This bill establishes the Alabama Public Transportation Trust Fund, which is intended to (in part) alleviate deficiencies in the supply of safe and affordable public transportation for citizens of Alabama, many of whom have disabilities. It requires the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to conduct an assessment of the needs of individuals with disabilities and to fund activities that address the transportation needs of people with disabilities.
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This resolution establishes the Alabama Task Force on At-Risk Children to study a range of issues related to children in the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems, including around providing appropriate rehabilitative, educational, and mental health treatment services.
Topic(s): Connecting Activities, Systems Coordination
YAiT is a statewide group of students with disabilities who encourage and facilitate the development of self-determination and leadership skills in other youth with disabilities. The group also contributes to a student-led professional development module, designed to focus on transition planning from a student's perspective.
Operating Entity: Auburn University, Auburn Transition Leadership Institute
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
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: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Alabama Statewide Technology Access and Response for Alabamians with Disabilities (STAR)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
CONNECTIONS is a group-based service that assists students ages 16 to 23 with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or related disabilities in building social skills, identifying and accessing resources in the community, and planning for employment.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Lakeshore Rehabilitation Facility
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
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: State of Alabama Client Assistance Program
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program provides individualized services to help students with autism spectrum disorder develop appropriate skills for self-advocacy, daily living, and social interactions that will contribute to their success as independent adults.
Operating Entity: University of Alabama, Civitan-Sparks Clinic
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps students with disabilities prepare for post-secondary training through exposure to the college environment, as well as guidance on self-advocacy skills, study strategies, and technology use. It is offered virtually and at twelve sites in the state to Department of Rehabilitation Services consumers who are planning to attend post-secondary training.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Project CESCC works with Alabama State Department of Education partners to provide professional development focusing on positive behavioral interventions, supports, and transition services for students with disabilities, in order to improve their post-school outcomes.
Operating Entity: Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides workforce development, job skills training, and job placement services to help people who are deaf or blind enhance their employment skills.
Operating Entity: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, E.H. Gentry Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
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
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
GATE is a five-month program that provides adults with disabilities an opportunity to gain hands-on work experience through strategic relationships with companies that have specific job needs. It is a partnership between United Ability of Greater Birmingham, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
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
This program assists people with serious mental illness in obtaining and maintaining competitive jobs based upon their preferences.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Mental Health, Office of Mental Illness Community Programs
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
JET is a summer learning program for students with disabilities, which provides different work experiences and job readiness classroom instruction. The 2019 program was run in collaboration with the Birmingham Zoo.
Operating Entity: Workshops, Inc.
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
JAG is a school-to-career program for at-risk high school youth (including those with disabilities), to keep them in school and provide work-based learning experiences. It includes both a Senior Year program (focused on youth in their last year of high school) and a Multi-Year Program. It is operated with support from the Alabama Legislature and Governor’s Office, along with local school districts, Career Tech Centers, and community and industry partners.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
These programs assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment. Specific programs include the Adults Vocational Program, which provides job readiness trainings, job placement assistance, and other resources, as well as Vocational Evaluation Services, which provide a comprehensive assessment of a person's vocational aptitudes.
Operating Entity: Easterseals of Alabama
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 12 southern states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: Parent to Parent of Georgia
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: Alabama Parent Education Center
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
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program trains young adults ages 16-24 who are not attending school and who meet certain criteria (including having a disability) to develop skills and competencies demanded by the healthcare industry. The program includes 180 hours of training, leading to certificates and credentials. It is a WIOA Youth Program conducted in collaboration between the West Mid-Alabama Community Development Corporation, Shelton State Community College, and several county offices.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
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: University of Alabama, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP)
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides full tuition and stipends to 100 trainees who will go on to serve as rehabilitation counselors, including as counselors for individuals who are deaf or who have mental illness.
Operating Entity: Troy University, College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
This program provides educator and family development trainings designed to improve school policy, increase and develop family leadership, and increase educator capacity to engage families.
Operating Entity: Alabama Parent Education Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides leadership training to individuals with intellectual disabilities by giving presentations on self-advocacy, leadership, inclusion in the community, and the benefits of having a job.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This program helps students learn communication skills and workplace behaviors (e.g., around attitude, work ethic, image and appearance, interpersonal skills, teamwork, time management, and accountability) needed to obtain and maintain successful competitive employment. It is provided to students and local educational agencies (LEAs) by a certified trainer from a Community Rehabilitation Program.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides hands-on lessons to help people with disabilities develop and improve their independent living skills. Topics include time management, financial management, self-advocacy, dining etiquette, bullying, note taking, problem solving, social skills, and interviewing techniques.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
SWEP is a six-week "paid work experience program" targeted toward youth who are deaf and/or blind, and which includes job readiness skills training.
Operating Entity: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, E.H. Gentry Program
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities, including those with serious mental illness. It is a collaboration between the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, and community rehabilitation providers.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides an opportunity for youth and caregivers to discuss goals and explore options for the future, including around specialized healthcare needs, career interests, training and goals, social services and expectations, linkages to community agencies, and independent living. It also allows for coordination and information-sharing between youth-focused and adult-focused rehabilitation programs.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Children's Rehabilitation Service (CRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program enables high school students with disabilities to participate in job exploration activities, as well as fiscal management activities as a component of independent living training. It is a collaboration between the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, local school systems, and local businesses.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This one-credit course provides special education students with higher-level transition and occupational skills that are transferable across jobs. Emphasis is placed on career development and employment, academic foundations for careers, leadership and teamwork, entrepreneurship, business economics, and more.
Operating Entity: Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): School-Based Prep
This program guides transition stakeholders and local educational agencies in developing effective Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) action plans. The work is done in partnership with the Alabama Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Operating Entity: Auburn University, Auburn Transition Leadership Institute
Entity Type: College / University
This program trains 60 professionals and paraprofessionals through a Vocational Evaluation Forensic Certificate (VEFC), so they can better support employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Auburn University, College of Education
Entity Type: College / University
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: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
YLF is a five-day intensive leadership program that helps high school juniors and seniors with disabilities develop leadership and self-advocacy skills. Students engage in activities related to self-esteem and team building, career choice, independent living, assistive technology, and various other empowering activities.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS)
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program ensures that inmates have an appointment with a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor within a week of community re-entry. It is a collaboration between the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Special Education Division of the Alabama Department of Education, and the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides a number of services to help youth with disabilities transition into work. This includes a "Work Smart" Pre-Employment Training Program; a High School Transitional Youth Program, which provides high school students with job training at Goodwill Easterseals retail stores; educational and occupational services for at-risk youth or those who have dropped out of school; the Learning Disabilities Program, which helps ease the transition from high school to college for students with learning disabilities; and more.
Operating Entity: Easterseals of Alabama
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a wide range of services to support teens with special circumstances (such as learning or physical disabilities) in their transitions from youth to young adulthood.
Operating Entity: Alabama Parent Education Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
The Alabama Department of Education Special Education Services provided an updated question and answer document which discusses IEP and distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year.
Operating Entity: Alabama State Department of Education
Topic(s): Distance Learning, IEP
This webinar provides information about COVID-19 and how special educators are navigating through this difficult time. It discusses what Alabama knows to date and provides guidance for meeting the needs of families and students through distance learning, IEPs, family engagement.
Operating Entity: Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS)
Topic(s): Distance Learning, Family Engagement, IEP
This webpage provides links to resources and videos for individuals, families and providers to manage their emotional and mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Mental Health
Topic(s): Mental Health
This webpage provides an overview of Long-COVID and includes links to videos educating people about specific Long-COVID symptoms.
Operating Entity: University of Alabama Health System
Topic(s): Long-COVID
Alabama provides an informational Q & A discussing IEP implications for students with disabilities during school closures. The document discusses guidelines for updating IEPs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it provides useful links for IEP teams updating IEP plans.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Education
Topic(s): Distance Learning, IEP
Alabama provides an informational Q & A for providing special education services to students with disabilities during school closures. The document emphasizes individualized adjustments for special education students, one-on-one instruction, and state level policy influencing distance learning for special education students. The document also includes a link to district level policies, highlighting best special education distance learning practices.
Operating Entity: Alabama Department of Education
Topic(s): Distance Learning
CLAS provides PowerPoint slides on the continuation of special education and 504 compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation includes Update/Review of State/Federal “Happenings”, Distance Learning and IEP Guidance, and Important Points to Consider About 504 Students.
Operating Entity: Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS)
Topic(s): Distance Learning, IEP