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Maximizing the use of CNCS Disability Grant Funds Presented by: Terri Jutzi Program Officer & Disability Coordinator Colorado Governor's Commission on Community Service Disability Coordinator Affinity Group Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

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Page 1: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Maximizing the use of CNCS Disability Grant Funds

Presented by: Terri Jutzi

Program Officer & Disability CoordinatorColorado Governor's Commission on Community Service

Disability Coordinator Affinity GroupWednesday, August 4, 2010

Page 2: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Disability Inclusion PolicyIt is the policy of The Governor’s Commission on Community Service to promote and support the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in AmeriCorps programs. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) awards grants to states for this specific purpose.

ALL AmeriCorps programs in Colorado, with the assistance of The Governor’s Commission on Community Service will actively recruit individuals with disabilities as AmeriCorps members. Qualified individuals with disabilities must not be refused acceptance into a program solely on the basis of disability. Individuals who meet the necessary qualifications and are able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without a reasonable accommodation will be considered for acceptance to a program.

Reasonable accommodations must be provided for individuals with disabilities:

1.To participate in the application process

2.To perform the essential functions of the service opportunity, or

3.To enjoy benefits a privileges equal to those enjoyed by other AmeriCorps members without disclosed disabilities.

Page 3: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

The PO position includes a role as the State Disability Coordinator (15%).  Activities that the PO is involved in include: •Signing on to the Disability Listserv. •Participating in Disability Coordinator monthly conference calls and Affinity Group•Prepare Disability Materials as part of the Program Directors’ Supplement•Work with AmeriCorps Program Committee to address any Accommodation Requests that are received from the field•Ensure that all programs complete the Disability Inclusion Report at the end of the year; compile the results of these reports; pull further data regarding Disability declarations from WBRS; provide summary data to Executive Director for Disability application to CNCS.•Research and refer questions that come to the office regarding member disclosure or request for assistance•Provide guidance to Program Directors when member issues suggest possible need for accommodation•Build relationships with agencies in the State that address issues of disability.•Attend national disability conferences, disability sessions at the National Conference and other local trainings as possible•Ensure that all programs have copy of National Inclusion Handbook from the National Service Inclusion Project•Encourage all programs to utilize position descriptions for their members that separate out Essential Functions from Marginal Functions•Review materials from each program to ensure they do not include discriminatory language•Require use of inclusive language in all recruitment materials and on websites

Procedure

Page 4: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Disability Program Coordinator Responsibilities

As part of the annual orientation provided to all our AmeriCorps programs, the Disability Program Coordinator provides an overview of our Disability Initiative and the expectations for programs in the following areas:

•Recruitment•Reasonable Accommodations •Training

Continued…

Page 5: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

RECRUITMENT

1. All AmeriCorps programs will actively recruit individuals with disabilities as members.  The Governor’s Commission on Community Service will provide on-going technical assistance to support programs in the recruitment process.  

2. All recruitment materials including newspaper ads should include a statement about the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

3. All programs have access to the Governor’s Commission on Community Service display and marketing materials.

Page 6: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS

1. AmeriCorps programs may not use the cost of providing an accommodation for an applicant with a disability as grounds for not accepting that individual.

2. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of a position; or to enjoy benefits and privileges of the service opportunity equal to those enjoyed by AmeriCorps without disabilities must notify the AmeriCorps Program Director of the need for the accommodation.

3. AmeriCorps Directors must complete a “reasonable accommodation request” (form attached) and submit it to the Disability Coordinator at The Governor’s Commission on Community Service.  The request must be approved prior to the purchase of the accommodation.  The cost of reasonable accommodations will be covered by Federal disability funds as available.

4. Invoices for equipment or services are to be initialed by the disability coordinator prior to payment.

5. If the request includes a job coach, The Governor’s Commission on Community Service will contract with an agency for a designated number of hours.

Page 7: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

TRAINING

1.The Governor’s Commission on Community Service will offer disability awareness training to all members and AmeriCorps staff at the start of the program year to increase the participation and retention of members with disabilities in AmeriCorps.2.The Governor’s Commission on Community Service will provide reasonable accommodations as requested at all statewide events.

Page 8: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Promoting Inclusion in Colorado:

1. VISTA – Disability Inclusion Specialist

2. Work Force Disability Navigator on Commission

3. Including Disability Issues in Statewide Needs Assessment

4. Education on some component of inclusion in EVERY program manager training

5. Disability training track at Colorado Service Conference

6. Promotion of Commission funds for programs to use for member accommodations.

Page 9: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Sample Disability Funds Request for the Mini-grantSample Disability Funds Request for the Mini-grant(broken down for better viewing on the following slides)(broken down for better viewing on the following slides)

Page 10: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Request for Colorado State Disability “Mini-Grants”Governor’s Commission on Community Service225 E. 16th Ave Suite B-52 Denver, CO 80203

303-866-2572 (office) 303-866-2525 (fax) 

 Mini-grants totaling $15,000 are available for the placement, reasonable accommodation, and auxiliary services for members and potential members with disabilities. Programs may request disability technical assistance for training or funds for securing reasonable accommodations. Applications are due to the Commission by November 30, 2009.

Page 11: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Amount of request from $500 - $5,000: ___________________

In general, these funds can be used to:  •Partner with the Commission to develop action plans that result in increases in referrals, member applications, and member support strategies.

•Costs associated with the development of a statewide working group made up of representatives from the Commission, disability groups, and self-advocacy groups to develop and implement plans to recruit and retain individuals with disabilities in service positions and to ensure positive experiences.

•Modify or enhance an activity or deliverable (e.g. training, brochure, or website) to achieve specific goals of the Commission. Pro-rate the costs accordingly. For example, if a training event has 10 modules, one of which falls within the uses of this grant, the grant funds may be used to defray 10% of the total cost of the training.

•Sponsor training sessions for, and with AmeriCorps State of National programs to educate program staff (and/or members) as to how they can increase participation of individuals with disabilities.

Page 12: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Request for Colorado State Disability FundsDescribe the project, training, or outreach you are proposing: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Potential Utilization for AmeriCorps Members with DisabilitiesPlease describe how Colorado AmeriCorps members may benefit from this plan.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Outreach materials needed for projectDescribe the Outreach Materials and their Desired Format______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Estimated Cost: please itemize expected expenditures

Page 13: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

If funds are for a training:

Do you want the Commission to arrange a trainer? ☐ Yes ☐ No

I have a specific trainer in mind: _______________________

What is the anticipated date for the training?

(Please include several possible dates if the Commission is arranging the training for you.)

Who will the audience include?

Program Staff

Site Supervisors

AmeriCorps Members

Other Colorado AmeriCorps Program Staff

Other Colorado AmeriCorps Program Members

Community Partners

Others:________________________________________________________________

Page 14: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

After completing this form, make and keep one copy for your files and forward the original request to: 

Governor’s Commission on Community Service225 E. 16th Ave Suite B-52

Denver, CO 80203Fax: 303-866-2555

 Once this form has been received, it will be reviewed for approval. We will contact the person listed on the top of this request to make arrangement as necessary.  If you have any questions about disability related issues, please contact: 

Terri Jutzi, State Disability CoordinatorGovernor’s Commission on Community Service

303/[email protected]

What Next?

Page 15: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Sample “Mini-Grants” Score Sheet

Page 16: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Sample Award Letter

Page 17: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Sampling of Mini-Grant Recipients 2009

Page 18: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Bayaud Enterprises, Inc. Educational Series (Navigating Community Resources -- Increasing participation of Individuals with Disabilities) The mission of Bayaud Enterprises is to create hope, opportunity and choice, with work (and national or community service) as the means through which people with disabilities and other barriers to employment (and service) can more fully participate in the mainstream of life. This group believes that participation rates of individuals with disabilities with AmeriCorps State and National Programs is realistic and achievable. This project will train members of the commission staff, site supervisors, AmeriCorps Members, AmeriCorps program staff and various community partners in ways that will advance the Commissions goal to increase the participation and success of individuals with disabilities in Colorado Community Service Programs. Bayaud Enterprises proposes a basic, cost effective outreach plan that will feature internet communication, online conferencing and shared website education. Our project will be green and have minimal hard cop. Participant Outreach will be accomplished online using State AmeriCorps and Program databases as well as Bayaud Enterprises' Community Partnerships. Subsequent and ongoing communication will be electronic. Educational Programs will be hosted at Bayaud Enterprises' centrally-located facility in Denver. Program webcasting will be available in real time to AmeriCorps Members, Program Staff and other persons associated with the GCCS's. Recorded webcasts will also be available online for persons unable to participate or log-on the day of the program. All materials used as part of the Educational Program will be distributed online and will be available to current AmeriCorps Members with disabilities as well as future AmeriCorps recruits.

Page 19: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Center for People With Disabilities (CPWD) CPWD is proposing to benefit people with disabilities and potential employers by outreaching into local communities. The outreach would enhance understanding of the dynamics of placing a person with a disability in the workforce. Another goal would be to strategize shifting the workplace into a continuum where there is a new generation of continuous learning and development of careers for people with disabilities. Part of this grant would be used to hire a person who would assist in helping members and others understand systems, reasonable accommodations, working with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Disability Program Navigators at Workforce Centers, accessing on the job training and giving vital information and referrals. AmeriCorps members would have an opportunity to gain knowledge in techniques of how people with disabilities can become successful in the workplace. They would learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act, strategies, for hiring, retaining, and promoting people with disabilities, where to find and recruit people with disabilities, how to communicate with people with disabilities, how to provide reasonable accommodations and practical solutions that a qualified applicant requests to perform a job, obtain information and referrals about self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for people with disabilities, develop procedures to retain and maintain employment. Marketing efforts would include both CPWD's logo and AmeriCorps logo on the website, in their flyers and brochures. Agency fairs, job fairs, workshops and seminars will be additional venues of outreach for this important project.

Page 20: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Kindred Spirits Art Class at Southwest Center for Independence

Kindred Spirits Art Classes meet weekly and serve a variety of community members with disabilities. They are fully accessible and serve members with a variety of challenges including; autism, blindness, developmental disability and physical impairment. Participants have submitted art work to shows all over the area, including the Icon Art Show at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Coming to the art class also serves to lift the isolation which can be an additional hardship for folks with disability who live alone. As anyone is welcome to attend for free, the class also serves to make people aware of other groups and services we provide.

AmeriCorps members will be welcomed to attend any class sessions, opt to teach a class, or observe a class. This class encompasses a variety of disabilities that a teacher might encounter or that a volunteer might benefit from learning to address. The complete accessibility of the program, coupled with the other resources they offer to help accommodate special needs and the inspiring mix of people that staff the Center, will act to encourage disabled volunteers to consider AmeriCorps service. The funding will also be used to add valuable links to AmeriCorps and create a tri-fold brochure for mailing to other advocacy groups in Colorado.

Page 21: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Metro Volunteers

Metro Volunteers is developing a new training program in 2010 for nonprofit agencies, schools and the faith-based community to learn how to engage volunteers with mental and physical disabilities effectively. This training will give course students the tools too: create an inclusive environment, have a general awareness of disability etiquette and sensitivity to this community, create an accessible space, and more. Funds will be used to develop the curricula, print materials, and train and recognize volunteers. This training will help the community to be better equipped to recruit and engage persons with disabilities. In addition there will be an increased number of people with disabilities provided a meaningful volunteer experience. The expertise of the underutilized community will be available to programs and recognized for the asset that it is.

This training would be offered to all AmeriCorps members serving the State of Colorado. It will be arranged for a class exclusively for the AmeriCorps members and/ or supervisors. The training would benefit from the feedback given by AmeriCorps members, especially those with disabilities.

Page 22: Colorado Profile - DC Affinity Grp Mtg - Aug 2010

Questions…