Nebraska
This bill establishes the Legislature's intent that the Division of Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Developmental Disabilities work collaboratively to improve employment for individuals with disabilities and to maximize federal matching funds.
This bill requires school districts to begin providing transition services to students with developmental disabilities at age 14 (rather than 16).
This program provides low-interest loans to individuals with disabilities for the purchase of assistive technology devices and services. This includes mini-loans, larger loans, and loans for telework.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program helps individuals served by Nebraska VR to take full advantage of available state and federal work incentives and make an informed decision about working while disabled.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
CPAP enables individuals with disabilities to explore and access opportunities to advance in their employment through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training. It focuses on equipping participants with recognized postsecondary credentials required for advancement within the high-demand industries of Architecture and Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL). Employers are then provided access to this group of potential employees.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Certificate Programs offer hands-on training programs to students and adults with disabilities. This opportunity results from a partnership with local Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation service offices, three to five core business partners in the area, a community college, and local schools. Students take classes, tour business, and either work part-time or participate in an internship with employer partners.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Nebraska State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation and the Nebraska Department of Education's Special Education division offer enhanced transitions services for students with disabilities, including around benefits planning in relation to career choices, communicating disability-related work support and accommodation needs, and finding and requesting support or accommodations in education, training, and employment settings.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The program provides mentorship and work experiences to transition-age students who are blind or have low vision by connecting them to blind and visually impaired adults in various occupations who can help them navigate the transition years. Participants interact weekly with mentors, develop leadership skills, and participate in work-based experiential learning opportunities. The program is a collaboration between the Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides youth with disabilities with a unique recreational experience that prepares them for school, work, and life inclusion. Participants learn about their disabilities, understand the importance of communication and listening skills, explore and share their talents and strengths, understand accommodations in the school and workplace, learn about independent living, and learn about the services necessary for job seeking and secondary education.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
NYLC is a group of young leaders with disabilities who promote disability awareness and educate their peers on transitioning to college or work. It is co-sponsored by the Nebraska Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation and Special Education.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: PTI Nebraska (Parent Training and Information)
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides ongoing employment support to individuals with disabilities for one full year. Employment Monitors check in and can assist with transportation, job retention, career advancement, financial wellness, and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Disability Rights Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Nebraska VR provides financial support and consultation for five regional Transition Youth Conferences for students, aged 16-21, hosted at local community college sites. The conferences focus on employment, post-secondary educational opportunities, self-advocacy, utilizing community supports, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program includes a series of community trainings for people with disabilities, family members, and concerned citizens and professionals who are interested in promoting the best outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families in Nebraska. It focuses on leadership and advocacy training regarding systems of services and supports to individuals with disabilities and their families. It is a collaboration between the Munroe-Meyer Institute University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and the State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The Region C PTAC offers a targeted and intensive TA designed to increase the capacity of parent centers to reach and provide services to parents of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities and to effectively manage their centers. Region C PTAC works with each center and tailor services to meet their unique needs. Strategies used are shared professional learning, coaching and mentoring, and collaboration and leadership.
Operating Entity: Region C Parent Technical Assistance Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program includes numerous trainings for youth with disabilities and their families, including around Self-Advocacy, Person-Centered Planning, and Transitions.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides comprehensive transition services for special needs students, to equip them for transitioning successfully into adulthood. Services include experiences to prepare participants for life in the community and workforce, activities and experiences to help students develop career goals and plan for post-secondary life, and more.
Operating Entity: Autism Center of Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program includes eighteen short-term programs that provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning opportunities to students with disabilities. Topics include self-advocacy, independent living, workplace readiness, job exploration, and more.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides culturally relevant vocational rehabilitation services to assist Alaska Native and American Indian individuals with disabilities residing on or near reservations in the state to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Program services are provided under an individualized plan for employment.
Operating Entity: Omaha Tribe Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Entity Type: Other
This paid internship focuses on disability advocacy and leadership and will include self-study, seminars, experiential learning, and position-shadowing opportunities. Preference is given to adults with disabilities and their parents and family members, with the goal of enhancing trainee’s skills and knowledge regarding intellectual and developmental disabilities history, philosophy and practice.
Operating Entity: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute
Entity Type: College / University
Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) conducts monthly trainings for staff, based on case review results or requests from staff members. Speakers are frequently invited to keep VR staff up-to-date on current trends and processes.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
WAGES is a six-week work-based learning experience program held annually for blind and visually impaired youth ages 16 to 21. Participants live on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and engage in work opportunities, professional skills training, self-advocacy activities, transportation practice, and more.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides employment services to individuals with disabilities, including identifying necessary job skills and connecting clients to other supports like assistive technology and accessible transportation.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Nebraska
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This webpage contains seven ways to manage pandemic-related stress and four ways parents can support the mental health of their children in managing COVID-19 stress.
Operating Entity: University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rural Wellness
Topic(s): Mental Health
This article describes Long-COVID symptoms as they relate to mental health, sleep, breathing, brain dysfunction, heart issues and the loss of taste, smell, hair and skin.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Medicine
Topic(s): Long-COVID
This bill appropriates funding to a rehabilitation hospital to establish a model system of care for individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 but have persistent symptoms. The model system of care must include post-COVID-19 research; post-COVID-19 clinics; mental health services expanded to address cognitive and psychiatric needs of post-COVID-19 patients; and educational materials for health care providers and the public.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Legislature
Topic(s): Long-COVID
This article describes how the COVID-19 pandemic could act as an adverse childhood experience and how this trauma might show itself in symptoms. The article also provides parents with tips on how to support their child's mental health in response to the pandemic and when to seek professional help.
Operating Entity: Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha
Topic(s): Mental Health
This webpage contains several links to relevant mental health resources, including for parents in supporting children in response to the pandemic, focusing on coping with stress and developing resilience. A dedicated section for youth and young adults also contains links to mental health resources.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Children
Topic(s): Mental Health
This podcast discusses mental and behavioral health tips for families, especially related to parental support of children, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Entity: Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha
Topic(s): Mental Health
Launch Nebraska is the Nebraska Department of Education's re-opening plan that focuses on mitigating student learning loss through system considerations, high quality instruction, diagnosis of unfinished teaching and learning and professional development of educators while meeting the social and emotional needs of students.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education
Topic(s): Mental Health
The Nebraska Department of Education, as a part of its "Launch Nebraska" reopening plan, released guidance on the process by which students under an IEP may receive an extended school year or compensatory education services. Specifically, the document defines extended or compensatory education services, discusses how IEP teams will decide whether students on an IEP require extended or compensatory education services, and school requirements for providing said extended or compensatory education services for qualifying students on an IEP. It also notes that school districts must provide compensatory education services in addition to, not in place of, previously offered IEP services.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education
Topic(s): IEP
This document contains links to information, support groups and potential medical services and links to resources for managing Long-COVID symptoms. Links to mental health resources support mindfulness and managing stress and anxiety.
Operating Entity: Clarkson College
Topic(s): Long-COVID
This webpage provides links to resources including podcasts and videos to support mental health, particularly stress and grief, for rural residents in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Entity: University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rural Wellness
Topic(s): Mental Health
This article describes MIS-C, a condition linked to COVID in children. The article details symptoms and treatment.
Operating Entity: Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha
Topic(s): Long-COVID
This initiative is designed to educate the public about mental health issues arising from the pandemic and provide resources. The link to the press kit contains videos that discuss the mental health impact of the pandemic and panelists discussing relevant mental health issues, self-help tips and how to find help. The press kit also contains links to further resources such as handouts and hotlines and has specific outreach media for educators.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Strong
Topic(s): Mental Health
This is a document with guidance for parents and providers along with Q&A on special education during COVID-19. It includes links to webinars discussing best practices for virtual instruction of students with disabilities, a comprehensive list of all disability policy changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resources for both schools and students to help adjust the virtual learning environment to a student's disability needs.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education
The Nebraska Department of Education utilizes this Q&A document to address school district specific concerns related to assisting students on an IEP during the COVID-19 outbreak. This document informs Nebraska school districts of existing Nebraska student-disability policy, expanding upon Nebraska's IEP policy to include students with disabilities requiring, them to remain home due to COVID-19 and emphasizing that schools must accommodate for IEP students via distance learning.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education
Topic(s): IEP
Nebraska Department of Education board members approved a contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools to conduct research on the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on education.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Department of Education
Topic(s): Mental Health
This article describes the neurological effects of Long-COVID.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Medicine
Topic(s): Long-COVID
The Buffett Institute conducted research surveys on the long-term impact of COVID on early child care and education providers to gain insights on how the pandemic affected small children and those providing them with care. Surveys focused on mental health and also addressed Long-COVID, with the goal of providing guidance to early child care providers and educators on pandemic-related needs. The survey landing page also includes links to articles from the Buffett Institute and outside resources for parents and educators about the impact of the pandemic on student mental health.
Operating Entity: The Buffett Institute
Topic(s): Mental Health
This monthly newsletter produced by Nebraska's Vocational Rehabilitation Office provides information and resources to assist transition age individuals with disabilities, their families, and educators. Recent issues provide both in person and online resources for transition age youth, including employment opportunities, online disability transition services, and advice from others living with a disability who have already transitioned into the workforce. Recent newsletter issues' COVID-19-specific resources have included online transition resource materials and apps that assist disabled youth seeking to enter the workforce
Operating Entity: Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
This article includes a video discussing Long-COVID symptoms and includes information about lung, brain and heart damage as a result of COVID-19.
Operating Entity: Nebraska Medicine
Topic(s): Long-COVID