The California Comprehensive Strategy on Employment of People with Disabilities
is a required element of Assembly Bill 925 (the Workforce Inclusion Act), milestone legislation signed in 2002. The goal of AB 925 is to increase the employment rates of people with disabilities to rates comparable to those in the general population.
In 2006, the Labor and Workforce Development and Health and Human Services Agencies approved the Comprehensive Strategy, providing California with a policy framework for improving employment rates of people with disabilities. These lead state Agencies are charged with improving how state funded health coverage (Medi-Cal) and employment programs work together. AB 925 objectives include those found in the American with Disabilities Act (ADA): support for equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for Californians with disabilities.
AB 925 requires that state government be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued Executive Order S-4-05 reinforcing Sections 19230-19237 of the Government Code to protect people with disabilities from discrimination when applying for state government employment. Executive Order S-4-05 establishes practices that assist California in being a model employer of people with disabilities.
AB 925 requires state support and collaborative participation in benefits planning activities for job seekers and workers that are also funded by private foundations and federal grants.
Californians with a Disability
The following 2005 data provides background on working-age Californians between the ages of 21 and 64:
- The percentage of working-age people with a disability was 10.8 percent.
- The employment rate of working age people with disabilities was 37.4 percent.
- The poverty rate of working-age people with disabilities was 21.3 percent.
- The median annual labor earnings of working age people with disabilities working full-time/full-year was $35,000.
- The median annual household income of working age people with disabilities was $42,200.
- The percent of working-age people with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income payments with Medi-Cal was 17.6 percent.
- The percent of working-age people with sensory, physical and/or mental disabilities that report an employment disability (difficulty working at a job or business) was 52.5%.
- The percent of working age people with disabilities who were non-white was 36.6%.
- The percent of working age people with a disability who were women was 52.3%.
The Comprehensive Strategy and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency
The Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) has responsibilities to monitor, enforce, and report on workforce inclusion of people with disabilities to the Governor and Legislature. The LWDA must demonstrate how One Stop Career Centers are serving people with disabilities according to state and federal rules about discrimination.
The California Workforce Investment Board and Local Workforce Investment Boards are required to have members who are people with disabilities, or their representatives. Efforts are made to select people with disabilities to serve who are not employees of state or local government.
Improving One-Stop Career Centers
Each Local Workforce Investment Board must provide at least one One Stop Career Center that has fully accessible services in compliance with federal rules for serving people with disabilities.
One-Stop Career Centers are required to provide:
One-Stop Career Centers and the Governor's Committee offer a variety of resources to people with disabilities:
Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
The Governor’s Committee consults with and advises the Governor, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Health and Human Services Agency on issues related to full workforce inclusion. They report annually to the Legislature and Governor on the employment status of Californians with disabilities. Governor's Committee members choose their Chair. Committee membership must include at least four people with disabilities. Governor’s Committee quarterly meetings are open to the public and include sessions with the California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP) and its steering committee.
The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities receives administrative and staff support from the Employment Development Department. The Committee has a new subcommittee structure linking to goals of the Comprehensive Strategy. Subcommittee meetings are also open to the public and allow time for public comments.
Agency Liaison Subcommittee
The Agency Liaison Subcommittee works with state agency decision-makers on recommended disability employment policies, helping coordinate statewide efforts related to employment of people with disabilities. The subcommittee focuses on ensuring that the State of California is a model employer for hiring people with disabilities, promoting universal access in the One-Stop Career Center System, and coordinating and integrating the state's management information systems to provide consistent data for policy makers.
Business Liaison Subcommittee
The Business Liaison Subcommittee works with the California business community to formulate strategies to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The subcommittee will work with employers to remove barriers and increase their ability to hire and retain employees with disabilities. Employers will have forums to share information with educators and trainers to effect changes in curricula and prepare people with disabilities to meet workforce realities.
Education and Employment Subcommittee
The Education and Employment Subcommittee works with the educational, vocational training and employer communities to advance policies and initiatives aimed at increasing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for people with disabilities. The Subcommittee will formulate strategies to help youth and adults with disabilities gain academic and work-readiness skills necessary to succeed in the workplace and achieve fuller financial independence. The Subcommittee will also develop recommendations for increasing public awareness and understanding of available services including micro-enterprise and other entrepreneurial opportunities, and providing services needed by veterans with disabilities seeking employment.
Policy and Planning Subcommittee
The Policy and Planning Subcommittee coordinates with other subcommittees, partners and stakeholders to identify barriers to employment and potential solutions. The subcommittee assists in prioritizing Comprehensive Strategy objectives, working collaboratively to develop policy recommendations to build a seamless, cohesive system for delivering employment and support services.
For comments and questions or to get involved, contact:
California Governor's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities
P.O. Box 826880, MIC 21
Sacramento, CA 94820-0001
Voice: (916) 654-8055
Toll Free: (800) 695-0350
TTY: (916) 654-9820
Fax: (916) 654-9821
Medi-Cal and the Comprehensive Strategy
Medi-Cal's 250% Working Disabled Program allows individuals to earn $53,028 annually (in some cases even more) and maintain full access to the range of Medi-Cal services.
As of 2003, AB 925 requires California’s In-Home Supportive Services (services available in the 250% Medi-Cal program) to allow for services in the individual’s place of employment, under specific conditions. For details see DB101’s Medi-Cal and Workplace Personal Assistance sections.
The Governor’s Committee, the Comprehensive Strategy and many state and national organizations call for strengthening the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program.
Significant progress to strengthen the program has been made using input and the work of a grassroots task force staffed by the World Institute on Disability. The task force, known as the GAPS Task Force on the 250% Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program (GAPS Task Force), is a statewide group of key stakeholders and workers with a disability that focus on identifying and recommending solutions to gaps in services for people with disabilities. The following GAPS Task Force recommendations were adopted by the full Governor’s Committee at their March 2007 quarterly meeting:
- Waive liquid asset limits for Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program enrollees, and allow enrollees to keep assets saved if they switch to another Medi-Cal category.
- Exempt public and private retirement income in the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program.
- Remove the “Marriage Penalty” in the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program.
- Allow a COBRA-like provision so enrollees can switch jobs and pay premiums for up to 18 months.
- Remove the sunset provision as the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program ends in September 2008 under current law.
- Develop collaborative strategies and resources with Assembly Bill 925 stakeholders, partners, regions, and counties to support and implement outreach, training, marketing and media activities within certain timeframes.
- Measure the effects on employment and enrollment in the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program after the combined activities are performed.
- Program county software system to include the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program.
- Train county eligibility workers implementing the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program.
Several of these policy recommendations were included in legislation introduced in 2007 (Assembly Bill 1113, Brownley). That bill was approved by both the state Assembly and Senate but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger in October. The GAPS Task Force is crafting community based recommendations for legislation in early 2008 to improve and ensure the continued existence of Medi-Cal's California Working Disabled Program.
For more information, contact:
Eli Gelardin & Alana Theriault
Co-Chairs - CWG Gaps Task Force
Eli Gelardin
, Deputy Director
Independent Living Resource Contra Costa and Solano Counties
925-363-7293
Alana Theriault, Owner Express Independence
510-388-2277
California Health Incentives Improvement Project
The California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP) is a multi-agency collaborative that works to remove barriers to employment and improve the self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, with particular focus on health care and personal assistance services. The CHIIP was created in 2002 and is funded by a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, monies from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sonoma State University has managed the grant since 2003 with approval from the California Department of Health Care Services. The CHIIP and the Governor's Committee share a mutual vision and work closely together.
The CHIIP supports implementation of the Comprehensive Strategy through core outreach, training and marketing activities, as well as research and policy analysis:
- Building state and local intergovernmental infrastructure to remove healthcare barriers and other obstacles to employment for people with disabilities.
- Working to increase the number of people using Medi-Cal’s 250% Working Disabled Program and In-Home Supportive Services in the workplace, through outreach and training activities to people with disabilities, service providers, eligibility workers and employers.
- Strengthening labor force connections for people with disabilities by expanding and supporting disability benefits counseling and training infrastructures at state and local levels.
- Improving employment and earning levels of Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program participants by evaluating and making improvements in health incentives and other supports related to employment of people with disabilities.
The CHIIP’s advisory steering committee of consumers, community-based organizations, and representatives from state and county government helps guide the work of the project. The CHIIP Steering Committee meets quarterly with the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Contact CHIIP to request more information.
The CHIIP is funded by a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant of the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Number 11-P-92339-9/03, which is intended to be used to support the state’s comprehensive employment strategy.
Other Partners at Work on Comprehensive Strategy Goals and Objectives
At the core of the Comprehensive Strategy is recognition that no one service can accomplish the goal of employment parity for people with disabilities. A growing coalition of critical partners now works on common objectives to accomplish that goal. Below is an overview of some of the current activity.
Youth and the Comprehensive Strategy
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy awarded an Innovative Alignment Grant to the California Workforce Investment Board. The purpose of the project is to work with federal, state and community agencies and organizations to help young people with disabilities make the transition into the workforce. The project is called Improving Transition Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities Project, or ITOP for short.
ITOP completed a statewide assessment of the existing youth services to map resources at the state and local levels and to develop a cross-agency strategic plan to improve transition outcomes for youth with disabilities.
California's Bridges to Youth Transition Research and Demonstration Projects
California's Bridges to Youth Self Sufficiency projects are funded by the Social Security Administration through the Department of Rehabilitation. There are five California pilot projects at seven sites. Single sites include Vallejo City Unified School District, Whittier Union High School District, and Riverside County Office of Education. The consortium sites are composed of Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Capistrano Unified School District, Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Irvine Unified School District.
This project provides education and support to young adults and their families working with Social Security benefit and employment rules that emphasize the benefits of working. There are waiver supports in place to sustain this effort. An additional focus is to develop linkages with local Social Security Offices and other Adult Service Providers to assist in the transition to work and independence. Results for this project are promising; the employment rate for project participants is 47% compared to a 15-18% employment rate nationally for individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits.
California is part of this nationwide Social Security Administration project that includes New York, Maryland, Iowa, Colorado, and Mississippi. For more information contact DOR Project Director Loran Vetter.
Friends of Californians with Disabilities, Inc.
Friends, Inc. is a leader in developing statewide and national partnerships to increase employment and independent living opportunities for people with disabilities. Award winning accomplishments include the California Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (YLF), the Media Access Office and Awards and the “Windmills” Disability Awareness Diversity Training Program.
Friends, Inc. supports the Governor’s Committee’s policy-focused mission and has expanded its own operations and activities.
Social Security in California
Social Security provides Area Work Incentive Coordinators (AWICS) throughout California to help explain Social Security work rules and build work incentive capacities at their local Field Offices. These carefully selected staff are accessible; they offer outreach to all communities who request their services. They trouble shoot customer service problems at local Social Security offices when paid work or work incentives and benefits planning is involved. They can explain and help consumers request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) which outlines a beneficiary’s current benefits and prior use of their work incentives. They work with local Social Security Work Incentive Liaisons and regional PASS Cadre staff. PASS Cadre staff are Social Security experts who are available to help beneficiaries understand and learn how to use the SSI PASS program, the Plan to Achieve Self-Support.
In addition, Social Security holds regular Work Incentive Seminars (WISE) to provide SSI or SSDI recipients with information on different choices available to help them go to work for the first time, return to work, or reach other employment goals. Seminars include information on SSA's Ticket to Work program as well as other work incentives. For more information on the seminars, visit the Social Security website. To register, click here.
Local Grants to Support Benefits Planning Activities
Local services still often lack adequate benefits planning services and training. The Governor’s Committee, in conjunction with the California Department of Rehabilitation, is required to make grants available (to the extent that funds are available) to counties and local workforce investment boards. These grants can be used to:
- Develop local strategies for enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities; and
- Fund comprehensive local and regional benefits planning and outreach programs to assist people with disabilities in removing barriers to work.
State Council on Developmental Disabilities
In May 2007, the Governor received a new report, required by SB 1270 (Chesbro 2006), which supports Comprehensive Strategy objectives for youth and adults served by the state’s regional center service system. A community and service provider stakeholder group of consumers, family members and key stakeholders crafted the recommendations over six months. Recommendations include staffing the regional center system with expert Benefits Planners.
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, with support from the Department of Developmental Services and input from the Governor’s Committee, gathered information from stakeholders for the report detailing strategies for expanding paid work, social, recreational, and school opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
Mental Health Services Act
Proposition 63, now known as the Mental Health Services Act or MHSA, allows the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to provide increased funding, personnel and other resources to support county mental health programs, and monitor progress toward statewide goals for children, transition age youth, adults, older adults and families. The Act addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention and service needs as well as the necessary infrastructure, technology and training that will effectively support this system.
Community Partners
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance
Social Security funds local benefits planning services in non profit community organizations and in some California One Stop Career Centers. Social Security disability program beneficiaries can meet privately and confidentially with a Benefits Planner on health coverage, benefits and employment planning.
DB101 Information Services
Disability Benefits 101 (DB101) helps workers, job seekers, and service providers understand the connections between work and benefits. DB101 brings together rules for health coverage, benefit, and employment programs that people with disabilities use. These programs may be run by state, federal government, non-profit, or private organizations. DB101 discusses them under one roof and in plain language. DB101 also provides online benefits planning calculators and experts who can respond to your questions on benefits. DB101 focuses on the linkage and interaction between programs and changing life situations.
DB101 Training Options
DB101 Information Services produces workshops, webcasts, and half-day, full-day and evening trainings co-designed by the target audiences served. Contact Bryon MacDonald for more information at 510-251-4304 (phone) or 510-208-9493 (TTY).
Stay at Work, Return to Work Summit June 21, 2007
A Northern California summit of experts met at Safeway Headquarters in Pleasanton, California in June 2007 to explore reducing medically unnecessary time off from work for injured or otherwise disabled employees. The goal of the Stay at Work, Return to Work Summit is to advance sustained solutions for preventing needless time away from work, and to make the realignments needed to meet this goal. The Summit planning committees and participants are comprised of employer, healthcare provider, labor, worker’s compensation, disability management and disability organization experts. A follow-up group is crafting the Summit report that will be posted on DB101 and the World Institute on Disability's website.
Sources
The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the United States Census and reported by Cornell University, is a continuous data collection effort that produces statistics on the U.S. population, including people with disabilities.
The California Comprehensive Strategy on Employment of People with Disabilities provides California with a policy framework for improving employment rates of people with disabilities.
The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities advises the Governor and reports to Sacramento legislators on progress with the Comprehensive Strategy on Employment of People with Disabilities.
The California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP) works to remove barriers to employment and improve the self-sufficiency of people with disabilities.
Disability Benefits 101 (DB101) helps workers, job seekers, and service providers understand the connections between work and benefits.
The Stay at Work, Return to Work Summit explores ways to prevent needless time away from work due to disability or injury.
The Mental Health Services Act addresses prevention, early intervention and service needs in the area of mental health.
SB 1270 asks the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to bring together workgroups to explore ways to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.
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