1. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services United States Department of Education O S E R S Presentation at the DRI Symposium: SSA Disability Program: Facilitating Employment Troy Justesen Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acting) March 16, 2004

2. O S E R S 1 Panel Discussion: Youth and Transition President’s New Freedom Initiative  Announced within two weeks of taking office.  Four broad objectives: Increasing access to assistive technology and universally designed technologies. Increasing access to assistive technology and universally designed technologies. Expanding educational opportunities for Americans with disabilities. Expanding educational opportunities for Americans with disabilities. Integrating Americans with Disabilities into the workforce. Integrating Americans with Disabilities into the workforce. Promoting full access to community life. Promoting full access to community life.

3. O S E R S 2 About OSERS OSERS comprises three program components:  Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21. Dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21. Administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently. Oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently.  National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. Provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

4. O S E R S 3 Collaborative Approaches Collaboration with federal and state government agencies, potential employers and community organizations is the hallmark of OSERS’ initiatives. Youth transition collaborative efforts have three broad, interrelated goals :  Enhance employment opportunities.  Facilitate transition into the workforce.  Prepare students for postsecondary success.

5. O S E R S 4 Enhancing Employment Opportunities  Data-sharing Memorandum of Understanding between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Department of Education.  Coordination between the SSA, State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and private Employment Networks to support the success of the Ticket to Work program.  Consultations with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to enhance access for persons with disabilities to the One-Stop system.

6. O S E R S 5 Enhancing Employment Opportunities  Partnerships to strengthen VR agencies’ relationships with employers at the local level.  Partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to produce a guide about programs and resources available to assist business leaders in hiring people with disabilities.

7. O S E R S 6 Facilitate Transition Into the Workforce  SSA Pilot project allowing students with disabilities to go on to postsecondary education, vocational training or employment without losing IDEA-funded services or SSI benefits.  OSERS – DOL grants to build the capacity of faith-based and community organizations to provide mentoring services to young people.  Co-sponsorship of the Youth to Work Coalition (YWC) to encourage and assist businesses to establish youth mentoring, internships and other school-to-work model programs.

8. O S E R S 7 Prepare Students for Postsecondary Success  Adolescent literacy research in conjunction with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education.  National Center on Secondary Education and Transition’s National Leadership Summit.  National Dropout Prevention Center to develop networks of researchers, practitioners and key organizations to help increase graduation rates.  National File Format Technical Panel to identify and propose national instructional materials accessibility standards for all students.

9. O S E R S 8 Prepare Students for Postsecondary Success  Improving Post-school Outcomes: Identifying and Promoting What Works project for synthesizing, analyzing and disseminating information about secondary-aged youth with disabilities.  National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Disabilities for information and resources to help establish and/or improve postsecondary education programs.  National Longitudinal Transition Study–2 providing information about 12,000 students with disabilities as they transition from adolescence to early adulthood.

10. O S E R S 9 Contact OSERS Address: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20202 Phone: 202-205-5465 (Voice/TTY) Web: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers

11. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services United States Department of Education O S E R S