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Workability Report Priority Brief SummaryStatusAction Step for CommitteeCommittee Member Lead
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1Establish permanent commission on the status of persons with disabilities.MA has established many commissions and ad-hoc groups to address high unemployment of persons with disabilities, many of which disband when administrations transition. A permanent commission would ensure a platform for the disability community and can play an active role in advocating for policy and legislation. Established 7/21/2021 Subcommittees have been establishedNoneN/A
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2Expand Regional Employment Collaboratives (RECs).RECs do not cover the entire area of MA. The Commonwealth should fund the RECs in areas not currently covered.One new REC was established in 2022. Currently include Central Mass, Greater Boston, North Suburban, Greater Merrimack Valley, South Shore, South Coast (new) and Western Mass. https://yournextstar.com/make-a-hire/massachusetts-regional-employment-collaboratives/Outreached to Stephanie Marks to get updated list of RECs and confirm if MassHire career centers are engaged with RECs. Link to her reply.Kathy P
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3Partnerships with Ride Share services.MA Legislature shld assist in creating ride-share programs for inds w/dis modelled after Plymouth Transportation Pilot Program (TPP). Also, MA Legislature shld ensure programs that assist inds w/dis be considered when addressing transportation revenue to reduce costs for transp services for inds w/dis. H.4508, An Act relative to transportation finance. This pilot was successful in Plymouth area. A $50K grant was awarded to establish it. Challenges exist to sustain it now that the grant is no longer available. Uses both Lyft and Uber to supplant transportation needs. None at this time. Consider as a future presentation for employment subcommittee, or a bigger forum the full commission might be spearheading.N/A
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4Support disability hiring benchmarks for smaller businesses.Many large private sector businesses have robust inclusive hiring practices and resources. This culture of inclusion can be spread to small and mid-sized businesses. WorkAbility Subcommittee recommends establishing disability inclusion designations for small/mid-sized businesses similar to national Disability:IN Disability Equality Index (DEI). Also, establish recoginition program to bring legislators and business leaders together modelled on Unsung Heroine Award hosted by Commission on Status of Women. None at this time.Contact Disability:IN to educate the subcommittee on the DEI.Oz Mondejar
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5Remove physical/technical barriers to employment.WorkAbility subcommittee recommends review of existing discrepencies between ADA and MA Building Code to remove barriers to physically access employment spaces. H.2029, An Act relative to Architectual Access Board. Decisions relative to architectual design should include members of the disability community. MA shld ensure all public websites and job postings on public websites are fully accessible.
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6Set new disability hiring goals in state contracting.MA Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) in collaboration with MA Office on Disability (MOD) set 7% goal for inclusion of qualified inds w/dis in any state contract for 3 services specified by SDO. Subcommittee recommends goal be increased to 10% and expanded across a range of services. H.2671, An Act relative to the employment of persons with disabilities in state contracts.
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7Mitigate "cliff effect" with benefits management resources.Trained/certified benefits counselors and calculators shld be made available by the state. EOLWD developing a calculator to understand how increased wages affect state benefits. UMass Chan Med School's Work Without Limits and MRC's Project IMPACT have trained/certified Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) but federal/SSA level funding for 22 yrs and demand outweighs resources. WorkAbility subcommittee supports efforts of EOLWD and CWIC programs and recommends additional funding.
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8Improve support for individuals with significant disabilities and monitor geographic disparities.MA Legislature shld work w/DDS to ensure funding to serve individuals with significant disabililities to have meaningful work. Also, monitor disparities in service levels across geographical areas and ensure individuals with sig dis not be left underserved as a result of transition away from sheltered workshops. WorkAbility subcommittee recommends the Permanent Commission be tasked with this effort.This is a group that is largely left behind due to Covid and they are the last group to get services back. Mainly due to the severe staffing shortage in the health and human services field. Trade associations, i.e., AAPD, The Providers Council, etc. are working with state agencies to drive more resources to get workers. Can't hire enough people. A couple of bills have been filed aroung the workforce issue, i.e. community college, salaries. Should we endorse these bills? what is the role of the subcommittee?We will bring this to the full commission for guidance and advise, and ensure we are not duplicating efforts with our sister policy subocmmittee.
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9Establish state house internship program for persons with disabilities with MRC.A pilot program was proposed with MRC but was suspended due to COVID-19. To be revisited when safe to do so.
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10Plan self-identification PSA campaign.Voluntary self-ID offers benefits, i.e., access to accommodations and resources, removing stigma, and promoting an inclusive work culture. An October campaign during Nat'l Dis. Empl. Aw. Month (NDEAM) with well-known public and private sector leaders can help encourage inds with dis to self-ID.
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11Create disability hiring tax incentive and promote existing federal incentives. Federal tax credits may be less well-known to smaller and midsized businesses. Further education and promotion could positively affect disability hiring practices. MA should implement additional state-based tax incentive programs for hiring and barrier removal.The MA Disability Employment Tax Credit (DETC) has been launched by EOHHS/MRC. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/disability-employment-tax-credit-detc The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit is administered by the IRS. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/work-opportunity-tax-credit Learn more about the MA DETC and what is being done to get the word out to employers. Is this an area where we can help? Joe Reale from MRC to present to the subcommittee at April 2023 meeting.Kathy P
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