Employment, FFY 2017-2022 State Plan, Information, Legislative, Resources, Self Advocacy

Employment

Written by Catherine Nielsen on .

The Council has long supported the forward movement of competitive, integrated employment in Nevada through the following partnerships and initiatives:

  • In addition to the above, the Council has provided sub-grants to many community and state agencies throughout the years to further competitive, integrated employment options for individuals with I/DD in Nevada.
  • The Council maintains active membership with the Association of People Supporting Employment First  (APSE), a national voice of the Employment First movement who’s mission is to advance employment equity for people with disabilities.
  • ABLE and Employment Report – Oct. 2019
  • To keep forward momentum, the Council sponsored the 2017 Nevada Statewide Summit on Implementing Integrated Employment in Nevada which included Plenary and Break-out sessions covering:
    • History on Disability Movement and efforts occurring across the nation.
    • Government as a Leader and Model.
    • Early and Timely School Assessment and Planning for Transitions.
    • Collaboration and Coordination
    • Meaningful lives for individuals w/IDD
    • Employer Engagement, Development and Support
    • Transportation.
  • The Council provided funds to create several informational videos. This clip is titled How Hard Is It To Find Work When You Have A Disability
  • Self-Advocate and Council member David Sorensen testified in favor of the 700 hour program at the Nevada Legislature. Read a copy of his testimony (PDF)
  • 700 Hour Program – The Council worked closely with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation and the Legislature to pass the 700 Hour Program; State as Model Employer under Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 284.327 and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 284.364 outline the provisions, AB192, approved 2017 Legislative Session “Establishing a Program for the Hiring of the People with Disabilities into the State Workforce”. NRS 284.327 states, “Temporary limited appointment of persons with disabilities. 1. To assist persons with disabilities certified by the Rehabilitation Division of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, appointing authorities are encouraged and authorized to make temporary limited appointments of certified persons with disabilities for a period not to exceed 700 hours notwithstanding that the positions so filled are continuing positions. A person with a disability who is certified by the Rehabilitation Division must be placed on the appropriate list for which the person is eligible. Each such person must possess the training and experience necessary for the position for which the person is certified.
  • NGCDD Council member Santa Perez was selected by U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez to serve on the new National Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, a key provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Ms. Perez was the only representative from Nevada. 
  • The Council supported Career Exploration Summer Camps where Washoe County Nevada High school students with disabilities take a week out of their summer to participate in these camps to receive real world experience and on the job education at integrated settings in their community as well as Vocational Opportunities for Inclusive Career Education (VOICE)  The goal of which is to provide job related and transition skills/training focused on having young adults with disabilities obtain competitive employment.
  • The Taskforce released Nevada’s Strategic Plan on Integrated Employment outlining goals and recommendations for 2015-2025 to achieve competitive, integrated employment in Nevada. The 2015 Integrated Employment Outreach Summary Report is a companion document to the strategic plan that provides detailed analysis of the outreach results and recommendations that were considered by the Taskforce.
  • The work done on the NGCDD Employment First Ad-Hoc Committee led to the creation of a white paper and a Position Statement on Integrated Employment which led to: Executive Order #2014-16 The Governor’s Task Force on Integrated Employment 0721 2014 issued by Governor Sandoval. This Executive Order created a Task Force to develop a strategic plan “creating a more integrated workforce and expanding competitive employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.” The NGCDD was an integral component of the task force. 
  • The Council provided a grant to the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities to host the Employment Policy Summit of 2010. The Summit brought Nevada’s DD Network Partners, stakeholders and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities together from across the state and laid the groundwork for the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (NGCDD) Employment First Ad-Hoc Committee.

For information on current or past initiatives contact Projects Manager, Marisol Rivas at mrivas@dhhs.nv.gov.