnership with the Office for Children and Family Services (OTDA), ACCES-VR, and the Justice Center administered Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID), the inventory of employment-related devices can be expanded and training increased on the use of such devices (page 17).
11. Outcome Measures: Progress toward these goals can be measured using NYESS to compare Medicaid data to New York wage data, enabling the detection of changes in the employment and poverty rates. Timeframes associated with attainment of these rigorous goals should be established in conjunction with a strategy for implementation. An independent academic body should be engaged to review the ongoing progress toward attainment of the projected goals (page 18).
While New York State has made significant progress in developing an Employment First framework, through a variety of collaborations across federal, state, private, and public partners, New York State’s full potential has yet to be realized. The Employment First Commission believes that New York State can accomplish the goals of Employment First by engaging in a statewide comprehensive, cross-disability, cross-sector approach to removing employment barriers and by establishing clear policies to promote the hiring of individuals with disabilities. The commission believes that the recommendations, when adopted, will prove to be the catalyst for realizing the Employment First vision in New York State.
http://programs.governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/Employment_First_March2015_final.pdf