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Youth Leadership Development: Using Self-Advocacy to Develop Youth/Policymaker Partnerships

Alaska Secondary Transition Virtual Conference, October 13, 2022

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Welcome

Carol Blessing, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University’s Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability

Kimberly Osmani, Extension Associate, Cornell University’s Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability

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Objectives

Today, you will:

learn about our center and its scope of work;
understand the intersection between self-determination, self-advocacy and postsecondary goals to influence change;
be introduced to content within a new, interactive leadership development toolkit for youth and young adults with disabilities; and
identify ways to utilize the toolkit in your classrooms and other programs.

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The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) Partners��The center is fully funded by the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in the amount of $5 million under Cooperative Agreement No. OD-33982-19-75-4-21 �

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What We Do

CAPE-Youth:

conducts research on new and existing innovative policy and practice;
develops strategic partnerships;
shares best practices among key stakeholders; and
helps states identify opportunities for new programs and services.

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Strands of Work

CAPE-Youth seeks to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities (Y&YAD) by helping states build capacity in their youth service delivery and workforce systems with attention to:

strategic partnerships and system coordination;
work-based learning; and
professional development (PD).

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Current Research Studies

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My Future Matters: A Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities on Leadership, Employment and Policy

A guide for youth with disabilities on how to amplify their voice in the policies that shape their life.

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Why do we need such a toolkit?

Students who are self-determined experience increased rates of engaging in further education/training, employment and independent living (Test et al., 2009).

Remai (2019) shared Y&YADs need to be aware of and understand that there are policies in place that protect and support their rights.

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Structure

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Intended for Y&YADs between the ages of 14-24	Five interactive, online modules
Self-paced	Will have audio option for all content
Individually or in facilitated small and large groups	“Try It Challenges” in each module to extend learning
Space left blank on purpose	Videos

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Modules

CAPE-Youth Principles: Guideposts for Success
Planning for Your Future
Disability Policy Opens Doors
How to Make Policy Work for You
Partner with Policymakers!

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Opening Doors Action Plan

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Opening Doors Action Plan

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Programs	Laws	Programs	Laws
Pre-ETS	WIOA	IPE	Rehab Act
Strengths-Based Assessments	IDEA; Rehab Act	Supported - Customized Employment	Rehab Act
Work Readiness	WIOA; IDEA	Internship	IDEA; Rehab Act; WIOA
IEP	IDEA	Apprenticeship	WIOA
Work-Based Learning	IDEA; WIOA	Career & Tech Ed	Perkins V
504 Plan	ADA; Rehab Act	Benefits Planning	Social Security Act
College Readiness	IDEA; WIOA; ESSA	PASS & IRWE	Social Security Act
IPE	Rehab Act	n/a	n/a

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Supplementary Tools Coming Soon

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Discussion

What do you think?

How will this be useful to you?

What else might you like to see/have to support Y&YADs?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

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CAPE-Youth Contacts

Carol Blessing cjb39@cornell.edu
Kimberly Osmani kosmani@cornell.edu

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about our work or participating in our research initiatives, please contact:

https://capeyouth.org

info@capeyouth.org

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References

Remai, Kayla, "Value Me: The Importance of Self-Determination Skills for Effective Transition Planning for Employment and Post-Secondary Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities" (2019). Community Engagement Student Work. 31.
Test, D. W., Mazzotti, V. L., Mustian, A. L., Fowler, C. H., Kortering, L., & Kohler, P. (2009). Evidence-based secondary transition predictors for improving postschool outcomes for students with disabilities. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 32, 160-181.

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NDEAM Poster

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The poster is rectangular in shape with a black colored chalkboard background overlaid with mathematical equations. In the center of the poster, on a diagonal, is a black rectangle bordered by small teal, yellow and red rectangles. It features the 2022 NDEAM theme, “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” along with an equation composed of several graphics: a circular photo of a woman in a wheelchair working at a computer with colleagues, followed by a plus sign, followed by a square image of a woman who uses crutches viewing a document with a colleague, followed by an equal sign, followed by a light bulb icon. Across the top of the rectangle in small, white letters are the words National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Along the bottom in small white letters is the hashtag “NDEAM” followed by ODEP’s website address, dol.gov/ODEP. In the lower right corner in white lettering is the DOL seal followed by the words “Office of Disability Employment Policy United States Department of Labor.”

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What is NDEAM?

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Honors the contributions of workers with disabilities and showcases supportive, inclusive policies and practices
Held annually in October
Led by ODEP but events take place nationwide
History traces to 1945

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For anyone unfamiliar, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign held each October that honors the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy, past and present, in all sort of endeavors. It also showcases supportive, disability-inclusive employment policies and practices.

People sometimes ask us about the history of NDEAM—about how it got started.

Well, clearly, people with disabilities have been contributing to our great nation since its very beginnings. But, NDEAM traces its history back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October as a time for the nation to recognize the importance of people with disabilities having access to all the opportunities and rewards of work.

In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and established National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

This history reflects the progress in how we talk about and acknowledge the contributions of Americans with disabilities to our workforce and economy.

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Key ODEP Resources

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AskJAN.org

WhatCanYouDoCampaign.org

PEATWorks.org

AskEARN.org

WRP.gov

InclusiveApprenticeship.org

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

Leading source of expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Consultants are available at no charge via phone , email, or live chat.

AskJAN.org (800) 526-7234 (877) 781-9403 (TTY)

Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE)

Collaborative of several disability and business organizations that showcases supportive, inclusive workplaces for all workers. Spreads the simple yet significant message that “At work, it’s what people CAN do that matters” through television and radio PSAs and materials for use in the workplace and other settings.

WhatCanYouDoCampaign.org

Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)

Collaborative focused on making emerging technologies accessible and supporting workplaces in using inclusive technologies that engage the skills of employees with disabilities.

PEATWorks.org

Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)

Central resource for online tools, technical assistance resources, webinars, publications, and news on workplace disability inclusion.

AskEARN.org

Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)

A recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities seeking summer or permanent jobs.

wrp.gov

Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA)

Collaborative of employers and apprenticeship intermediaries focused on designing inclusive apprenticeship programs that meet employer talent needs and enable people with disabilities to gain credentials and skills to succeed in growing industries.

inclusiveapprenticeship.org

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