Monday, March 27, 2023

Play

Mobilizing Georgia voters in a non-election year is crucial for voting rights groups, Philadelphians over 50 will play a major role in the mayoral primary, and the EPA is finalizing a new air quality rule.

Play

Michigan becomes the first state in decades to repeal a "right to work" law, death penalty opponents say President Biden is not keeping campaign promises to halt federal executions, and more states move to weaken child labor protection laws.

Play

Finding childcare is a struggle everywhere, prompting North Carolina's Transylvania County to try a new approach. Maine is slowly building-out broadband access, but disagreements remain over whether local versus national companies should get the contracts, and specialty apps like "Farmers Dating" help those in small communities connect online.

NV Group Sounds Alarm on Integrated Work for Disabled Community

Play

Thursday, January 19, 2023   

One Nevada group believes the state needs to prioritize integrated employment opportunities for people living with disabilities.

The Nevada Statewide Independent Living Council believes the state has supported localized efforts in a siloed approach to workforce development within the disability community. They say it simply isn't working.

College of Southern Nevada history professor Sondra Cosgrove, who works with the group, said integrated employment is all about taking jobs and making them a better fit for people looking to work.

She said the COVID-19 pandemic forced many industries to rethink work arrangements - some opting for remote work, which she sees as a potential on-ramp for individuals with disabilities.

"Let's not let this moment pass us by," said Cosgrove. "We now know we can do jobs differently. We know now we can get way more people involved in the work force, because we had to switch on a dime so that everybody could do their job and we adapted."

Cosgrove said Nevada should keep those adaptions and implement new ones. She added that while work models ushered in by the pandemic are great, there are also more traditional jobs that can be better matched to individuals' skill sets.

Cosgrove said the disability community she works with wants self-sufficiency and independence.

Cosgrove added that she fears Nevada employers will want to default back to the way things were before the pandemic. She said many with disabilities are forced to live on welfare programs such as Medicaid and food stamps due to lack of opportunity.

She said part of the solution to help mitigate workforce shortages and rising poverty levels is to implement an Employment First approach that encourages collaboration from state agencies and organizations, ultimately granting this community a chance to work.

"We are integrating a population of people," said Cosgrove, "who just needs a little bit of help and a little bit of grace extended to them to be able to sit into those jobs available in our workforce, but not in a way that makes them stand out like they are different."

The group is working on drafting an executive order to be sent to Gov. Joe Lombardo and hope to have that ready by January 23.

According to the Nevada Statewide Independent Living Council, 40 states have already either adopted Employment First legislation or implemented an Executive Order. They are hoping to be added to that list.



Disclosure: Nevada Statewide Independent Living Council contributes to our fund for reporting on Disabilities, Poverty Issues, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
During this year's ACA open-enrollment period, a record high of more than 16 million people signed up, with 4.4 million more enrolled for health insurance coverage since 2021, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

It's been 13 years since more than 156,000 West Virginians gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. As sweeping and …


Social Issues

High school graduates have the option before taking their next academic step to choose a gap year - for traveling, relaxing, or researching different …

Environment

A bill designed to fight price-gouging at the gas pump is expected to pass the California State Assembly today and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom …


Student leaders learn about the estuary near Morro Rock, which is part of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. (Kai Monge)

Environment

This week, Hispanic environmental advocates are heading to Washington, D.C., from around the country to engage lawmakers on issues affecting us all…

Social Issues

Massachusetts, like other states, continues to struggle with a shortage of teachers. But for one English teacher at Martha's Vineyard Regional High …

Cancer care costs are expected to top more than $245 billion by 2030, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

Beginning next year, more Kentuckians will have expanded access to biomarker testing - which helps doctors customize cancer treatment. Advocates of …

Social Issues

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations on credit card late fees, which could save Americans billions of dollars…

Environment

Researchers with the University of New Hampshire are taking to the skies to study the state's increasingly fragmented forests. Urban and …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021