The UNT WISE e-News Bulletin is published six times a year by UNT WISE by the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work & Addictions (DRSWA) at the University of North Texas.

Editorial Staff

Editor
Martha Garber
Director

Linda Holloway Chair, DRSWA

Any comments about the content or design of this e-Newsletter should be directed to Martha Garber

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From the desk of: Martha Garber

Congress and the Obama Administration are working on a Stimulus bill that currently includes significant increases in the House version for funding that would provide people with disabilities better access to education, vocational rehabilitation services, housing and medical benefits. In addition, President Obama's Disabilities Agenda touts education, equal opportunity, increased employment and independent community-based living as disability targets for this administration. Our issues are on the national agenda. It is up to us to keep current with the status of these issues and position ourselves to have the greatest impact. Keep informed and active: It is the only way we can make our service count.

Employer Attitudes and Hiring Practices

The Office of Disability Employment Policy has just released Survey of Employer Perspectives on Employment of People with Disabilities. It is the most extensive survey ever conducted about employer attitudes on the hiring of people with disabilities. Among the findings were business attitudes and hiring practices broken down by 12 sectors from 3,797 companies that participated in the survey. The information, along with the ODEP's Business Case for hiring people with disabilities, may provide more food for thought when developing your approach to business.

Living and Working with Disabilities

The IRS has updated its publication Publication 3966: Living and Working with Disabilities: Tax Benefits and Credits. The publication provides basic information about existing tax credits and deductions that may be available to qualifying taxpayers with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and employers wishing to accommodate people with disabilities. More detailed information can be found in Publication 907: Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities and other publications cited in the document.

Telecommuting

Interest in telecommuting is growing for both employers and employees. Employees find that they save both money and time by not traveling to work plus they have more personal time. Employers can reduce overhead and gain increased availability of its workforce. Teleworktools.org provides insights and tools for telecommuting whether you work full time, part-time or are self employed.

Transitions

Yvonne Raffini, Ed.D, has accepted a VR counseling position with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) in McKinney, Texas.

Marcy Haag, Ph.D, has been named the new Interim Assistant Dean for UNT's College of Public Affairs and Community Service. She remains a consultant with UNT WISE.

Nancy Dysinger accepted a new position with UNT's Human Resources office.

Crystal Hummel has joined the UNT WISE staff as the Director's assistant. We are very pleased to have her.

2009 Training Schedule

Feb 6: ADA

March 6 & 13: Blindness and Low Vision: Vocational Strategies

April: 3, 10 & 17: Transition: Guideposts, Youth involved with Juvenile Justice and Serving Youth with Mental Health Needs

May TBA: Mental Health and Substance Abuse: Vocational Strategies

June 5, 12 & 19: Social Security Benefits and Impact on Work

July 7,14 & 21: Autism: The Basics, Employment & Transition

For a list of all of our training programs, visit our calendar!

"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination.... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities."

-- President Barack Obama

ideas that create opportunity