New Fact Sheet: Customized Employment Q & A: Addressing Concerns Related to Losing Social Security and Health Care Benefits

T-TAP conducted a national survey of Community Rehabilitation Programs asking them their opinion regarding what factors maintain sub-minimum wage employment for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, respondents were asked their opinion on the following statement: "Fear of losing benefits such as SSI, SSDI, and/or other health care is one of the primary reasons individuals in our sub-minimum wage programs / 14 (c) programs do not want competitive jobs." View this factsheet

NEW! 2007 Start-up USA Self-Employment Webcast Series

A Self-Employment Success Story
Date: March 21, 2007, Time: 2:00 - 2:45pm ET
Presenter: Don Whittecar

You can't start your own business!" This negative attitude was just one of the challenges that Don Whittecar faced when he decided to be self-employed. In this webcast, Don will share his journey in becoming a successful photographer and artist. Discover how he advocated for himself to receive training, obtain a grant to purchase photographic darkroom equipment, find assistance with developing a business plan, and develop a PASS that enabled him to establish his wildlife photography profession. Find out more about this Webcast or Register for the Entire Series * Scholarships are available to individuals with disabilities who are thinking about starting a business. Please contact Katherine Inge at kinge@vcu.edu to learn more.

Lessons Learned - Developing Linkages to Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach Services

EmployAbility is one of the first agencies that T-TAP selected to receive technical assistance when the project began in 2002. Agencies responded to a request for proposals, and EmployAbility received a year of intensive support from project staff and a mentor agency that has been successful in moving individuals with disabilities into customized positions in the community earning at least minimum wages. Read more about EmployAbility in this brief on lessons learned.

Steve Korte

Cathy Healy

Online Seminar

Small Businesses: Creating Opportunities for Workers with Disabilities
Steve Korte

This presentation focuses on the Center for Workforce Preparation of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and how local chambers of commerce play a pivotal role as a workforce intermediary. In addition, it also shows the challenges small business owners face in maintaining their competitiveness and how a trusted source can be an invaluable partner in ensuring a quality workforce.

View this online seminar

Upcoming Webcast in the 2007 CRP Webcast Series

The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Project SEARCH Program - An Innovative Employment Program
Date: 3/20/2007, Time: 2:00 - 2:45pm ET
Presenter: Susie Rutkowski

Susie Rutkowski, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, Manager of Disability Education and Co-Director of Project SEARCH Ten years ago, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center partnered with Great Oaks Institute of Technology to create an on-site business based transition program. Project SEARCH is a one year program for students and young adults beginning at age 18. The key concepts of this program include immersion of the young person at the organization for one school year, 3-4 internships in the organization, employability curriculum taught on and off the job, on-site staff including special education instructor and job coaches, and employment outcomes. This program has grown to include other business settings and has expanded throughout Ohio and across the country. Find out why this program is successful and if it could work in your community. Register for this webcast or view the entire CRP Series