This bill establishes an Employment First Taskforce to develop and implement a state Employment First policy. This includes proposing initiatives to address the culture of low expectations for children with disabilities and describing minimal workforce competency-based training standards applicable for job coaches, case managers and other relevant personnel.
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: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities, West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS)
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offer individuals with disabilities job coaching, direct placement services, life skills training, and work skills development services to assist them in finding and maintaining employment.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program offers a range of supports and services to help individuals with significant vision loss work and live independently, including assistive audio devices, braille instruction, computer literacy and access technology, and vision utilization training.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program helps individuals with disabilities develop a variety of independent living skills, such as using assistive technology, navigating transportation, transitioning from school, managing money, and searching for work.
Operating Entity: Appalachian Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
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 assists individuals with developmental disabilities in developing leadership skills and becoming knowledgeable, confident, and effective advocates. Training topics include self-determination, employment, IEP development and advocacy, inclusive education, and more.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council
Entity Type: Other
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
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
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 West Virginia
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
SPOKES is an academic and job preparation skills program providing a range of services, and includes a cycle of modules related to job readiness, work process skills, technology skills, work-related academics, and vocational training in customer service. It is a collaboration between the West Virginia Departments of Education and Health and Human Resources. The Division of Rehabilitation Services works within this partnership to increase efforts to reach potential Vocational Rehabilitation consumers being served by the SPOKES program.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program assists youth with significant disabilities in transitioning to post-secondary life. Services include trainings around self-determination, job preparedness, IEP rights and responsibilities, and independent living.
Operating Entity: Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program brings together employers, employees/job seekers, and community agencies to explore best practices around helping individuals with disabilities gain and retain employment. Topics include Transition to Higher Education, Transition to Vocational Training, Preparing Employers, and Preparing Employees.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Systems Coordination
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
WVU Country Roads is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. It provides students an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in campus life.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University
Entity Type: College / University
This program serves as a central source for families of children and adults with disabilities to obtain support and information about advocating for services and working effectively with professionals in providing family-centered, coordinated care.
Operating Entity: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Family Engagement
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: West Virginia University, Center for Excellence in Disabilities
Entity Type: College / University
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This webpage introduces Long-COVID/post-COVID conditions.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Topic(s): Long-COVID
This FAQ document addresses questions related to continuation of services, IEP monitoring and meetings, and providing FAPE.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Department of Education
Topic(s): Distance Learning, IEP
This resource connects families to a variety of services that may be needed during distance learning. These resources are divided by disability type, and they include assistive technology applications and software, virtual transition services, mental health services, services to assist families with distance learning, educational materials, and so on.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Department of Education
This campaign focuses on increasing public awareness of the impact of and unknowns associated with Long-COVID and features testimonials from a diverse group of people ages 18-29 who are suffering from long-term complications of COVID-19 infection.
Operating Entity: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services
Topic(s): Long-COVID