Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative ServicesOffice of Special Education and Rehabilitative ServicesUnited States Department of EducationUnited States Department of Education

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Presentation at the DRI Symposium:Presentation at the DRI Symposium:

SSA Disability Program: SSA Disability Program: Facilitating EmploymentFacilitating Employment

Troy JustesenTroy JustesenDeputy Assistant Secretary (Acting)Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acting)

March 16, 2004March 16, 2004

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Panel Discussion: Panel Discussion: Youth and TransitionYouth and TransitionPresident’s New Freedom Initiative President’s New Freedom Initiative Announced within two weeks of taking office.Announced within two weeks of taking office. Four broad objectives:Four broad objectives:

Increasing access to assistive technology and universally Increasing access to assistive technology and universally designed technologies. designed technologies.

Expanding educational opportunities for Americans with Expanding educational opportunities for Americans with disabilities.disabilities.

Integrating Americans with Disabilities into the workforce.Integrating Americans with Disabilities into the workforce.Promoting full access to community life.Promoting full access to community life.

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About OSERSAbout OSERSOSERS comprises three program components:OSERS comprises three program components: OOffice of ffice of SSpecial pecial EEducation ducation PPrograms (rograms (OSEPOSEP))

Dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and Dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21.youth with disabilities ages birth through 21.

Administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).(IDEA).

RRehabilitation ehabilitation SServices ervices AAdministration (dministration (RSARSA))Oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or Oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or

mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently.independently.

NNational ational IInstitute on nstitute on DDisability and isability and RRehabilitation ehabilitation RResearch esearch ((NIDRRNIDRR) ) Provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program Provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program

of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. disabilities.

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Collaborative Collaborative ApproachesApproachesCollaboration with federal and state government Collaboration with federal and state government agencies, potential employers and community agencies, potential employers and community organizations is the hallmark of OSERS’ organizations is the hallmark of OSERS’ initiatives. initiatives.

Youth transition collaborative efforts have three Youth transition collaborative efforts have three broad, interrelated goalsbroad, interrelated goals::1.1. Enhance employment opportunities.Enhance employment opportunities.

2.2. Facilitate transition into the workforce.Facilitate transition into the workforce.

3.3. Prepare students for postsecondary success. Prepare students for postsecondary success.

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Enhancing Employment Enhancing Employment OpportunitiesOpportunities Data-sharing Data-sharing Memorandum of Understanding Memorandum of Understanding

between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Department of Education.U.S. Department of Education.

CoordinationCoordination between the SSA, State Vocational between the SSA, State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and private Employment Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and private Employment Networks to support the success of the Ticket to Work Networks to support the success of the Ticket to Work program. program.

Consultations with the Consultations with the U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to enhance access for persons with disabilities (DOL) to enhance access for persons with disabilities to the One-Stop system.to the One-Stop system.

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Enhancing Employment Enhancing Employment OpportunitiesOpportunities Partnerships Partnerships to strengthen VR agencies’ to strengthen VR agencies’

relationships with employers at the local level. relationships with employers at the local level. Partnership with thePartnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to U.S. Chamber of Commerce to

produce a guide about programs and resources produce a guide about programs and resources available to assist business leaders in hiring people available to assist business leaders in hiring people with disabilities. with disabilities.

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Facilitate Transition Into Facilitate Transition Into

the Workforcethe Workforce SSA Pilot projectSSA Pilot project allowing students with disabilities allowing students with disabilities

to go on to postsecondary education, vocational to go on to postsecondary education, vocational training or employment without losing IDEA-funded training or employment without losing IDEA-funded services or SSI benefits. services or SSI benefits.

OSERS – DOL grantsOSERS – DOL grants to build the capacity of faith- to build the capacity of faith-based and community organizations to provide based and community organizations to provide mentoring services to young people.mentoring services to young people.

Co-sponsorship of the Youth to WorkCo-sponsorship of the Youth to Work Coalition Coalition (YWC)(YWC) to encourage and assist businesses to establish to encourage and assist businesses to establish youth mentoring, internships and other school-to-work youth mentoring, internships and other school-to-work model programs.model programs.

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Prepare Students for Prepare Students for Postsecondary SuccessPostsecondary Success Adolescent literacy researchAdolescent literacy research in conjunction with in conjunction with

the National Institute of Child Health and Human the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Office of Vocational and Adult Development and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education.Education.

National Center on Secondary Education and National Center on Secondary Education and Transition’sTransition’s National Leadership Summit. National Leadership Summit.

National Dropout Prevention CenterNational Dropout Prevention Center to develop to develop networks of researchers, practitioners and key networks of researchers, practitioners and key organizations to help increase graduation rates. organizations to help increase graduation rates.

National File Format Technical PanelNational File Format Technical Panel to identify to identify and propose national instructional materials and propose national instructional materials accessibility standards for all students.accessibility standards for all students.

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Prepare Students for Prepare Students for Postsecondary SuccessPostsecondary Success Improving Post-school Outcomes: Identifying Improving Post-school Outcomes: Identifying

and Promoting What Works and Promoting What Works project for project for synthesizing, analyzing and disseminating information synthesizing, analyzing and disseminating information about secondary-aged youth with disabilities. about secondary-aged youth with disabilities.

National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with DisabilitiesEducation for Individuals with Disabilities for for information and resources to help establish and/or information and resources to help establish and/or improve postsecondary education programs.improve postsecondary education programs.

National Longitudinal Transition Study–2National Longitudinal Transition Study–2 providing information about 12,000 students with providing information about 12,000 students with disabilities as they transition from adolescence to disabilities as they transition from adolescence to early adulthood.early adulthood.

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Contact OSERSContact OSERSAddress:Address: Office of Special Education and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative ServicesRehabilitative ServicesU.S. Department of EducationU.S. Department of Education400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.Washington, DC 20202Washington, DC 20202

Phone:Phone: 202-205-5465 (Voice/TTY)202-205-5465 (Voice/TTY)

Web:Web:www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osersosers

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative ServicesOffice of Special Education and Rehabilitative ServicesUnited States Department of EducationUnited States Department of Education

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