This page contains mini-brief summaries of disability and employment best practices currently being implemented by Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) grantees. Overall, it has been found that the implementation of DEI strategies have resulted in an increase in the enrollment of individuals with disabilities at American Job Centers.

(NEW) Connecticut– Partnering to Support Transition-Aged Youth – Effective partnerships between WIOA Title I, WIOA Title IV and the local public school systems resulted in innovative coordination to orientate youth with disabilities about the services of an American Job Center.

Iowa - One Door Many Paths WIOA Conferences - Interagency coordination to help the state workforce system take steps to be more aligned to support the goals of WIOA in having a seamless customer experience for all customers, including people with disabilities.  

Georgia – Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership - Funding a full-time Certified Rehabilitation Counselor whose entire caseload consists of shared co-enrolled WIOA title I and WIOA title IV customers to maximize positive outcomes for both job seekers with disabilities and workforce programs.

California - Registered Apprenticeship: A Promising Practice - Partnering with the local training provider in Commercial Driver’s License in truck driving to support people with disabilities and employers in Registered Apprenticeship.
 
Massachusetts - Career Pathway Pilot for Individuals with Disabilities - Partnering with a local healthcare facility and community college to support individuals with disabilities gain skills that later resulted in a strong track record of them finding employment.

 

Connecticut - Diverse Ability Career Fairs - A comprehensive approach in partnership with vocational rehabilitation to engage businesses that has resulted in successful outcomes for job seekers with disabilities.

Iowa - Reverse Career Fairs: Reaching Employers Directly - An innovative career fair practice in which the job seeker is the one behind the table supporting their employment goals and positioning themselves to showcase their skills, personality, and ambition to prospective employers.

California - Partnership Plus: Action Oriented Solutions - Entering into a Partnership Plus agreement as a Workforce Employment Network to ensure that American Job Centers can provide full access to services for Vocational Rehabilitation clients who are also Ticket Holders under the Ticket to Work program.

New York - How to Inspire Ticket Holders - As an American Job Center that serves as a Workforce Employment Network, how do we inspire Ticket Holders to pursue work? Discovering the Ticket Holder’s “Dreams” is key to inspiring them while at the same time acknowledging their fears of poverty and loss of benefits.