April 11, 2007
State Seeks Public Comment on Impacts of Disabilities on Employment
The state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is seeking input from Montanans on how to improve job opportunities for people who have disabilities.
The project is funded with a grant from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
With the assistance of the University of Montana Rural Institute, the department is conducting two surveys: One, regarding barriers to employment, is aimed at Montanans with disabilities. The other is for employers, to gather information about their concerns, questions, expenses, and benefits related to hiring people with disabilities.
Both surveys are available on the DPHHS website at www.dphhs.mt.gov. Look under Featured Topics and click on Disability & Employment Surveys. The employee survey can be completed and submitted online. The employer survey must be downloaded, filled out, and mailed.
The deadline for submitting completed surveys is April 30.
DPHHS also has contracted with independent living centers across the state to gather first-hand information about the impact of disabilities on employment.
Staff of the independent living centers will meet both with individual consumers and with small focus groups in April through June to learn about participants' employment experiences, goals, and worries.
Montanans with disabilities – as well as nonworking residents whose disabilities impacts their ability to work but who want to work full or part time – are invited to take part in an interview. Each participant will receive a $25 stipend for his or her time and effort.
People interested in participating in the focus groups should contact the independent living center nearest them:
- Billings Area
Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow
914 Wyoming Avenue
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 259-5181
- Glendive Area
Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow
PO Box 621
Glendive, MT 59330
(406) 377-4062
- Great Falls Area
North Central Independent Living Services
1120 25th Avenue NE
Black Eagle, MT 59414
(800) 823-6245
Shyla Patera, ncils.patera@sofast.net
- Helena Area
Montana Independent Living Project
1820 11th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 442-5755
Jerry Baxter, jbakbound@hotmail.com
- Missoula Area
Summit Independent Living Center
700 SW Higgins Avenue, Suite 101
Missoula, MT 59803
(800) 398-9002, in Missoula 728-1630
Travis Hoffman, Advocacy Specialist, thoffman@summitilc.org
The grant to explore the impacts of disabilities on employment is a result of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, which Congress passed in 1999. The purpose of the grant program is to enhance state Medicaid programs and services, promote links between Medicaid and other employment-related services agencies, and develop a comprehensive system of employment supports for people with disabilities.
A coalition representing a variety of interests has been established to further the goals and objectives of the project. Other grant activities will include:
- Solicitation of proposals from American Indians for outreach and training on work incentives for Indians with disabilities.
- Presentations for employers on benefits planning.
- Funding of employment tracks at five state disability-related conferences.
- Development of a data collection system to track employment outcomes.
- Development and support of a business leadership network in Montana.
- Collaboration with the National Consortium for Health Systems Development.
For more information about the project, contact Barbara Kriskovich, DPHHS Office of Planning, Coordination, and Analysis, 406-444-4132, BKriskovich@mt.gov.
Page last updated: 04/25/2007
