Open House and Ribbon Cutting at CILCP’s Newport Office

New Resource Site Available for People with Disabilities

(Newport, Pa.) – The Camp Hill-based Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP), a local nonprofit organization serving people with disabilities, is celebrating the official opening of its Newport office.

Set for Wednesday, August 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event will begin with a representative from the Perry County Chamber of Commerce holding an official ribbon cutting. Newport Mayor Mary Hetrick will be speaking at 10:30 a.m., followed by remarks from Theo Braddy, Executive Director of CILCP.

“CILCP’s decades of experience, understanding staff, and availability of resources have positioned the organization as a leader in improving equality, expanding opportunities and increasing independence for people with disabilities. The Newport office is just another example of how we reach out to the disability community to bring them the best resources out there,” said Braddy.

Invitees include local officials and media, representatives from CILCP, area agencies and organizations that provide services to people with disabilities, and local dignitaries who have played a role in the realization of the new office. The community is also invited to attend and tour the new facility and learn about the services offered.

The open house features an art exhibit, with works created by people with disabilities. Also plan on stopping by the Hall’s Ice Cream truck for a taste of their famous Perry County-made ice cream!

The Center’s Living Well With A Disability initiative, a free resource available to individuals with any type of disability, connects people with disabilities to the services, programs and support they need to achieve their goals and dreams. Individuals with any type of disability are encouraged to attend and sign up for a free Living Well With A Disability assessment. 

The Newport office, located at 100 North Second Street, will provide numerous unique resources to Newport residents and the surrounding communities. These resources include:

• An accessible community room that can be used by various agencies at no cost. 
• Independent Living Skills Training offered throughout the year.  Examples of trainings include basic meal preparation/nutrition, home safety, personal care management, effective communication skills, financial training such as personal finance budgeting, credit score and identity theft. Self-advocacy training will also be provided to address health care, employment, transportation and access to assistive technology.
• Opportunities for recreation, connecting with others, and helping others.
• An Internet café equipped with free Internet access available to consumers.
• Scheduled exercise classes that will be opened to the general public for a nominal fee and free to CILCP consumers.
• An experienced Living Well Specialist, who will be available from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide living well services and resources to persons with disabilities, family members and the community. 
• A source for businesses and agencies to obtain information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability issues and disability awareness training.

  CILCP staff will be available during the open house and ribbon cutting to answer any questions. 

About Center for Independent Living of Central PA
The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) is a consumer-controlled, cross-disability organization dedicated to assisting people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyles. The organization assists individuals with any type of disability to find resources available to meet their needs, wishes and aspirations through Living Well With A Disability. To learn more about the CILCP visit their website at www.cilcp.org, and to learn more about Living Well With A Disability, visit www.LivingWellWithADisability.org.
For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or email at debbie@suasion.us.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reappoints Lawrence to Disciplinary Board

(Harrisburg, Pa.) – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has reappointed Gerald Lawrence, Jr., a shareholder and head of the Pennsylvania office of the law firm of Lowey Dannenberg Cohen & Hart, P.C., to a term on the Disciplinary Board running through April 2014.

“It’s an honor to be selected and to serve on the Disciplinary Board in support of its important functions of protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the profession,” said Lawrence.

An independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Disciplinary Board assists the Supreme Court in executing exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The Board consists of 11 attorneys and two non-lawyers from across the state and meets regularly to decide cases, policies and board administrative matters.

“To practice law is a privilege. I find my service on the Disciplinary Board to be a meaningful way to give something back to the profession and to the Commonwealth community,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence represents institutions and individuals in a range of securities, corporate governance and antitrust litigation. He often represents third-party payers, including major health insurers and HMOs, employers, and health and pharmacy benefits plans, and recovers on their behalf from providers who overcharge for prescription drugs, medical devices or services.

He has been recognized as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” every year since 2005. In addition, in May 2008, Lawrence was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in Philadelphia” by Philadelphia Magazine and Law & Politics magazine.

Lawrence serves as Commissioner of Voter Registration of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He is the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee Southeast Caucus, and has served in a variety of political positions. Lawrence served as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and as an Alternate Delegate in 2000.

A graduate of Georgetown University and the Villanova University School of Law, Lawrence is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New York, as well as in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Southern District of New York.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA
The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board, please visit www.padb.us.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or via email at debbie@suasion.us.

Nasatir Reappointed to Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA

(Harrisburg, Pa.) – David A. Nasatir, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP, was recently reappointed to his second 3-year term on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA.

“I’m humbled and honored to receive this reappointment; it’s such a tremendous opportunity to protect the public and the profession from people who misuse their power,” said Nasatir.

An independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Disciplinary Board assists the Supreme Court in executing exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The Board consists of 11 attorneys and two non-lawyers from across the state and meets regularly to decide cases, policies and board administrative matters.

“Of all the pro bono and civic activities in which I’m involved, this is by far the most important and rewarding,” he said.

As head of Thorp Reed & Armstrong’s Business and Finance team in Philadelphia, Nasatir concentrates his practice in the areas of creditors’ rights, lender liability, finance, municipal law, business law and real estate development.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007, he was selected as one of the “Pennsylvania Rising Stars” as noted in Philadelphia magazine and “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® - Rising Stars Edition.”

In 2010 and 2011, he was selected as one of the “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®” as noted in Philadelphia magazine.

Nasatir also currently serves on the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) Board of Directors.

He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. He is a frequent lecturer and member of the American, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

Nasatir and his wife, Dara, a former law clerk for Justice Seamus McCaffery, are the parents of three children. They are very active in their local community and synagogue.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA
The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board, please visit www.padb.us.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or via email at debbie@suasion.us.

Two-Term Member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Appointed Vice-Chair

(Harrisburg, Pa.) – Stewart L. Cohen, a trial lawyer with the Philadelphia law firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C., has been appointed Vice-Chair of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Cohen has served as a member of the Board since April 2007.

An independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Disciplinary Board assists the Supreme Court in executing exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The Board consists of 11 attorneys and two non-lawyers from across the state and meets regularly to decide cases, policies and board administrative matters.

“It is truly an honor to be appointed to this position,” Cohen states. “I appreciate the vote of confidence of Chief Justice Castille and the Supreme Court, and I commit myself to ensuring that the court, the bar and our citizens continue to have assurance in our disciplinary system.”

Cohen has led a successful and highly lauded career since graduating from Temple University School of Law in 1977. Serving as a private practice lawyer for clients across the nation, Cohen specializes in complex litigation, including individual and class action cases. He has represented plaintiffs in numerous groundbreaking cases, including a “Top 100 Jury Verdict” in the United States in 2005, and a “Top 20 Award” in New Jersey in 2009.

Currently, Cohen holds membership in the American, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and New York Bar Associations. He is also a member the American Association for Justice, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers of America Association, and the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers of America Association.

Cohen recently received the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from his alma mater, The Pennsylvania State University, where he also delivered a commencement speech in 2008, and he will be the keynote speaker at Harvard Medical School’s Anesthesia 2011 Update: “Innovation and Transformation in Anesthesiology” in mid-May.

Cohen and his wife, Karen, have raised three daughters and support a number of causes related to people with disabilities. Cohen is Emeritus member of the board of directors of the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Philadelphia and Vicinity. On behalf of this organization, Cohen and his wife are co-chairing the 2011 UCP Motor Cars event. In addition, he served as the founding board member and is past president of the board of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA
The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board, please visit www.padb.us.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or via email at debbie@suasion.us.

Former President Judge of the Court of Judicial Conduct Appointed Chair of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA

(Harrisburg, Pa.) – Sal Cognetti, Jr., a partner at Foley, Cognetti, Comerford, Cimini, & Cummins in Scranton, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Cognetti, a civil practitioner specializing in personal injury litigation, has served as a member of the Board since 2006.

In 2000, former Governor Tom Ridge appointed Cognetti to serve as a judge of the Court of Judicial Conduct, and, in 2003, Cognetti was elected President Judge of the Court. With his recent appointment as Chair of the Disciplinary Board, Cognetti becomes the first lawyer to have led the two highest disciplinary bodies in Pennsylvania.

“My predecessors have set a high standard, and I am committed to maintaining the Board’s reputation for excellence as I continue the outstanding work they have initiated,” states Cognetti. “I also hope to address the technological changes that are happening in the legal profession, working toward a paperless method of communication within the Board and addressing the effects of technology on legal practices to ensure ethical standards are maintained.”

As an independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Disciplinary Board assists the Supreme Court in executing its exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The Board consists of 11 attorneys and two non-lawyers from across the state and meets regularly to decide cases, policies and board administrative matters.

Cognetti has had a full and diverse career since graduating from Fordham University and Georgetown University Law. Cognetti began his career in the Honors Program of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., eventually becoming the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Cognetti is the former owner, vice-president and general counsel of Jos. Notarianni & Co., Inc., and is also a former Chairman of the Board of First Family Bank in Clifton, N.J. Cognetti presently serves as a Trustee for Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

A number of organizations have recognized Cognetti’s excellence as a lawyer; the American Trial Lawyers Association named him among the top 100 trial lawyers, and he has been continually listed as a Super Lawyer.

Currently, Cognetti holds membership in the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, American Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association. He has also served on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Policy Council for Violence Prevention.

Cognetti, a Scranton native, and his wife, Susan, are the parents of nine children.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA
The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board, please visit www.padb.us.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or via email at debbie@suasion.us.

Prominent Philadelphia Attorney Reappointed to the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA

Bevilacqua Begins Second Three-Year Term

(Harrisburg, Pa.) – Gabriel L.I. Bevilacqua, a partner in the Philadelphia law firm of Saul Ewing, LLP, has been reappointed to his second three-year term on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

“I am privileged to serve on the Disciplinary Board, and appreciate the special honor I’ve received both in the initial appointment to the Board, and now, with this reappointment,” said Mr. Bevilacqua.

An independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Disciplinary Board assists the Supreme Court in executing exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The Board consists of 11 attorneys and two non-lawyers from across the state and meets regularly to decide cases, policies and board administrative matters.

Mr. Bevilacqua, who concentrates his practice in the representation of medical specialty boards, was, in 2004, the 77th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Previously appointed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Appellate Rules Advisory Committee, he has lectured on the Court’s “Bridge the Gap” program, which addresses the transition for new attorneys from law school to legal practice.

Mr. Bevilacqua is General Counsel for the American Board of Surgery, Inc., a position he has held since 2010.

Prior to joining Saul Ewing, LLP in 1984, Mr. Bevilacqua served in the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department, where he held positions including Chief Deputy City Solicitor, Chief of Major Trials, and Chairman of the Litigation Department. Additionally, he has served as an arbitrator for both federal and state courts, and as Judge Pro Tem in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

A graduate of St. Joseph’s University, he earned his law degree from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA
The Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Pennsylvania. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary Board, please visit http://www.padb.us/.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or via email at debbie@suasion.us.

Event Supports the Right to Live Well

Center for Independent Living of Central PA Will Raise Funds to Support Programs for Persons with Disabilities

(Camp Hill, Pa.) - The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) is holding its 3rd Annual Walk ‘N Roll for Living Well in support of its award-winning Living Well With A Disability™ program.

Walk ‘N Roll for Living Well will kick off at 10 a.m. from Harrisburg’s City Island on Saturday, July 23, 2011, rain or shine. People with and without disabilities are invited to walk, jog, roll or ride three laps around City Island before enjoying a free lunch. Music, exhibitors’ tables and other entertainment will be provided.

Living Well With A Disability not only provides all the resources and services necessary for people with disabilities to meet basic needs, but also to achieve lifelong goals, from earning a GED, to learning to snorkel, to obtaining employment and everything in between.

“The Walk ‘N Roll is a celebration of the human spirit. It is the coming together of persons with and without disabilities, families and friends to celebrate our accomplishments and recognize the 21st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is the law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability,” states Executive Director of CILCP Theo Braddy.

Participants who register by June 24, 2011 will receive a free t-shirt and a discounted registration fee of $20. After June 24, the registration fee is $25 and participants are not guaranteed a t-shirt. Children age 5 and under may participate for free but will not receive a t-shirt.

Tanya Foster, evening news anchor from CBS21 and Central PA’s Living Well With A Disability spokesperson, will serve as host for the event. Additional speakers will also be on hand, including Mayor Linda Thompson. Also, Kiss FM DJ Aaron Price will be on site to pump up the crowd!

For more information or to register, visit www.CILCP.org or call 717-731-1900 / 717-737-1335 (TTY). Participants may also register on the day of the event at the Carousel Pavilion. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the Walk ‘N Roll starts at 10:00 a.m. All City Island facilities and the route are accessible. A sign language interpreter/CART service will be on site.

About Center for Independent Living of Central PA
The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) is a consumer-controlled, cross-disability organization dedicated to assisting people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyles. The organization assists individuals with any type of disability to find resources available to meet their needs, wishes and aspirations through Living Well With A Disability. To learn more about the CILCP visit their website at www.cilcp.org, and to learn more about Living Well With A Disability, visit www.LivingWellWithADisability.org.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact Debbie Rozelle at 717-432-2468 or email at Debbie@suasion.us.

New Service Now Available for Growing Hispanic Community

(Camp Hill, Pa.) - There’s a new voice at the Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC) to further assist the more than 60,000 Hispanic residents who live in the five-county Harrisburg area. Nadine Rodriguez, a Living Well Specialist from the Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP), will be available at LHACC to provide services for people to live well with a disability.

CILCP prides itself on being a one-stop resource for all the services and information a person with a disability may need to live the life he or she wants.  CILCP provides those opportunities through Living Well With A Disability ™, a complementary program to LHACC.

“Our center’s mission is to provide information and referral services to the Hispanic community. Bringing in Nadine and the information she provides will further add to that mission,” Executive Director of LHACC, Carlos Lopez, said.

“We partner with over 85 organizations to serve Spanish-speaking individuals, and our partnership with CILCP is an exciting new opportunity for people with disabilities in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties,” Lopez added.

LHACC provides referrals to organizations to assist Spanish-speaking individuals in areas of employment, immigration, transportation and housing.  Through Living Well With A Disability ™, CILCP conducts one-on-one surveys to identify those needs and even the person’s aspirations such as socialization, obtaining a GED or filming a documentary.  After setting those goals Living Well Specialists, like Nadine, work with the person to identify the steps and resources needed to meet them.

“I will be the liaison for Spanish-speaking people with disabilities and all the programs CILCP has to offer. Having CILCP represented at the center will allow people to gain information on disability services and will be beneficial to both CILCP and LHACC consumers,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez will be available to conduct surveys and work with community members at LHACC every Thursday from 2 – 4:30 p.m.  Information on CILCP and the services they offer will be available at the center daily. LHACC is located at 1319 Derry St., Harrisburg, PA 17106.

For further information, contact Nadine Rodriguez at nrodriguez@cilcp.org or 717-731-1900.

About CILCP
The Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) is a consumer-controlled, cross-disability organization dedicated to assisting people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyles.  The organization assists individuals with any type of disability to find resources available to meet their needs, wishes and aspirations through Living Well With A Disability. To learn more about CILCP visit www.cilcp.org, and to learn more about Living Well With A Disability, visit www.livingwellwithadisability.org.

Disability Community Protests Commonwealth’s Changes to Home and Community Based Services

(Camp Hill, Pa.) – On March 23, members of the grassroots advocacy organization ADAPT attended the Home and Community Based Services Provider Meeting in Camp Hill to express their displeasure at the Commonwealth’s changes to the services that allow people with disabilities to live independently in the community.  Armed with protest signs, members of ADAPT from across the state demanded that the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) consider the effects their changes in home-based services are having on over 18,000 people with disabilities and senior citizens throughout Pennsylvania.

According to advocates in the disability community, the changes have taken effect despite the feedback they have provided and in some cases, without their input at all.  “We have not been heard throughout this entire process,” said Mike Auer, a member of ADAPT who attended the protest.  In his opinion, the problem is OLTL’s “poor planning on a major systems change issue which has negative consequences on consumers and providers.”  This change is “putting the system in crisis,” according to Auer. 

“We’re not going to sit back and let the system collapse, forcing people into unnecessary institutionalization which costs three times as much” Auer stated.  Protestors did have a brief amount of time yesterday to speak with David Gingerich, the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Aging.  During that discussion, Auer claims, Mr. Gingerich “vowed and promised to do everything in his power to get us a meeting with state officials who can effect change in this matter.”

The problems arise when OLTL, who has been using the same reimbursement rate structure for in-home services for 20 years, changed one of the rates without realizing the impact it would have and how different rates support each other.  This has a drastic effect on the nonprofit organizations and businesses that provide in-home care to people with disabilities.  These agencies are now struggling to continue services because the money for them is coming in slowly or not at all.

Services are also being interrupted by OLTL’s other change, the introduction of an Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB).  An enrollment must be completed for a person to be approved for services.  Due to the change, only one agency is conducting enrollments statewide and claims are arising that the new IEB is not conducting them in a timely manner.  “Our people are stuck in a pipeline and being treated as second citizens,” said Mike Auer.

Even when enrollments are being done, the questions that are being asked are “invasive and have nothing to do with the use of or eligibility for Home and Community Based Services,” according to Auer.  These personal questions can include a person’s level of education and whether or not they are considered a burden to their family, which is an invasion of privacy that can leave the person feeling uncomfortable.

ADAPT’s goal is to meet with Governor Corbett to discuss these changes and have them rolled back temporarily until a suitable system can be put into place.  To help ADAPT be heard and to save Home and Community Based Services for all senior citizens and people with disabilities in Pennsylvania, please contact your legislator and ask them to voice their support for a meeting between the Governor and ADAPT.  Calls to Governor Corbett’s office directly at (717) 787-2500 are also welcome.

National Report Finds People with Disabilities Meet or Exceed Job Performance of Co-Workers Without Disabilities

HARRISBURG, PA – Since October 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s “Works for me” campaign has been educating Pennsylvania employers about the facts and benefits of hiring people with disabilities.  A common fear of many employers is that people with disabilities will be unable to meet performance standards, thus making them an employment risk.  A report just released by the U.S. Department of Labor, shows that people with disabilities MEET or EXCEED the job performance of their co-workers without disabilities. 

“Most people with disabilities are able and want to work,” Stacy Kyle, “Works for me” Employer Coordinator, said.  “This recent national study is further evidence that people with disabilities are an asset to employers rather than a liability as they consistently rate the same or better in job performance compared to their colleagues without disabilities.”

The April 2011 study also notes that as high unemployment continues to be a serious problem for the disability community, companies in many industries report having trouble finding enough skilled workers to fill available jobs.

“People with disabilities are a valuable pool of talent that is essentially an untapped resource,” Kyle explains.  “Hiring people with disabilities have many benefits to employers, the economy, Pennsylvania and to people with disabilities themselves and their families.” 

The report, Ready and Able: Addressing Labor Market Needs and Building Productive Careers for People with Disabilities Through Collaborative Approaches, was published by the National Technical Assistance and Research Center to Promote Leadership for Increasing Employment and Economic Independence of Adults with Disabilities (NTAR Leadership Center).  The report was published under a grant/contract from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.  The complete report can be viewed at http://www.dol.gov/odep/categories/workforce/ReadyAble/ReadyAble.pdf.

NTAR Leadership Center at Rutgers University chose to address the issue by conducting research on employer and market-driven initiatives to recruit, hire, train and retain people with disabilities.  Using a case study approach, researchers selected 13 diverse examples from around the nation of partnerships—between employers and trusted workforce intermediaries—with a track record of helping employers recruit, hire, train and retain employees with disabilities.  Profiled companies include Walgreens, Lockheed Martin and Manpower Inc. 

In addition to job performance, NTAR Leadership Center researchers found several overall themes, identified as key Ready and Able findings:

• Employers respond to a business case for employing people with disabilities
• Innovative collaborations with and between workforce-supplying organizations enable employer efforts to recruit, hire, train and support employees with disabilities
• Collaborations ensure that workers are qualified and productive
• Successful collaborations nurture and reward continuous leadership

“Educating all employers including small and medium-sized companies about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities is an important goal of “Works for me.”  But, it’s also about connecting employers with organizations that can provide helpful support, thus building successful collaborations.  This report reinforces our vision and approach to helping employers recruit, hire, train and retain employees with disabilities,” Kyle added. 

“Works for me” provides free, customized resources to Pennsylvania employers based upon where the business or company is in their level of knowledge and employment experience with people with disabilities.  Employers are gently guided through a continuum with the end goal of solidifying relationships with qualified people with disabilities who could be potential employment candidates. 

Recognizing that some employers may not be ready to hire a person with a disability, “Works for me” provides educational resources, tools and materials that offer accurate information addressing specific hesitations and concerns.  Employers are encouraged to watch website videos and subscribe to the “Works for me” monthly e-newsletter (http://www.worksforme-pa.org/sign-up-for-our-enewsletter.html) to obtain valuable information including stories of Pa. employers who’ve hired people with disabilities. 

For more information about “Works for me,” please visit www.WorksForMe-PA.org or call the hotline at 1-877-268-9894.  For more information about this press release, contact Karen Gross at 717-432-2468. 

This document was produced with funds from the CMS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (CFDA#93.768). 

# # #

STATISTICS:

The national unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 14.4 percent in June 2010, five percentage points higher than for workers with no disabilities. 

The U.S. Census Bureau reported nearly 888,000 Pennsylvanians have disabilities and just fewer than 398,000 people with disabilities are in the workforce. 

Source:  Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pa-human-relations-commission-marks-20th-anniversary-of-americans-with-disabilities-act-99239659.html

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