Obama Administration Looks To Improve Transition Outcomes

[Jefferson23]

** Excellent beginning.

By Michelle Diament

May 10, 2013

In an effort to identify better strategies to help young people with disabilities transition from school to work, a handful of federal agencies are seeking public input.

Starting Monday, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services as well as the Social Security Administration are kicking off a two-week so-called online dialogue.

The agencies are asking policymakers, educators, service providers, families and youth with disabilities themselves to share their thoughts through a Web interface on how to improve transition outcomes.

Federal officials say they hope to learn about regulatory and legislative barriers that young people with disabilities are facing in accessing employment, education, Social Security and health and human services. Ultimately, the input received on the website may help shape future policies and practices, they said.

in full: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/05/10/obama-transition-outcomes/17926/

[datasuspect]

1. you can dialogue til the cows come home

but james brown said it best: "if you don't work, you can't eat."

[HiPointDem]

2. not too hard: how about some jobs? there are 3 applicants for every opening & i'm sure that

impacts the disabled as well.

[Jefferson23]

3. Jobs, yes...but much more is necessary to ensure success. There needs to be more planned

ahead, long before they leave the special ed system.

I am pleased there will be input from providers, teachers etc..this needs to happen.

One example, an icky company, I know, but Goldman Sachs has begun to hire people on the autism
spectrum...a little. But most important they're hiring them with a plan that includes support. That
is a step in the right direction.

I'm not expecting a lot, but I am very happy it's on Obama's agenda.

[HiPointDem]

4. For most people classified disabled, not much more than decent jobs that their disability

allows them to do is needed.

What kind of 'support' are you talking about?

[Jefferson23]

5. Preparation before they leave the system under public school via transition coordinators.

I want to see more of an effort for appropriate job placement transitions to include
support for people who are able to do more challenging work...they may be able to
do the work but also need an area to decompress from stress. Autism spectrum for
example is working out with the job example I gave earlier due to the companies willingness
to accommodate a space for that individual to take short brakes if needed.

With broader job possibilities they'll be able to earn a decent wage AND health care benefits,
pension etc.

[HiPointDem]

6. 'need an area to decompress from stress' = doesn't everyone? I agree that some coordination

of appropriate job placement is required to match skills w/ job offerings. But again, the same is true in the general population, just a little different kind of coordination.

[Jefferson23]

7. I agree the more any company adjusts to their employees needs the better the employee output

becomes..so yea, they should accommodate. You and I know many won't consider it due to their
lack of knowledge on the population we want to see employed. So I am hopeful better policy, more
awareness by employers through the transition process will translate to better jobs for more people
who are disabled.

But it is more than just a little different in coordination, it takes and will continue to take more effort
and with better policy, hopefully more opportunities.

Thank you for the response to this thread..it otherwise fell flat of interest!

[HiPointDem]

8. For some reason a lot of employment threads don't get a big response.