• Mission & Governance
• Services Overview
• How to Get Involved
• Standing Committees
• NCSL Foundation

• Issue Areas: A-Z
• State-Federal Relations
• NCSL Standing Committees
• News from D.C. and the States

• About State Legislatures
• Elections, Campaigns & Redistricting
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory
• Web Sites

• Online Guide to NCSL Services
• Staff Sections and Networks
• Meetings & Professional Development
• Staff Directories

• Meetings Calendar
• Online Registration
• Meetings Home Page
• Legislative Summit

• Bookstore
• State Legislatures Magazine
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory

Labor and Employment

Disabilities and Employment

Adults with Disabilities

• National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult
  
• NCWD/A News
  
• Customized Employment Projects
  
• WorkFORCE Action Grants
  
• Publications/Articles
  
• Related Links

 National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult (NCWD/A)

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) created the one-stop delivery system to assist everyone with basic employment services. The National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult (NCWD/A) is based at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts. The project is funded through the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). NCWD/A aims to enhance how people with disabilities are served at one-stops. NCWD/A provides training, technical assistance to state and local projects, policy analysis and information to improve access for all in the workforce development system. NCWD/A's website provides legislators with information and analysis on a range of issues, including key legislation, regulations, state and federal initiatives, and related topics.

In its role as partner of NCWD/A, NCSL provides state legislative bill tracking on issues related to people with disabilities and employment. NCSL also participates in other facets of NCWD/A work, including technical assistance to grantees.

NCWD/A News

Below are past issues of NCWD/A News E-Announcements.  To subscribe, click here.

• NAWB Forum Disability Sessions: A preview of the National Association of Workforce Board's annual conference
• WIA Reauthorization Proposals: Summaries of the House and Senate WIA reauthorization amendments
• WIA State Reports on Disability: States report disability-related activities
• WIA State Plans from a Disability Perspective: How WIA state plans look from a disability policy perspective

Customized Employment Projects

Customized Employment Projects are strategic planning, demonstration and systems change grants to improve the quality of employment outcomes for people with disabilities by providing customized employment services delivered through the One-Stop delivery system. Customized employment services may include self-employment, supported employment and job restructuring. Customized employment projects are in the following states:

- Alabama	- Michigan
- Alaska	- Minnesota
- California	- Montana
- Georgia	- New York
- Illinois	- Tennessee
- Indiana	- Texas
- Massachusetts	- Virginia
- Maryland	- Washington

Click here to learn more about customized employment.

NCSL Web-Assisted Audioconference

• Customized Employment:  Responding to the Needs of the Emerging Workforce
  On Tuesday, September 21, 2004, NCSL hosted a web-assisted audioconference on customized employment.  This audioconference featured a representitive from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, the director of the National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult and a local manager of a federally-funded grant site.  
  Click here to view the archive of this event.

WorkFORCE Action Grants

Olmstead WorkFORCE Action grants are demonstration grants to begin or expand the delivery and implementation of competitive, customized employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. There are six states with these grants: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Washington.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy funds these projects.

To learn more about the Customized Employment Projects or WorkFORCE Action grants, click here.

Publications/Articles

• Case Studies on the Implementation of the Workforce Investment Act: Spotlight on Kentucky
• Case Studies on the Implementation of the Workforce Investment Act: Spotlight on Maine
• Case Studies on the Implementation of the Workforce Investment Act: Spotlight on Minnesota
• H.R. 27, The Job Training Improvement Act of 2005: A section-by-section analysis from a disability perspective.
• Onestops.info briefs: A series of brief reports for people involved in all aspects of workforce development for customers with disabilities.
• White Papers: Longer publications on policy issues that affect the workforce development system.
• Access for All manual: The popular "One-Stop Manual" provides over 300 pages of information on serving customers with disabilities in the workforce development system. Many articles from the manual are available in the online Index.
• Related Publications: Briefs and reports on workforce, employment, and disability from the Institute for Community Inclusion and other NCWD partners.

Related Links

Workforce development is not the only issue tied to improving successful work outcomes for people with disabilities. Other related issues specific to adults with disabilities are listed below.

• Olmstead decision
  
• Ticket to Work Medicaid Buy-In Option
  
• Transportation coordination
  
• Housing

 Back to Disabilities and Employment Main Page