Social Security

The Department of Justice established the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990 to prohibit discrimination based on disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.

In July 2010, President Obama marked the 20th Anniversary of the ADA by signing Executive Order 13548. Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, which calls on federal departments and agencies to increase the recruitment, hiring and retention of people with disabilities in coming years.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) fosters and promotes the welfare of job seekers, wage earners, and retirees by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements.

• Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. DOL
  ODEP develops and influences disability employment-related policies and practices affecting an increase in the employment of people with disabilities.
  
  Website: http://www.dol.gov/odep
  Publication: http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/OrderPublications.htm


• Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. DOL
  

  ETA provides job-training, employment, labor market information, and income maintenance services primarily through state and local workforce development systems.
  
  Website: http://www.doleta.gov/etainfo/mission.cfm

• Office of Workforce Investment (OWI), U.S. DOL

OWI provides national leadership, oversight, policy guidance, and technical assistance to the One-Stop system and the youth and adult employment and training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act.  

Website: http://www.doleta.gov/etainfo/wrksys/WIMission.cfm

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) promotes student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
  OSERS supports programs that serve millions of children, youth and adults with disabilities.
  
  Website: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html?src=oc
  
  Publications: http://www.edpubs.gov/

Other Publications and Products: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/reports.html


• National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)  

NIDRR provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

Website: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.html

Publications: http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html

• Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)

RSA oversees grant programs that help people with physical or mental disabilities obtain employment and live more independently through supports such as counseling, medical services and job training.  RSA's major Title I formula grant program provides funds to state vocational rehabilitation agencies to provide employment-related services for individuals with disabilities, giving priority to individuals who are significantly disabled.

Website: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/index.html

Publications: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/products.html

• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.

Website:http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html

Publications:http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/products.html

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services 
CMS is a federal agency that runs the Medicare program and works with the States to run the Medicaid program.

Website: http://www.cms.gov        

• Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) program

Section 203 of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 provides grants to States to develop state infrastructures to support working individuals with disabilities.  For eligibility under this grant program, a State must offer personal assistance services statewide within and outside the home to the extent necessary to enable an individual to be engaged in full-time competitive employment.

Website: http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Delivery-Systems/Grant-Programs/Employment-Initiatives.html

• Medicaid Buy-In program

This program allows workers with severe disabilities to earn more than would otherwise be possible and still have Medicaid coverage.  In return, participants “buy into” the Medicaid program, typically by paying premiums based on income.

Websites:
http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/Medicaid-and-CHIP-Program-Information.html

http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/disability/medicaidbuy-in.asp

• Medicaid State Waiver Program Demonstration Projects
Website: http://www.cms.gov/MedicaidStWaivProgDemoPGI/

Disability.gov is a federal government website that provides an interactive, community-driven information network of disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits. The site provides access to thousands of resources from federal, state and local government agencies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations.  Disability.gov is managed by U.S. DOL’s, ODEP in partnership with 21 other federal agencies, including Social Security.

Website: http://www.disability.gov

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) EEOC.gov is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person?s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Website: http://www.eeoc.gov/

Publication: http://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/

The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) was established to promote interagency disability research coordination and collaboration, and enhance communication and information sharing among federal agencies and stakeholders conducting rehabilitation research programs and activities.

Website:www.icdr.us

OPM is an independent agency of the United States government that manages the civil service of the federal government.?

Website: www.opm.gov

• Federal Employment of People with Disabilities

Federal agencies fill jobs two ways, competitively and non-competitively. Persons with disabilities may apply for jobs filled either way. People who are selected for jobs must meet the qualification requirements for the jobs and be able to perform the essential duties of the jobs with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits.gov provides easy, online access to government benefit and assistance programs. The website includes over 1,000 programs representing 17 Federal partners.

Website: http://www.benefits.gov/