Whatever It Takes (WIT) Project (Final Report – Attachment D) Funded under a Customized Employment Grant supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor

2 Grant Information Funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy One year grant, with option for four additional single year extensions

3 Grant Recipient/Fiscal Agent/Subcontractor Grant Recipient: Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources on behalf of the Town of Hempstead Workforce Investment Board Subcontractor: Abilities, Inc. of the National Center for Disability Services

4 Consortium Partners Abilities, Inc. New York State Education Department Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources

5 Goal To develop a comprehensive model of service delivery, within the context of the One- Stop setting, for persons with disabilities who face the greatest barriers to employment.

6 Objectives Establish a Strategic Planning Team to provide program guidance and evaluation Review, refine and implement a comprehensive service delivery model Design and execute a targeted marketing and outreach campaign Conduct on-going training, education and technical assistance to facilitate customized employment in the context of the One-Stop setting

7 Objectives (continued) Establish and maintain Employment Support Networking Groups for jobseekers in the program Maintain and expand business development to assess employer needs and increase employment opportunities Expand linkages with public and private providers to leverage funds, utilize programs and coordinate services

8 Objectives (continued) Research and develop performance measures to assess participant outcomes and evaluate project activities Document increased use of new programs (Ticket-to- Work, benefits planning) and resources by system partners Develop and disseminate a Guidebook comprised of exemplary strategies and best practices Implement local and statewide initiatives for the integration of successful strategies into the policy and practice of the One-Stop

9 Target Population Nassau County residents who meet one of the following criteria: 1.Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); or 2.Participating in day programs (such as day habilitation, day activity or day health programs) or facility-based or community employment and earning less than minimum wage; or

10 Target Population (continued) 3.Participating in segregated employment and choosing to move to integrated, competitive employment; or 4.Awaiting employment services and supports following a move from a residential facility, or as part of a plan to move into a community; or

11 Target Population (continued) 5.Transitioning from, or preparing to transition from, secondary school under a transition plan under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and who, without access to customized employment strategies, would likely be referred to one of the environments identified in (2), (3) or (4) above, but who prefers integrated, competitive employment or self-employment.

12 Strategies Customized Employment Universal Strategies

13 Customized Employment Individualizes the employment relationship between employees and employers in ways that meet the needs of both Based on an individualized determination of strengths, needs, and interests of a person with a disability Also designed to meet the specific needs of an employer Job Carving

14 Universal Strategies Provide the full range of workforce services in a way that individuals, regardless of their abilities or needs, can access these services.

15 Services Offered Person-Centered Planning Service Mobilization and Coordination Pre-Employment Services Work Try-outs/Job Shadowing Adapted Driver Education Customer-Family Cooperative Job Carving Employment Development Travel/Mobility Training On-The-Job Training Follow-Along Workplace Mentoring

16 Assistive Technology Workstation Evas Handicapped Accessible Workstation Software: Zoom Text Xtra L2 LP/Speech Jaws Pro Screen Reader Open Book Scanning and Reading Software I-Communicator for the Deaf Phone: Text Telephone System Ultratec Miniprint 225 (TTY) Voice Amplification Phone

17 Assistive Technology (Continued) Keyboards: 1 Dell 7D00 Xtra Series Large Print Quietkey Gray Keyboard 1 Dell 7D00 Xtra Series Large Print StickyKeys Keyboard 1 Tash Win 2460 USB Mini Alternative Access Keyboard 1 Pulse Data Int. Scorpius Keyboard Mice: 1 PNX Microsoft Explorer Trackball 1 Dell Intelli Mouse Wrist Supports: Kensington Gel Pillow Keyboard Wrist Support Kensington Gel Pillow Mouse Wrist Support

18 Assistive Technology (Continued) Scanner & Camera Unit: 1 Epson Perfection 1650 Scanner 1 Smart View Computer Interface with Footswitch 1 Smart View B&W Color Select Camera Unit Evacu-Trac Emergency Evacuation Chair

19 CEG Outcomes Number of CEG eligible customers served (10/01/02 through 12/31/06: 136 Number of CEG eligible customers who entered employment (10/01/02 through 12/31/06): 44* *Some customers are not seeking employment at this time due to various issues, such as: medical/disability, benefit issues, unavailability for work, relocation from the area

20 Number Individuals with Disabilities Served After Implementation of the WIT Project Number served in the year period prior to implementation of the WIT Project (10/01/01 through 09/30/02): 555 Number served in the first year of implementation (10/01/02 through 09/30/03): 615 Number served in the second year of implementation (10/01/03 through 09/30/04): 704 Number served in the third year of implementation (10/01/04 through 09/30/05): 622 Number served in the fourth year of implementation to date (10/01/05 through 12/31/06)*: 855 *Includes 3 month “No Cost Extension

21 Number of Individuals with Disabilities who Entered Employment Number if individuals with disabilities that entered employment from implementation of the WIT Project to date (10/01/02 through 12/31/06): 802

22 Customer Satisfaction Customer satisfaction rate of CEG eligible customers (10/01/02 through 12/31/06): 95% Customer satisfaction rate of individuals with disabilities (10/01/02 through 12/31/06): 93%

23 Funding Plan Over Six Years Year One (10/02 – 9/03):$714,742 Year Two (10/03 – 9/04):$736,587 Year Three (10/04 – 9/05):$745,587 Year Four (10/05 – 12/06):$530,844

24 For More Information

25 Contacts Joann Lukas Von Stein, HempsteadWorks, (516) , ext Lisa Harris, Abilities, Inc., (516)