Commission on Disability & Employment

July 20, 2016: 9:00 AM
Frances Perkins Room, MDOL Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME

State Workforce Board COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT July 20, 2016 9:00 AM ? 12:00 PM Central Maine Commerce Center 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta Frances Perkins Room Call in: 877-455-0244, Conference code: 2121366385 AGENDA 9:00 Welcome, Review/approve March and June meetings? minutes 9:15 Follow up on membership and LWB awareness building 9:45 DEI Update ? Peaches Bass 10:00 VR Progressive Employment ? Libby Stone-Sterling, BRS-DVR Asst Director Hilary Roberts, MMC DVS Employment Specialist 10:45 Break 11:00 National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities ? Maine State Senator Amy Volk 11:30 Updates: 5+ Councils ? Empowerment Forum Other updates? 12:00 Adjourn Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 9:00 ? 12:00 Central Maine Commerce Center Frances Perkins Room

COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT 7/20/16

Present: Jennifer Kimble, Karen Fraser, Peaches Bass, Gayla Dwyer, Don Rice, Jeanie Coltart, Charles Woodbury

Guest: Libby Stone-Sterling, Hilary Roberts

Staff: Cheryl Moran

Jennifer Kimble opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions and asked for approval of the March 16th and June 23rd meeting minutes. Don Rice motioned. Gayla Dwyer seconded. Minutes approved as written.

Follow-up on membership and LWB awareness building

• Jennifer Kimble ? ( LWB awareness building) At the previous committee meeting, Jennifer mentioned the idea of having a local disability voice at the Local Workforce Boards? tables. She had a conversation with Jay Collins from the SRC regarding SRC needs for employer representation and whether there may be an opportunity for collaboration / coordination. Described brief review of how each Board is structured and how we might get at the table. Northeastern and Central Western?s structure is pretty clear whereas Coastal Counties looks really complicated, and none had posted upcoming meetings as required. We need to pay attention to accessibility and disability at the CareerCenters and have an on-going conversation. She noticed that on the Local Workforce Board?s websites, all have a youth committee but no other constituent committees. We need to connect with who we already know on these Local Workforce Boards that might be on other SWB committees.

• Don Rice ? stated he was asked to attend meetings in reference to disability per Joanna Russell, Executive Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board.

• Peaches Bass ? noted that in her DEI role she has suggested to Jeff Sneddon, Executive Director of the Central Western Workforce Board that his Board consider having an ?access committee? to address not only disability, but also other access issues. She also stated that local boards are not very good at posting their upcoming meetings. Youth committees were a requirement of WIA and are now also a WIOA requirement. Peaches shared that Betsy Hopkins from VR stated that all states are having trouble getting businesses to engage with SRCs. Peaches pointed out that there could be potential consequences if they do not.

• Jennifer Kimble ? asked the committee members to refer to the State Workforce Board?s By-Laws in reference to understanding the structure of the Local Workforce Boards at www.maine.gov/swb/documents/ . She suggested inviting Ginny Carroll from BES and Garret Oswald from the SWB to attend the next meeting for discussion and better understanding of structure and reporting of the LWBs, which are also required to soon submit their own strategic plans. This could be an opportunity to impact these plans.

• Jennifer Kimble ? (membership) noting the small attendance of members, suggested its obvious more members are needed, and referenced Mel Clarrage?s email which suggested there is a need to have more members with disabilities that are not connected to an agency. Jennifer stated the need to have representation from all local areas. And agreed we should really target PWD.

• Jeanie Coltart ? suggested scheduling committee meetings later in the day and maybe some Saturdays.

• Gayla Dwyer ? stated that she found switching times and locations still presented issues in recruiting members for Me APSE (Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst).

• Cheryl Moran ? the Department of Labor is looking into purchasing the ZOOM Teleconferencing Software which can be a great alternative especially for those that would be traveling a long distance. Also can be beneficial for recruitment.

• Don Rice ? ZOOM is a great option to explore.

• Jennifer Kimble ? stated that she really wants to target outreach, and suggested current members think about others who could bring the disability/access voice to local boards as well.

• Cheryl Moran ? asked committee members to think about next year?s meetings for discussion at our next meeting in September.

DEI Update ? Peaches Bass • Peaches reported Flexible Employment Fund requests continue to be entertained. These fundes are granted to PWDs enrolled in WIA programs related to transportation, work, clothing, various healthcare expenses and occasionally housing (rent). She feels this fund is well utilized to motivate more WIA enrollments.

VR Progressive Employment ? Libby Stone-Sterling, BRS-DVR Assistant Director Hilary Roberts, MMC DVS Employment Specialist • Libby provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Progressive Employment Pilot - A New Opportunity to Improve Transition Planning in Maine. Progressive Employment is an employment strategy that provides individuals who have little or no work history, low skill levels, corrections involvement, or other barriers. It?s a way into paid employment that builds momentum and provides a means to increase skill level and confidence. This is a successful model developed in Vermont. One of the reasons this model attracted our interest is because Vermont is very similar in demographics such as an older workforce and transportation issues. The only difference is Vermont has a very low unemployment rate. This model has achieved good outcomes.

National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities ? Maine State Senator Amy Volk • Jennifer Kimble ? Senator Volk could not attend due to a hearing that went over its allocated time. Jennifer will follow up and ask to reschedule.

Updates: 5+ Councils ? Empowerment Forum and ABLE Act, Other Updates?

• Jennifer Kimble ? reported that the Empowerment Forum still is happening on August 18th at the Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn. Since the last report, registration is low. Thirty-four have registered. Travis Mills will be the keynote speaker. Jennifer asked committee members to get the word out.

ABLE Act ? this Act went into effect in 2014. It allows PWD diagnosed at a young age to save money and have it exempted from asset/resource tests required of means-tested programs (i.e. make it possible to save money and not become financially ineligible for necessary services). Four or five states have their own programs. Maine does not yet. This may be delayed pending on what happens in the Legislature.

• Peaches Bass ? Tennessee and Ohio have their own accounts set-up and are available nationwide.

• Karen Fraser ? reported that the WIOA Regulations were released at the 11th hour (June 30th) although they have not been posted in the federal register. Regulations are in effect 30 days from posting. She noted that the required ?pre-employment transition aged youth services? have been extended to 21 years of age; VR is still learning what defines these services to reach the 15% requirement. In reference to WIOA, VR has been sharing information with other states and core Partners. Changes are impacting the Division of the Blind and Visually Impaired ?WIOA rules are much clearer on employment outcomes which does not allow for the previously allowed and valued ?homemaker? goals. Under the revisions, clients with these goals are allowed to complete their Plan by June of 2017 unless there are extenuating circumstances. Not allowed to take on any new.

Meeting Adjourned

Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 9:00 ? 12:00 Central Maine Commerce Center Commissioner?s Room

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran

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