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June 22 marks the ceremonial 25th anniversary of the landmark civil rights Olmstead Decision. In this case, the Supreme Court held that “unjustified isolation of individuals with disabilities” through “undue institutionalization,” constituted discrimination based on disability in violation of Title II of The  Americans with Disabilities Act  (ADA). [1]   more

Texas’s One Slide Challenge presentation during the SELN January 2024 monthly network meeting included a short description of a new employment navigator pilot program. Texas is one of several states carving a navigator role in the employment service system for people with disabilities including IDD. There are at least five states – Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico and Texas – with similarly-named navigator roles. These states, each with unique geography and history, have or are crafting how a navigator role can improve employment outcomes, how to fund this role, where and why navigators are needed and navigator competencies.  more

We are honored to announce that Jean Winsor, ICI Senior Research Associate and Project Manager, has received the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Public Policy Award for her outstanding contributions to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). more

As November closes, we are grateful for so many things. We are grateful for your continued passion and efforts to move systems forward towards ‘there’ that we discussed at the 2023 SELN Annual Meeting themed, “Are We There yet?”. We are also grateful for all those working to support people with disabilities directly in many different ways. more

Every October we recognize and celebrate the skills and talents of people with disabilities to work in the community through National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year the theme is “Advancing Access and Equity”. You can find the official marketing material and information about how to celebrate on the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) NDEAM webpage. more

As an employment lead for your state IDD agency, new or veteran, it can be overwhelming. You likely have multiple responsibilities, not all directly focused on employment. How do you keep employment front and center in your state? Where can you find resources and support? Here are some good places to start!  more

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Rural communities face unique challenges in finding and keeping skilled workers. These, in combination with declines in the working-age population, means employers must seek talent from new sources. Hiring people with disabilities can be a part of the solution. In this panel presentation, ... more

Wednesday, January 22 | 1:30-2 EST. Community Life Engagement (CLE) in Action will be holding its 2nd “30-minute Lunch Break” webinar, focusing on Guidepost 1 and highlighting tools for person-centered planning and practice. more

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET Advancing competitive, integrated employment (CIE) through employer engagement involves actively partnering with businesses to create meaningful, sustainable job opportunities for people with disabilities. Strategies to foster employer engagement include raising awareness, building partnerships, providing support, and leveraging technology. more

The Link Center's Shared Learning Groups are an opportunity to dive into important topics together, sharing resources, information, and ideas to better support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. more

Congratulations to the 13 states and the District of Columbia recently named as “core states” in the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative to increase competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with disabilities. more

The Accessible Transportation Resource Center ( ATRC ) is conducting a nationwide survey on transportation accessibility. more

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed annually on December 3rd, an event supported by the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs. The theme for this year is "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future." This theme recognizes the important role that persons with disabilities play in creating a more inclusive and sustainable world for all. It also emphasizes the importance of the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes that affect their lives. more

The Association of People Supporting Employment First, otherwise known as APSE , in collaboration with the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network ( NEON ), this year 2024/5 is focusing on a project to assist organizations in transforming from 14(c). The project is open (free) to twenty agencies involved in Transformation or considering Transformation from 14 (c). The project will use APSE's Questionnaire Guide to Transformation as a foundation. Let providers in your state know about this opportunity now so they can join the kick-off meeting on December 9, 2024. more

There is much to celebrate, learn, and acknowledge in November. Check out these great resources to learn more about each one! more

CMS is pleased to announce an upcoming training series on the HCBS Provisions of the Medicaid Access Rule. Specifically, the HCBS provisions of the rule makes sweeping changes intended to strengthen necessary safeguards to ensure health and welfare, promote health equity for people receiving Medicaid covered HCBS, and achieve a more consistent and coordinated approach to the administration of policies and procedures across Medicaid HCBS programs. more

Since 2018, ACL and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have funded the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS). The mission of NCAPPS is to promote systems change that makes person-centered principles not just an aspiration but a reality in the lives of people who require services and supports across the lifespan. more

We are pleased to start sharing state spotlights with the network. One of the values of membership in the SELN is easy access to see what other states are doing to move employment forward. State spotlights is one strategy to connect you all with the great work of your peers as well as a way for you to celebrate your state's accomplishments. We hope these will give you some ideas of how to move employment forward in your state and help you take a few minutes to celebrate your wins. If you are interested in sharing a spotlight, please reach out to Jen Bose at jennifer.bose@umb.edu . more

Everyone is invited to attend the Texas virtual employment conference! As we continue to look at different ways to collaborate with other state agencies, this conference will be an opportunity to take a deep dive into how Texas approaches collaboration and can give you ideas if your state is considering hosting a similar event. See the details below. more