“Everybody can be great... Because anybody can

serve.”Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Including Individuals with Disabilities in National & Community Service in

Illinois

www.SERVICEandINCLUSION.org

Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)

Sampling of Training and Technical Assistance Topics:

• Values That Guide and Current Best Practices on Inclusion• Disclosure• Outreach, Recruitment, and Retention• Legal Responsibilities• Reasonable Accommodations• Accessibility and Universal Design Specialized Topics• Developing a Collaborative Action Plan for Inclusion• The History of the Independent Living Movement• Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities• Disability Inclusion in Culturally Diverse Communities• Tips and Tools to Assist Senior Citizens to Live Independently

• What experience(s) have you had in the past with inclusion of people with disabilities?

• What are your “burning questions” about inclusion of people with disabilities?

How do you define

“disability”?

“Disability” as Defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act &

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)• A physical or mental impairment that substantially

limits one or more major life activities• A history or record of such an impairment• Being regarded as having such an impairment, even

when no limitations exist• Someone who has an association with someone with a

disability

“Major Life Activity” is Anything an Average Person Can Do with Little or No Difficulty

Major life activities include, but are not limited to:

operation of major bodily functions such as the immune system, normal cell growth and the endocrine system.

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/bulletins/adaaa1.htm

ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) Additions:

“Substantially limits”

…unable to perform, or significantly limited in the ability to perform, an activity as compared with an average person. Factors to be considered are:

1. Its nature and severity2. How long it will last or is expected to last, and3. Its permanent or long-term impact, or expected

impact

Exclusions from Coverage Defined by the Law

• Current drug use is not protected by the ADA

• Temporary, non-chronic impairments that do not last for a long time and that have little or no long term impact

People First Language

• The key is to use “person first” language because people with disabilities are human first and have a disability second

• For example…– “A person who is blind” instead of a

“a blind person”– “A student with epilepsy” instead of

“an epileptic” – “A boy who has Down’s Syndrome”

instead of “a retarded child”

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Most often, it’s best to call someone by

name, not by a label.

Disability in Illinois• According to the American Community Survey

in 2008 10.3 % of people in Illinois reported having one or more disability. – That is more than a million people!

Disability Laws

How do the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

impact your program?

Intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 & the Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA)

• Ensure non-discrimination against people with disability

• Ensure equal access and opportunity

“No otherwise qualified disabled individual in the United States… shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Rehabilitation Act Applies to:

1. Federally conducted programs2. Federal contractors and

grantees3. Federally assisted programs

• The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in:• Employment• State and local government• public accommodations• commercial facilities• transportation• telecommunications.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

The 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

April 21, 2009

Disability Inclusion• Increases money for outreach and placement• Expands to all national service grant programs• Allows members to serve up to the equivalent

of 2 full-time educations awards

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Facilitates (more) inclusion by:– Authorizing a significant increase in the funding

available for disability inclusion activities BUT remember authorization does not equal appropriation

– Authorizing the use of inclusion funds across all national service programs, for e.g.

• Reasonable Accommodations funds are now available for other national service program participants, as applicable

• Training and technical assistance extends to grantees and potential grantees

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Select Highlights…• …collaborate with organizations with demonstrated expertise in

supporting and accommodating individuals with disabilities, including institutions of higher education, to increase the number of participants with disabilities

• …provide and disseminate information regarding methods to make service-learning programs and programs offered under the national service laws accessible to individuals with disabilities

• …outreach to …agencies and organizations serving veterans and individuals with disabilities…

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

In Summary…

Letter and Spirit of the Serve America Act encourages…

– Partnering/Collaborating– Going outside of our usual comfort zones

… to improve lives and communities through service and volunteering

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Why is Inclusion Important? - What do YOU think is the most important

reason to be more inclusive of people with disabilities?

- Share your reason with your group. - As a group, combine your reasons to create

a 30 second (or less) “sound bite” to explain why disability inclusion is important to national service programs.

Outreach and Recruitment

ImagesImages

WordsWords

FormatsFormats

Recruiting a diverse pool of volunteers

• Think about what you say in your recruiting materials

• Think about the images you use in your recruiting materials

• Think about what formats you use to recruit your volunteers

What you say

“Qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals and conduct all activities in fully accessible settings.”

“We are an equal opportunity program or organization.”

WordsWords

The images you use• Include pictures that reflect diversity in your

recruitment materials• Communicate to people who are typically

underrepresented that they will be valued members of your team

• Communicate to others that your organization values the contribution of all volunteers.

ImagesImages

The formats you use

• Ensure that your materials can be accessed by individuals with a varied array of abilities

• Electronic files can be printed larger, emailed to interested students, read by screen reader programs, etc.

• Have your videos captioned (or caption them yourself in YouTube!)

• http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=100077

FormatsFormats

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What is an inclusive service description and why is it

important?

Elements of a Service Description

• Service position title• Full or part time• Supervisor/title• Service position summary

• Working relationships• Knowledge, skills and

abilities• Academic qualifications• Service conditions• Physical, emotional,

intellectual demands • Equipment used

• Essential functions• Marginal functions

Inclusive Service Descriptions Essential and Marginal Functions

What is Essential?• Position exists to perform a specific function• Limited number of others who can do the function• Function is specialized; person selected because of

expertise

What is Marginal?• Tasks are preferential or secondary to essential

functions• Can be traded or done by another volunteer

Government Benefits and National Service

Some people with disabilities receive government benefits such as…

• SSI (Social Security Insurance)or

• SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

Can service impact my benefits?

Rules about Service and Benefits

• Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 – military tax and jobs bill– Includes provision to exclude AmeriCorps and NCCC

benefits from being counted as income for purposes of eligibility for SSI

• VISTA and Senior Corps were created earlier and therefore are covered by different legislation– In most cases VISTA and Senior Corps benefits are

excluded from being counted as income for purposes of eligibility for both SSI and SSDI

Who can help someone navigate their government benefits?

• SSA beneficiaries with disabilities who want to participate in national service can get help with benefits planning from the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project.– To find the WIPA project nearest to you, go to:

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate

Interview and Selection

If you agree, hold up a GREEN card

If you disagree, hold up a RED card

1. “Carrie asked appropriate questions”2. “Warren is a good candidate for this position”3. “I want to know more about Warren’s disability”4. “Warren should not have mentioned his disability

during the interview”5. “The interview went well”

Interview Questions that are OK

• Are you able to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodations?

• Can you describe how you would perform the following job functions (followed by a list of service duties)?

• Ask:– How would you?– What would you do if?– How long would it take to?

Interview Questions that are NOT OK

• Do you have a disability?

• Do you have any physical or mental impairments which might limit you in performing this job?

• Have you ever collected workers’ compensation?

• What medical conditions do you have?

• What information can you tell me about your disability?

Interview Inquiries and the Law

• No disability–related questions

verbal or written

• Questions should relate only to position requirements

• Medical examinations allowed after offer of position (only if required of all members)

Hints about Interviews and Accommodations

Offer the availability of accommodations prior to the interview

If someone discloses a disability, offer the availability of and process for acquiring accommodations

Do not ask for details about a requested accommodation during the interview

Not everyone with a disability needs an accommodation

Disclosure

• Culture of program environment– “Gossipy”– Excessively competitive– Racially insensitive

• Fear of potential reactions• Refusal by others to share equipment• Not relevant• Stigma associated with disability• Need to disclose to other people outside of

service program first

Why not simply disclose?

• Social isolation– Did not get close to people for fear of personal

questions• Feel compelled to misrepresent• Unable to request accommodations• Report less support than people who did disclose

– Individuals can’t request accommodation without disclosing their disability

• Stress of keeping the secret

Impact of non-disclosure

Things to Remember about Disclosure

• It is up to the individual to disclose a disability

• The amount of information provided about a disability is up to the individual

• If an individual discloses a disability, that information must be maintained confidentially and cannot be disclosed to others

• May share information regarding disabilities if member provides approval in writing or alternative verifiable method

• Human Resource personnel and supervisors are trained/informed in the confidentiality of medical, disability and accommodation-related information

Access and Reasonable Accommodations

What is Access? There are five different types of Access programs should think about…•Architectural•Programmatic•Technology•Communication•Alternate formats

Universal Design

Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design

For example…

Curb cuts: used by people using wheelchairs, but also parents pushing strollers, bicycles, travelers with rolling luggage.

Closed-captioned television: initially developed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but found in gyms, sports bars, and for watching T.V. at home. Curriculum Transformation and Disability.

Funded by U.S. Department of Education. Project #P333A990015. Copyright 2000.

Finding Examples of Universal Design

• In your group, read about the principle of Universal Design you have been given.

• Watch the video and find as many examples of your principle of Universal Design in action as possible.

• After the video, share…– Your principle– Examples from the video– One tip for how programs can consider your principle in

the design of their products and environments

Accommodations

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Accommodations

“Accommodations” are technology, services, and changes in policy, procedures, and the built environment that enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions or to equally participate in events and programs

- According to the Job Accommodation Network approximately 80% of accommodations cost less than $600 and more than 50% of reported accommodations cost nothing.

Think About Accommodations for…• Interviews

– Discuss only accommodations the candidate will need to participate in the interview

• Performing the essential functions of the position– After you offer the position – When someone discloses their disability – Possibly when the member/volunteer has a performance

issue.

• Participating in other program or team-related activities

Examples of Accommodations

“Because I’m blind doesn’t mean that I’m not intelligent, and it doesn’t mean that I can’t contribute. Because I need some accommodation or help in some areas, doesn’t mean that I don’t have a lot of tools that I can use in general society. I can read and write and think and do physical labor probably as well as the next person given the appropriate tools.”

-Steve Hoad

Former AmeriCorps member with Maine Conservation Corps

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Examples of Accommodations

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“I am considered a low vision person so reading is very difficult for me…I have a special reading glass at home but I wouldn’t bring it in because it’s difficult. I read with one eye. I don’t want the kids to realize that I am that disabled. that’s part of my problem maybe. Because they don't see me as that. I am the grandma that has to be read to. So, they read to me.”

-Ruth KofflerUnion-Snyder Foster Grandparent

Program

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Examples of Accommodations

“I work with AmeriCorps Service for 1 year. I have no interpreter. I only need an interpreter for meetings. I don't need that for work. I just write a note with some members and I taught some members some basic sign language like: "work, breaktime, what, where, why, toilet, see you later, bye, and hi". I can read lips a little bit, not long sentences just two or three words.”

-Kevin PachioHoopa AmeriCorps on Native Lands

Communicating with Host Sites

When can you share disability-related information about a member/volunteer?• When you have permission from the

member/volunteer• When you think the volunteer poses a

direct threat to themselves or others• Disability-related information can be

shared with first aid and safety personnel

Communicating the Importance of Disability Inclusion to Host Sites

• Work with your group to: – Decide what information about inclusion is important to

share with host sites– Make a plan to share that information. Include:

• How will you share information?• Who will share that information? • When will the information be shared? • How will you support host sites as they include members and

volunteers with disabilities?

– Create a list of resources you can share with host sites to build their capacity for inclusion