Youth to Work Coalition (YTWC)

Welcome!

Enter (Date)

Name of Organization

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Agenda

Brief Introduction of PresentersThe Importance of Employment

Outcomes and Self-DeterminationBrief introduction/Purpose of YTWCYTWC Website Overview Review Resources for

Businesses/Employers

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Where We Are Now

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Employment Rates 2013

In June 2013, the percentage of people with disabilities in the

labor force was 20.2% A decrease since January 2013. By

comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the

labor force was 68.9%US Department of Labor

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Unemployment Rates 2013

In June 2013, the unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 14.2% percent, compared with 8.3% percent for persons

with no disability.US Department of Labor

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We have spent Billions on:

• Raising awareness & advocacy• Policy initiatives• Support services

Yet, people with disabilities are still under-represented in the workforce

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Why is Self-determination Important?

• Researchers have found that young adults with disabilities who leave school with high levels of self-determination and positive self-esteem are more likely to be:

• employed, with greater job benefits than their less self-determined peers

• satisfied with their lives• live independently, or with support, outside

of their family homes(Wehmeyer & Schwartz, 1997).

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Strategies for Developing Self-Determination

• Teach the individual about their rights, accommodations and responsibilities as adults and as individuals with disabilities.

• Guide the individual towards solving their own problems and making their own choices/decisions.

• Help the individual to think about their actions and responses to situations and find ways to improve.

• Don’t shy away from discussing challenges associated with disability. Admit that problems exist, while pointing out other ways to do things.

• Arrange learning and skill-building tasks to be challenging, but not impossible—not boring or irrelevant!

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Purpose of the Youth to Work Coalition (YTWC)

To identify/house/organize resources (toolkits, guides, how-to-materials) that link employers and schools to create work-based learning experiences for youth and young adults with disabilities

Establish and coordinate a network of experts to: Provide TA to employers

Internships Mentoring programs

Develop tools Targeting employers and schools Supporting work-based learning experiences

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The New YTWC Website!!

http://nsttac.org/ytw/home

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NSTTAC’s Homepage

YTWC Homepage

About Us Tab

Success Stories Tab

Timeline

Audiences Tab

Businesses/Employers Resources

Business Specific Materials

Mentoring

Partners For Youth with Disabilities

Office of Disability Employment Policy: guidelines for businesses and mentorship

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Business Specific Materials

Service Learning

A Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Community Service Programs

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Business Specific Materials

Paid Employment

Leading Practices on Disability Inclusion from the US Business Leadership Network

Employer Assistance and Resource Network

Online courses for businesses on how to integrate individuals into the workforce

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Questions

Suggestions?Questions?

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