Commission on Disability & Employment

March 3, 2021: 9:00 AM

https://zoom.us/j/5130375395?pwd=Rnl5aERHc1Z0c29rSG1qOEVCT3NiUT09

Contact information: cheryl.a.davis@maine.gov

State Workforce Board COMMISSION ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT

March 3, 2021 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Present: Amie Parker, Peaches Bass, Janie Coltart, Donald Rice, Rachel Dyer, Karen Fraser, Gayla Dwyer, Jennifer Kimble, Renee Doble SWB Staff: Joshua Howe CART: Marsha Swain Minutes reviewed; minor changes made. Don Rice made motion to approved seconded by Gayla Dwyer. Approved unanimously as amended.

SWB/Committee Update: Joshua Howe SWB and DOL are working with DHHS regarding healthcare workforce issues including how to connect people to training, educating people about pathways within healthcare and issues faced by immigrant population such as education conversion and licensing.
SWB committee chairs met last week with Chris Quint and Chair of SWB, Guy Langevin. Discussed how to better connect work of SWB to committees and make sure the board is aware of the committee work. Would like to have a SWB member on each committee, some do and some don't. Chris and Josh are working on identifying the work in the State Plan and what pieces intersect or can be done by committees. State WIOA plan is part of DECDs 10 year plan, and now, since the pandemic, is tied in with the recovery plans. Chris and Kim Moore are chairing one of the committees of that plan.
Currently multiple vacant seats on the SWB, primarily employer seats. Candidates are waiting legislative approval.

Gayla reviewed the results of the survey done as part of the Celebration of Employment First in Maine last autumn. Feedback was requested in three arenas, Topics discussed, additional comments the participants had, and 1 action they would take. There was a broad range of comments, largely positive. Details will be provided in the report which will be provided to the CDE.

Gayla noted that APSE is starting a newsletter April 1 and it will come out quarterly.

Josh talked about USDOL Disability Employment bootcamp. Team has been meeting since October and is heading into the last couple of months. After defining the need, the team reached out to employers to get feedback. From that, team developed a strategy of supporting employers in employment of people with disabilities as became clear that without resource or support, awareness wasnt sufficient. The team also identified that there needs to be greater support within WDS in how to talk with employers regarding disability employment. Team has developed framework toolkit and is in the process of developing a training for WDS staff. Josh to present the bootcamp to the SWB Friday 3/12.

Discussion of how to expand public knowledge of services other than VR? Collaboration between WIOA providers not CareerCenters. Discussed activities around certification of one-stops, accessibility notification, services. Question of how to educate service providers (DHHS) or Ed Techs (DOE) of services other than VR. Many dont know the difference between VR and providers in the community.

Annual Report is complete, Josh to connect with Chris to determine how to disseminate the report to the SWB and/or the Labor and Housing Committee.

Amie noted that we need to be careful when talking about incentives such as tax incentives, to employers as could send wrong message about value of employees with disabilities.

Discussed broadband access and how to keep abreast of legislative issues. Disability Rights Maine may have list of their priorities Maine Womens Lobby posts legislative priorities https://www.mainewomen.org/mwl/legislative Maine Equal Justice was noted as possibly sharing https://maineequaljustice.org/

Joanna Russel was mentioned as a good resource at the Local Board level in terms of doing disability awareness. Discussed their participation in recent TV spots on opioid recovery Life in Recovery Part 1 https://www.wabi.tv/2021/01/28/part-one-life-in-recovery/ Life in Recovery part 2 https://www.wabi.tv/2021/01/29/part-two-life-in-recovery/

Discussed public awareness work Josh met with Jessica Picard, DOL communication manager after last meeting. Can share relevant pieces from other resource, but there is also opportunity to create 30 second -1 minute PSAs for radio. As Josh dug into resources, it was a challenge because of the depth of the resources and need to have other supports in addition to that.
Want to be sure CDE efforts align with the work BES is doing in terms of evaluating their public outreach and services. Mentioned to have either Dawn Mealy or Kim Moore (BES) present on their work.

CDE interested in the PSA work, brainstormed some concepts to present to Jessica before developing script. People who are new to having a disability to help them connect to services Disability Benefits/ maintain health insurance Employer messages o Employer champion for disability employment o Employer talking about their partnership with the State of Maine Maine as model employer/ hiring preference.
Meeting scheduled for April 20th at 10:00 to discuss PSAs.

Next meeting possible topics PSA Resource Guides from BES

Motion to adjourn by Don Rice, seconded by Gayla. Approved.

Attachments CDE Agenda