NRAJPD Plans Pre-Conference

The National Rehabilitation Association of Job Placement and Development, in conjunction with the Kentucky Association of Job Placement and Development, will host an NRA Pre-Conference seminar on Thursday September 10, 2009. Although the specific topic and speaker are not finalized, this will be a program of interest to placement service providers. We anticipate this to be a half-day program. Look for more details in upcoming issues of Contemporary Rehab.

70K Texans To Lose Emergency Compensation

About 70,000 Texans will exhaust their federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) beginning in July. Currently pending in House Calendars, SB 1569 protects unemployed Texans and qualifies Texas for $555 million in federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). However, the Legislature has overlooked an entirely separate pot of money in the ARRA that is equally important. The ARRA will pick up the 100% of the costs to extend UI for these Texans, delivering more than $250 million in federal funds into the Texas economy without any state costs.

Read the Center for Public Policy Priorities policy page to learn more, including how many Texans in each House legislative district will lose federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation if the Legislature fails to act: http://www.cppp.org/research.php?aid=886

NRA Conference Call for Proposals

Beverlee Stafford, NRA Executive Director, asks the membership to respond to the “Call for Proposals” published in the February issue of Contemporary Rehab. You can also view this document on the NRA website; click on the link for the Call for Proposals on the NRA homepage. Please help identify potential speakers and topics to make the 2009 conference a memorable one! Proposals are due to the NRA national office by June 1, 2009. Speakers will know by July 1, 2009 if selected.

Accommodating People with Vision Loss

A new resource from the Society for Human Resource Management and the latest update to the Job Accommodation Network on work accommodations for people who are Blind: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/visi.htm

Seth Harris Confirmation Hearing for Deputy Secretary of Labor

President Obama has nominated Seth Harris to be the next Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. His confirmation hearing is scheduled to go before the Senate on Thursday May 7, 2009 at 10:00am.

AAPD Ticket that Rocks!

AAPD will be launching an online auction "The Ticket that Rocks!" this Friday, May 8, 2009."The Ticket that Rocks!" online charitable auction gives theater connoisseurs and concert goers the opportunity to bid on tickets to their favorite shows while supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. The auction is slated to go live on May 8th, 2009 via eBay: http://www.ebay.com/

NRA Thanks Congressional Leaders- Rehab Counselor Day

The National Rehabilitation Association thanks all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and, in particular, Congressmen Skelton, Gingrey, Tonko and Ehlers, for putting their appreciation of the wonderful work qualified rehabilitation counselors and qualified rehabilitation personnel into action in recognizing these selfless individuals on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

On behalf of NRA's Executive Director Beverlee Stafford, our 2009 President, Commissioner Butch McMillan, our Immediate Past President, Dr. Ray Feroz, our incoming President, Bonnie Hawley, and all in the National Rehabilitation Association, a heartfelt thanks to Dru Fentem, a long-time NRA Member from the great State of Georgia, for her dogged determination in shepherding this Resolution through both the House and Senate.

Like all of us, Members of Congress and their staff appreciate being thanked. We encourage you to contact your local Members of Congress and thank them for supporting this important Resolution recognizing qualified rehabilitation counselors and qualified rehabilitation personnel throughout our country. In particular, we ask all NRA members that you also contact electronically the following staff members and thank them for their support and that of their Member of Congress of this important Resolution. We encourage you to use as the subject line: Thank You For Voting For H.Res. 247, National Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Day.

Jason.Rauch@mail.house.gov; (Congressman Ike Skelton's (D.MO.))

Robert.Horne@mail.house.gov; (Congressman Phil Gingrey (R.GA))

Becky.Cornell@mail.house (Congressman Paul Tonko (D.NY.))

Rachel.Fenton@mail.house.gov; (Congressman Ehlers (R.MI.))

Disability History Guide

National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth Releases Disability History Guide
Disability History Timeline: Resource and Discussion Guide

This guide is designed to assist those with and without disabilities to learn about the rich history of people with disabilities. Although designed primarily for youth and emerging leaders with disabilities, the guide can be used in multiple ways to educate a broader audience as well. Starting shortly after the United States was founded, the guide features examples of the remarkable diversity, creativity, and leadership that has shaped the disability community and American culture.

Career-Focused Services in Community Colleges Released

NCWD/Youth and Workforce Strategy Center release Career-Focused Services for Students with Disabilities at Community Colleges

Career-Focused Services for Students with Disabilities at Community Colleges
Our nation’s changing economy requires workers to attain increasingly higher job skills. Leaders in education, workforce development, and economic development recognize the need to help workers meet this challenge and to help employers find qualified employees. This case study report examines the efforts of community colleges to function as intermediaries in meeting the local workforce development needs of employers. Moreover, it identifies promising practice models of collaboration between career services and disability student services to promote career opportunities and job attainment for students with disabilities.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funds
One of the requirements of the ARRA is that every department must create a webpage describing how their department’s dollars will be spent and that provides guidance to grantees/contractors. Below you will find the links to the Department of Labor and Education’s pages.
Department of Labor Information Related to the ARRA
This page includes information on the initial plans for the implementation o the Workforce Investment Act and state-by-state breakouts.
Department of Education Information Related to the ARRA
This page includes information on the Title I, Part A Recovery Funds for Grants to Local Educational Agencies, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants, and Independent Living Services.