Transcript Collaborations and Partnerships: Infusing AT into Work and

Collaborations and
Partnerships: Infusing AT into
Work and the Community –
The Pennsylvania Assistive
Technology and Employment
Collaborative
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Initiative on
Assistive Technology
2009 Annual Conference of AT Act Programs
April 21, 2009
The Pennsylvania Collaborative
• Funding – U.S. Department of Labor
• Objective – Statewide collaborative to promote
workplace assistive technology through
outreach, training, and technical assistance
• Lead partners – Disability Rights Network of
Pennsylvania (Protection and Advocacy) (lead
organization) and Pennsylvania’s Initiative on
Assistive Technology (statewide Assistive
Technology Act program) (co-manager)
• Outcomes – 127 trained, outreach to 8300,
training and outreach tools
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Lesson 1: Form a Diverse
Collaborative
• Critical elements:
– Pre-planning with key partners
– Recruitment of members
• Disability groups
• Government
• Business and Industry
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Lesson 2: Ensure
Equal Participation
• Stress the common purpose
• Have “something” to build on
• Generate specific activities together
– Mutual investment
– Members contribute an array of resources,
networks, and ideas to create and execute
statewide activities
• Write a mission statement together to
guide activities
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Lesson 2: Ensure
Equal Participation
• “The mission of the Pennsylvania Assistive
Technology and Employment Collaborative is to
educate employers on the benefits of and
resources for workplace assistive technology.
The purpose of our efforts is to increase the
likelihood that assistive technology devices and
services will be utilized as workplace
accommodations to recruit, hire, retain, and
advance employees with disabilities.”
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Lesson 3: Plan for Sustainability
• Create lasting tools (training materials,
website)
• Create an identity (letterhead, press
releases, letters to legislators)
• Measure impact/outcomes through a
variety of methods
• Identify employment policy and advocacy
opportunities
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Lesson 3: Plan for Sustainability
• Commitment from lead partners to
continue to support activities with
funding from other relevant programs
• Commitment from Collaborative
members for continued participation
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Collaboration: Using the Tools
• The tools we created and how we used
them for outreach, training, and technical
assistance
• Materials are accessible
• Most of the materials to be discussed can
be found at:
http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/assistive/atwork/
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Tool Number 1: Website
• Main Page:
– Pennsylvania Assistive Technology and Employment
Collaborative: Introduction to the Collaborative
– Providing Awareness, Education, and Training: How
the Collaborative can assist employers and others
– Members of the Collaborative: Information about and
links to each Collaborative member
– Resources
– Contact: For more information or to inquire about or
to arrange a training
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Tool Number 1: Website
• Resources Page:
– News Articles about Assistive Technology and
Employment
– Information Especially for Employers
– Assistive Technology at Work Training Manual
– Videos (including Imagine the Possibilities)
– Guides to Assistive Technology and Employment
– Related Publications
– Presentations and Upcoming Events
– Contact
• Share materials – [email protected]
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Tool Number 2: Training Manual
• Introduction: Materials for Train-the-Trainer (1/2
day session) and presenters
• PowerPoint Slides: 30-, 60-, and 90-minute
presentations (sample agenda also included)
• Assistive Technology Activities: Principles of
adult learning utilized
• Pennsylvania Employment Resources:
Materials from Mid-Atlantic ADA Center and
Collaborative members
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Tool Number 2: Training Manual
• Participant Handouts: Workplace Technologies
for People with Disabilities (Illinois Assistive
Technology Program), Disability Etiquette
booklet (United Spinal Association)
• Training Forms: “All you need to replicate this
training” – customizable flier, sign-in sheet,
follow-up contact form, training summary form,
training survey and evaluation forms, letterhead
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Tool Number 2: Training Manual
• Additional Resources for Employers: Hire
Heroes USA, U.S. Department of Labor
Employment Checklist, Small Employers
and Reasonable Accommodation, JAN
Fact Sheets, Principles of Universal
Design, and other materials
• Recommended Assistive Technology
Devices from the Pennsylvania Assistive
Technology Lending Library
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Tool Number 3:
Train-the-Trainer
• For all Collaborative members interested
in participating as part of the Collaborative
training team
• Also for representatives from other
agencies/organizations who commit to
training others
• Additional session scheduled for June
2009 in Pittsburgh
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Tool Number 4:
Employer Training
• Promoted by all Collaborative members
• Outreach to Society for Human Resource
Management, Chambers of Commerce, and
others
• Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network key
member in outreach
• Trainings conducted jointly by two or more
Collaborative members
• Outcomes follow up through online survey tool
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Tool Number 5:
Training Others
• Sessions at statewide conferences,
including, but not limited to, Pennsylvania
Statewide Independent Living Council
Conference, Pennsylvania Partners
Conference (workforce development
professionals)
• Conducted jointly by two or more
Collaborative members
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Disability Rights Network of
Pennsylvania
• Website: www.drnpa.org
• Offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh:
800-692-7443 (Voice) or 877-375-7139 (TTY)
• PAAT Project Director:
Chava Kintisch, Esq., 215-238-8070 ext. 210 (Voice)
[email protected] (Email)
• PABSS Project Director:
Jennifer Garman, Esq., 717-236-8110 ext. 327 (Voice)
[email protected] (Email)
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Pennsylvania’s Initiative on
Assistive Technology
• Website: http://disabilities.temple.edu
• Main Office: Temple University, Philadelphia;
subcontracted regional Assistive Technology Resource
Centers across the state
• Main Telephone Number: (in-state toll-free) 800-204PIAT (7428) (Voice), 866-268-0579 (TTY), 215-204-1356
(Voice/TTY), [email protected] (Main Email)
• Assistive Technology Act Program Director:
Amy Goldman, 215-204-3862 (Voice)
[email protected] (Email)
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