Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) Newsletter: December 1, 2023

Warmest wishes for a magical

Holiday Season from the PaRC!

We hope our newsletters help spread a little joy to all as we move into the festive season and onward throughout the New Year.

Can you guarantee that this year's big Holiday jamboree is going to be accessible for all your guests and loved ones? Check out the ADA Network's, "A Planning Guide for Making Temporary Events Accessible to People With Disabilities."

https://adata.org/guide/planning-guide-making-temporary-events-accessible-people-disabilities

Are you interested in learning more about how to help Veterans during the holidays?

https://veteran.com/how-to-help-veterans-during-the-holidays/

"The goal of most end-of-year celebrations is to show appreciation for employees. Leaders who want to be inclusive will focus on making workers feel that they belong and that their presence is valued."

https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/1118/pages/how-to-make-holiday-celebrations-more-inclusive.aspx

For many the holidays often uncover hidden layers of ignorance, ableism, exclusion, and resentment. So how can we make the holidays better all around?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewpulrang/2019/12/13/how-to-make-your-holidays-more-accessible/

10 Multicultural Holidays you may not know about

https://livelearn.ca/article/about-canada/9-multicultural-holiday-celebrations-you-may-not-be-aware-of/

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2024

https://www.ssa.gov/cola/

More than 71 million Americans will see a 3.2% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2024. 

https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-benefits-increase-in-2024/

2024 COLA Fact Sheet (PDF)

https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2024.pdf

Looking to make some big changes in 2024?

Check out the following resources from Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

JAN: Employees' practical guide to requesting and negotiating reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

https://askjan.org/publications/individuals/employee-guide.cfm

JAN: Role-Play Training Series: Telework as an Accommodation

https://youtu.be/e3doS4yz6Bg 

JAN: Make telework work

https://askjan.org/articles/Make-Telework-Work.cfm 

JAN: Teleconference accessibility and hearing - keeping deaf and hard of hearing employees in the loop

https://askjan.org/articles/Teleconference-Accessibility-and-Hearing-Keeping-Deaf-and-Hard-of-Hearing-Employees-in-the-Loop.cfm 

JAN: Disability Disclosure and the ADA

https://askjan.org/topics/Disability-Disclosure.cfm

Is advocacy for Disability Rights

and employment for people with disabilities

something you are passionate about?

Please help spread the word! 

The PaRC is accepting applications for candidates to fill the following categories of representation that are currently open:

• Business/Industry/Labor
• Pennsylvania Department of Education
• State Workforce Development Board
• Veteran
• Young Adult

As of July, 2024 the categories of representation listed below will also be available. PaRC encourages all applicants to apply as early as possible to ensure a timely transition of membership:

• Mental Health
• Sensory Disabilities

If you are interested or know of someone who is interested in becoming a member of the PA Rehabilitation Council, please go to our new website (https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/get-involved/become-a-member/) and fill out an application.

Who needs a holiday from the Holidays?

Learn more about upcoming events scheduled for the winter by visiting the links below.



PA Employment - Recruitment, Job Fairs, and Hiring Events Calendar

https://www.employment.pa.gov/Pages/events.aspx

National Government Agency Virtual Career Fair for Veterans - December 5, 2023

https://my.recruitmilitary.com/events/national-government-agency-virtual-career-fair-for-veterans-december-5-2023

PA State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation Meeting - December 8, 2023

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/Board-and-Committee-Info/Pages/PA-State-Board-of-Vocational-Rehabilitation.aspx 

Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to register for the 2024 Everyday Lives Conference! - January 9 through January 11, 2024

https://everydaylives.org/

Pennsylvania Department of Education Conference - February 28 - March 1, 2024

https://www.pattan.net/training/conferences/pennsylvania-department-of-education-conference/

Prior to graduation, Matthew worked with his OVR and CTI at HGAC VR Counselors to apply to three businesses. Within several weeks of returning home after graduation, he was working a full-time, entry-level welding position at Gehman Iron Inc. in Knoxville, PA.

Matthew enjoys the hands-on work at Gehman Iron, Inc. In November of 2022, he was awarded Employee of the Month and he also recently received a raise. Matthew’s self-discipline and hard work helped him to reach his goal of becoming a welder. He said that his parents, the welding training at CTI at HGAC and his OVR VR Counselor Faylyn also helped him succeed. Matthew’s advice for other individuals with disabilities is that you can accomplish anything as long as you put your mind to it.

Learn more about Matthew's journey by reading the 2022 OVR Annual Report. The report highlights several success stories from BVRS, BBVS and CTI at HGAC, as well as data, all reflecting the great work OVR does to help residents of Pennsylvania with disabilities meet their employment and independent living goals and employers meet their hiring needs.



https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2022-OVR-Annual-Report.pdf

Benefits Corner

Benefits Counseling can be one of the most important tools for the successful attainment and maintaining employment for individuals with a disability. It can also be complicated but very much worth the effort. That is why members of the PaRC have created a ‘Benefits Corner’ which is a compiled list of helpful resources of both benefits counseling topics and OVR services included below. Check the PaRC's Benefits Corner regularly for more updates and resources at https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/benefits-corner/

Thinking of picking up Seasonal Work during the Holidays?

What You Need to Know About the Impact on Your Disability Benefits

Learn more at the following link:

https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resources/can-seasonal-work-affect-your-disability-application-or-benefits

Benefits Counseling Resources,

Videos, Webinars, and More

How To: Use SSA's Mobile Wage Reporting Application

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZT_jwxVzAo

Work Without Losing Benefits, Check out the PA Department of Human Services resources which include information for Ticket to Work, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA), Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD), PA ABLE Savings Program, and more.

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/WeCanWork/Resources/Pages/Work-Without-Losing-Benefits.aspx

Ticket to Work: Answering Common Questions and Banishing Misconceptions About Working While Receiving SSDI or SSI Benefits

https://www.disabilityservicesofamerica.com/library/ticket-to-work-disability-specialists-debunk-common-myths.cfm

WISE Webinars

Are you interested in learning about how work will affect your Social Security benefits? Social Security hosts free online Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinars. WISE webinars can help you and your family members learn about the Ticket to Work Program and other Social Security work incentives. They’re generally held on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

https://choosework.ssa.gov/wise/

This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit.” This annual event serves as a reminder of the global struggle to end HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to honor those we have lost, and a rallying cry to committing to working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat.

https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/world-aids-day/

Employment and Living with HIV / AIDS: A Resource Guide

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/odep/topics/hivaids/employmentlivingwithhivaids.pdf

Did you know OVR supports

individuals in Pennsylvania with HIV/AIDS?

Starting in July of 2022, OVR began outreach to all of Pennsylvania’s HIV/AIDS Local Agencies and connected them with their local OVR District Office (DO) based on the counties served. Over the last year, VR Specialist, Danielle Frascella, participated on the Employment Supports Work Group for Individuals with HIV/AIDS, to connect with both the regional HIV/AIDS agencies and their direct service providers. During this time, there have been many welcomed conversations regarding the services in which OVR provides and how OVR can most effectively partner with agencies serving individuals with HIV/AIDS. 

Melissa Bonnerwith from The Wright Center presented to all OVR staff at the agency’s May In-Service Training. She discussed some of the potential barriers and provided suggestions for supporting individuals with HIV/AIDS in their employment journey. She also provided an overview of related laws, along with a review of the Ryan White Project. Staff obtained guidance on outreach with The Wright Center for potential OVR referrals. Immediately following the In-Service Training, each BVRS and BBVS office received an email with local HIV/AIDS agency-based resources. Danielle facilitated this process by creating DO-specific outreach/resource lists.

VR Specialist, Kaitlin Salvati, presented at the HIV Planning Group Steering Committee that recently took place on Wednesday, November 29th and Thursday, November 30th. The group heard about the services OVR can offer, how the group can be of assistance to those who have a diagnosis of HIV, how we can best collaborate to assist individuals with disabilities, and provide assistance to those that are part of the aging population in PA.

Ten ways to foster the NDEAM Spirit year round!

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam/year-round

Tis' the Season, PaRC!

The gift that keeps on giving the whole year through! The PaRC Newsletter is intended to broaden the conversation about the diverse issues affecting employment of people with disabilities. Those interested in receiving our newsletter may send an email to parc@parehabilitationcouncil.org with their contact info or fill out the contact form provided on the PaRC website at the following link: https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/contact/

How can you show your support

and share your success?

PaRC has continued to expand its Social Media outreach as part of fulfilling our mission to inform and educate on the diverse issues affecting employment of people with disabilities. Please show your support by following us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Just in case you missed it over the summer, OVR's first edition of 'The Story' features success stories from students involved in Project Search. 'The Story' also provides great information about other success stories throughout the Commonwealth including those from Project Career Launch, BVRS, and BBVS.

PaRC Social Media / Outreach Committee would like to continue to highlight additional OVR Employment Success Stories on the PaRC website, social media, Annual Report, and other communications. If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing an important employment related milestone achieved with the assistance of OVR services, please let us know. Such achievements may include attaining a dream job, a promotion, an important anniversary of successful integrated competitive employment, or other successes.

Spotlighting the important work and successful attainment of employment that is made possible through OVR services is the foremost mechanism for the PaRC to fulfill its mission. Please feel free to contact us with your information, questions, or comments at parc@parehabilitationcouncil.org