JAN E-News: Volume 4, Issue 4

The JAN E-News is a quarterly online newsletter of the Job Accommodation Network. Its purpose is to keep subscribers informed about low-cost and innovative accommodation approaches, the latest trends in assistive technologies, announcements of upcoming JAN presentations, media events, trainings, and Web casts, and legislative and policy updates promoting the employment success of people with disabilities.

An E-mail announcement is sent to an opt-in list when a new issue is available. Please use the links at the end of this document to subscribe or unsubscribe to the E-mail notification and contact us.

Notice: If you do not wish to receive announcements about JAN E-News and JAN Consultants' Corner, please send an e-mail to unsubscribe@jan.wvu.edu

Index

1. J AN Conference Registration is Open
2. JAN Webcast 2007 Series Announced
3. U.S. Labor Department Announces New Credential for Workforce Development Professionals Who Work with Youth
4. Publication on Evidence-Based Practice in Workplace Accommodations
5. Technology Spotlight: Telephone Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
6. Texas Assistive Devices
7. Disability Expert Participates in the First Indo-US Information Technology Conference
8. JAN Exhibit and Training Schedule
9. Contact JAN

1 - JAN Conference Registration is Open

The annual JAN Conference unites JAN consultants with featured speakers who have expertise in employment law, innovative employment practices, and disability issues.

With two full days of training, the JAN Conference offers three concurrent training tracks addressing accommodation issues, innovative employment practices, and ADA/legal issues.Sessions will be highly interactive and include question and answer segments. In addition, JAN consultants will be available throughout the conference to address your specific questions. Continuing Education Units are available for a range of professions.

The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Alexandria, VA on August 6th and 7th. Registration is limited to 300, so please register early.

2 - JAN Webcast 2007 Series Announced

The Job Accommodation Network has announced the first seven of its 2007 Accommodation and Compliance Series Webcasts. These one-hour training opportunities bring expertise from JAN staff and other national experts to your computer.

February 13, 2007. Medical Inquiries and the ADA. Chris Kuczynski , Assistant Legal Counsel and Director of the Americans with Disabilities Act Policy Division, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with Tracie Saab, JAN Consultant. Moderator: Anne Hirsh.
March 13, 2007. Hiring Veterans with Disabilities. Trainers: Billy Wright, Director, EARN Veterans Initiatives, EARN - Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network with Anne Hirsh, JAN Services Manager. Moderator: Beth Loy.
April 10, 2007. Focus on Technology. Trainers: JAN Consultants Beth Loy and Tracie Saab. Moderator: Linda Batiste.
May 8, 2007. Employing and Accommodating Individuals with Psychiatric Impairments. Trainers: Kimberly Bisset, Ed.D., Employment and Training Manager, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Moderator: Beth Loy.
June 12, 2007. Workplace Accommodations: A Small Investment Yields Large Return. Trainers: Beth Loy, JAN Consultant, Employer TBA. Moderator: Linda Batiste.
July 10, 2007. The ADA at 17: What’s Happening with Title I? Trainers: Sharon Rennert, Attorney Advisor, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with Linda Batiste, JAN Consultant. Moderator: Beth Loy.

3 - U.S. Labor Department Announces New Credential for Workforce Development Professionals Who Work with Youth

ODEP and the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth), recently announced a new credential — the Youth Services Endorsement — recognizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of youth service practitioners. The credential was recently approved by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), and it will be added to the association's Certified Workforce Development Professional program. For complete infomation, please see http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20061549.htm.

4 - Publication on Evidence-Based Practice in Workplace Accommodations

The journal Work has published a special issue on Evidence-Based Practice in Workplace Accommodations. JAN researchers have two papers in this issue. The first paper is titled "Workplace accommodations: Evidence based outcomes" and the second is titled "Including employees with disabilities in emergency evacuation plans: 9/11's Effect on the demand for information." Some additional article topics in this special issue include telework, IT accessibility, aging workforce, and personal assistance services.

Written by JAN staff and staff from the University of Iowa's, Law, Health Policy and Disability Center (LHPDC) the article "Workplace accommodations: Evidence based outcomes" discusses how one central component to meaningful employment for people with disabilities is the ADA's workplace accommodation provision that allows qualified individuals to perform essential job functions.This article advocates an inclusive accommodation cost/benefit analysis to include direct and indirect costs and benefits and to differentiate disability-related accommodation costs from typical employee costs. The inclusive cost/benefit analysis is applied to preliminary data from interviews with employers who contacted the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Results suggest that accommodations are low cost, beneficial and effective. For more information go to: http://iospress.metapress.com/(uql54245j33q0a45cvzxkv45)/app/home/contribution.asp and search for the article by its title.

The second article written by JAN staff titled "Including employees with disabilities in emergency evacuation plans: 9/11's Effect on the demand for information" discusses the demand for information pertaining to emergency evacuation plans. Interest in emergency evacuation planning has increased since the September 11 terrorist attacks (9/11). In turn, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) started receiving more questions about how to include employees with disabilities in such plans. JAN case data on the emergency evacuation of people with disabilities were reviewed. Case data from the four years prior to 9/11 (from September 11, 1997, to September 11, 2001) were compared to case data from the four years after 9/11 (from September 11, 2001, to September 11, 2005). For more information go to: http://iospress.metapress.com/(uql54245j33q0a45cvzxkv45)/app/home/contribution.asp and search for the article by its title.

Note that Work is a subscription publication and there is a charge for access to articles by non-subscribers.

5 - Technology Spotlight: Telephone Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Telephone technology continues to advance to meet the needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, at home and in the workplace. The technology may not always look like a standard telephone and function in a traditional voice-to-voice way, but conversation still occurs from one end to the other.

Individuals with differing degrees of hearing and speech ability can connect with people all over the world using telephones that include sound amplification and clarity technology, headset and wireless devices that couple with hearing aids and provide communication with cellular phones, text-telephones (TTY) and Voice-Carry-Over phones that provide text for reading and also enable the person to use their own voice to communicate, or even a telephone that provides live captions during a call.

JAN offers information regarding these and other telephone technology solutions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Full article.

6 - Texas Assistive Devices

Texas Assistive Devices is a special company that manufactures unique products for tool users who have arm/hand amputations or hand dysfunction not based on amputation. Their interchangeable prosthetic tool system allows 360 degree rotation and a quick release terminal device that enables the user to perform jobs and tasks requiring the use of tools or other implements independent of outside help.

Texas Assistive Devices originally developed their Hayden-Preston System as a product with tool adaptations for people who have upper extremity amputations but now have products for people with hand dysfunction due to spinal cord injuries, nerve/muscle damage, birth defects, stroke and other conditions resulting in loss of hand strength/grip.

Tool adaptations and other attachable implements are available for tasks involving carpentry, mechanic work, gardening, eating utensils, kitchen devices, and outdoor and sporting activities.

Visit their website at http://www.n-abler.org or call toll-free at (800)-532-6840 for more specific info on product appropriateness for specific tasks. They offer a loaner service for product try-outs.

For information on other accommodations for people with similar disabilities, see:

Job Accommodations for People with Amputations at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentampfact.doc
Employees with Cumulative Trauma Disorders at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/CTDs.html
Accommodation Ideas for Individuals with Use of One Hand at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/other/onehand.html
Job Accommodations for People with Motor Limitations from Stroke at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentstrokefact.doc

- Eddie Whidden

7 - Disability Expert Participates in the First Indo-US Information Technology Conference

International Center for Disability Information (ICDI) representative Mr. Louis Orslene participated in the first US-India Conference promoting information technology for people with disabilities. The Indo-U.S. Conference on Information Technology Uses for Adults and Children with Disabilities was held Dec. 5 – 6, 2006 in Bangalore, India. The conference included experts from U.S. and Indian universities, information technology (IT) companies, IT-developing non-governmental organizations, professional associations, family centers, as well as individuals with disabilities. Full story and photos.

8 - JAN Exhibit and Training Schedule

January 24-27, 2006. Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Annual Conference. Orlando, FL. Visit JAN in the exhibit hall, Tracie Saab presenting two sessions with Anne Hirsh and Lou Orslene participating in the ATIA Employer Forum. http://www.atia.org/

February 1, 2007. Ask the Experts -a teleconference for the National MS Society. Linda Batiste presenting Employment Q&A.

February 19-20, 2007. Creating Opportunities Through AT. Charleston, WV. Beth Loy presenting.

March 19-27, 2007. C-SUN Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. Los Angeles, CA. Stop by and talk with JAN consultants at the JAN booth in the exhibit hall. Beth Loy presenting. http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/

April 10-11, 2007. Disability Employment Institute. Morgantown, WV. First annual conference sponsored by the WV Disability Rights Center. JAN staff presenting in employment track and stop by the JAN Exhibit booth. For more information E-mail Vicki at dat2a@aol.com or call 304-685-1730.

April 24, 2007. Partnership to Employment Conference. Warwick RI. Stop by the JAN booth. RI's ONLY Disability Workforce Development Conference. Applications sought for Presenters, Sponsors and Exhibitors. http://www.P2Econference.com

June 24-27, 2007. SHRM Annual Conference. Las Vegas, NV. Stop by the ODEP/JAN/EARN booth. http://www.shrm.org

June 26-27, 2007. Utah's Miners Hospital and School of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies Annual National Training Conference. Salt Lake City, UT. Linda Batiste presenting. Sponsored by the University of Utah , Mining Industry Section, School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies

June 29, 2007. Arizona Bar Association, Attorney General Office, Civil Rights Division sponsored event. Phoenix, AZ. Linda Batiste presenting.

July 17-19, 2007. Workforce Innovations Annual Conference. Kansas City, MO. Stop by the ODEP/JAN/EARN booth in the exhibit hall. http://www.workforceinnovations.org/

August 6-7, 2007. 6th Annual JAN Conference on Workplace Accommodation and the ADA. Crystal City, VA.

August 13-16, 2007. EEOC EXCEL Conference. Denver, CO. http://www.eeoc.gov/

9 - Contact JAN

E-mail: jan@jan.wvu.edu

Call JAN: 800-526-7234 (Voice), 877-781-9403 (TTY), 304-293-5407 (Fax)

To subscribe to or unsubscribe from JAN Updates:

To subscribe, e-mail us at subscribe@jan.wvu.edu. When subscribing, be sure to include the e-mail address at which you want to receive the newsletter.

To cancel a subscription, e-mail us at unsubscribe@jan.wvu.edu. Be sure to include the address at which you are receiving the newsletter.

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (#J-9-M-2-0022). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of tradenames, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Home >> JAN E-News
Volume 4, Issue 4, Fourth Quarter, 2006

The JAN E-News is a quarterly online newsletter of the Job Accommodation Network. Its purpose is to keep subscribers informed about low-cost and innovative accommodation approaches, the latest trends in assistive technologies, announcements of upcoming JAN presentations, media events, trainings, and Web casts, and legislative and policy updates promoting the employment success of people with disabilities. An E-mail announcement is sent to an opt-in list when a new issue is available. Please use the links at the end of this document to subscribe or unsubscribe to the E-mail notification and contact us. Notice: If you do not wish to receive announcements about JAN E-News and JAN Consultants' Corner, please send an e-mail to unsubscribe@jan.wvu.edu Index 1. J AN Conference Registration is Open 2. JAN Webcast 2007 Series Announced 3. U.S. Labor Department Announces New Credential for Workforce Development Professionals Who Work with Youth 4. Publication on Evidence-Based Practice in Workplace Accommodations 5. Technology Spotlight: Telephone Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 6. Texas Assistive Devices 7. Disability Expert Participates in the First Indo-US Information Technology Conference 8. JAN Exhibit and Training Schedule 9. Contact JAN 1 - JAN Conference Registration is Open The annual JAN Conference unites JAN consultants with featured speakers who have expertise in employment law, innovative employment practices, and disability issues. With two full days of training, the JAN Conference offers three concurrent training tracks addressing accommodation issues, innovative employment practices, and ADA/legal issues.Sessions will be highly interactive and include question and answer segments. In addition, JAN consultants will be available throughout the conference to address your specific questions. Continuing Education Units are available for a range of professions. The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Alexandria, VA on August 6th and 7th. Registration is limited to 300, so please register early. 2 - JAN Webcast 2007 Series Announced The Job Accommodation Network has announced the first seven of its 2007 Accommodation and Compliance Series Webcasts. These one-hour training opportunities bring expertise from JAN staff and other national experts to your computer. February 13, 2007. Medical Inquiries and the ADA. Chris Kuczynski , Assistant Legal Counsel and Director of the Americans with Disabilities Act Policy Division, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with Tracie Saab, JAN Consultant. Moderator: Anne Hirsh. March 13, 2007. Hiring Veterans with Disabilities. Trainers: Billy Wright, Director, EARN Veterans Initiatives, EARN - Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network with Anne Hirsh, JAN Services Manager. Moderator: Beth Loy. April 10, 2007. Focus on Technology. Trainers: JAN Consultants Beth Loy and Tracie Saab. Moderator: Linda Batiste. May 8, 2007. Employing and Accommodating Individuals with Psychiatric Impairments. Trainers: Kimberly Bisset, Ed.D., Employment and Training Manager, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Moderator: Beth Loy. June 12, 2007. Workplace Accommodations: A Small Investment Yields Large Return. Trainers: Beth Loy, JAN Consultant, Employer TBA. Moderator: Linda Batiste. July 10, 2007. The ADA at 17: What’s Happening with Title I? Trainers: Sharon Rennert, Attorney Advisor, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with Linda Batiste, JAN Consultant. Moderator: Beth Loy. 3 - U.S. Labor Department Announces New Credential for Workforce Development Professionals Who Work with Youth ODEP and the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth), recently announced a new credential — the Youth Services Endorsement — recognizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of youth service practitioners. The credential was recently approved by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), and it will be added to the association's Certified Workforce Development Professional program. For complete infomation, please see http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20061549.htm. 4 - Publication on Evidence-Based Practice in Workplace Accommodations The journal Work has published a special issue on Evidence-Based Practice in Workplace Accommodations. JAN researchers have two papers in this issue. The first paper is titled "Workplace accommodations: Evidence based outcomes" and the second is titled "Including employees with disabilities in emergency evacuation plans: 9/11's Effect on the demand for information." Some additional article topics in this special issue include telework, IT accessibility, aging workforce, and personal assistance services. Written by JAN staff and staff from the University of Iowa's, Law, Health Policy and Disability Center (LHPDC) the article "Workplace accommodations: Evidence based outcomes" discusses how one central component to meaningful employment for people with disabilities is the ADA's workplace accommodation provision that allows qualified individuals to perform essential job functions.This article advocates an inclusive accommodation cost/benefit analysis to include direct and indirect costs and benefits and to differentiate disability-related accommodation costs from typical employee costs. The inclusive cost/benefit analysis is applied to preliminary data from interviews with employers who contacted the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Results suggest that accommodations are low cost, beneficial and effective. For more information go to: http://iospress.metapress.com/(uql54245j33q0a45cvzxkv45)/app/home/contribution.asp and search for the article by its title. The second article written by JAN staff titled "Including employees with disabilities in emergency evacuation plans: 9/11's Effect on the demand for information" discusses the demand for information pertaining to emergency evacuation plans. Interest in emergency evacuation planning has increased since the September 11 terrorist attacks (9/11). In turn, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) started receiving more questions about how to include employees with disabilities in such plans. JAN case data on the emergency evacuation of people with disabilities were reviewed. Case data from the four years prior to 9/11 (from September 11, 1997, to September 11, 2001) were compared to case data from the four years after 9/11 (from September 11, 2001, to September 11, 2005). For more information go to: http://iospress.metapress.com/(uql54245j33q0a45cvzxkv45)/app/home/contribution.asp and search for the article by its title. Note that Work is a subscription publication and there is a charge for access to articles by non-subscribers. 5 - Technology Spotlight: Telephone Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Telephone technology continues to advance to meet the needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, at home and in the workplace. The technology may not always look like a standard telephone and function in a traditional voice-to-voice way, but conversation still occurs from one end to the other. Individuals with differing degrees of hearing and speech ability can connect with people all over the world using telephones that include sound amplification and clarity technology, headset and wireless devices that couple with hearing aids and provide communication with cellular phones, text-telephones (TTY) and Voice-Carry-Over phones that provide text for reading and also enable the person to use their own voice to communicate, or even a telephone that provides live captions during a call. JAN offers information regarding these and other telephone technology solutions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Full article. 6 - Texas Assistive Devices Texas Assistive Devices is a special company that manufactures unique products for tool users who have arm/hand amputations or hand dysfunction not based on amputation. Their interchangeable prosthetic tool system allows 360 degree rotation and a quick release terminal device that enables the user to perform jobs and tasks requiring the use of tools or other implements independent of outside help. Texas Assistive Devices originally developed their Hayden-Preston System as a product with tool adaptations for people who have upper extremity amputations but now have products for people with hand dysfunction due to spinal cord injuries, nerve/muscle damage, birth defects, stroke and other conditions resulting in loss of hand strength/grip. Tool adaptations and other attachable implements are available for tasks involving carpentry, mechanic work, gardening, eating utensils, kitchen devices, and outdoor and sporting activities. Visit their website at http://www.n-abler.org or call toll-free at (800)-532-6840 for more specific info on product appropriateness for specific tasks. They offer a loaner service for product try-outs. For information on other accommodations for people with similar disabilities, see: Job Accommodations for People with Amputations at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentampfact.doc Employees with Cumulative Trauma Disorders at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/CTDs.html Accommodation Ideas for Individuals with Use of One Hand at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/other/onehand.html Job Accommodations for People with Motor Limitations from Stroke at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentstrokefact.doc - Eddie Whidden 7 - Disability Expert Participates in the First Indo-US Information Technology Conference International Center for Disability Information (ICDI) representative Mr. Louis Orslene participated in the first US-India Conference promoting information technology for people with disabilities. The Indo-U.S. Conference on Information Technology Uses for Adults and Children with Disabilities was held Dec. 5 – 6, 2006 in Bangalore, India. The conference included experts from U.S. and Indian universities, information technology (IT) companies, IT-developing non-governmental organizations, professional associations, family centers, as well as individuals with disabilities. Full story and photos. 8 - JAN Exhibit and Training Schedule January 24-27, 2006. Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Annual Conference. Orlando, FL. Visit JAN in the exhibit hall, Tracie Saab presenting two sessions with Anne Hirsh and Lou Orslene participating in the ATIA Employer Forum. http://www.atia.org/ February 1, 2007. Ask the Experts -a teleconference for the National MS Society. Linda Batiste presenting Employment Q&A. February 19-20, 2007. Creating Opportunities Through AT. Charleston, WV. Beth Loy presenting. March 19-27, 2007. C-SUN Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. Los Angeles, CA. Stop by and talk with JAN consultants at the JAN booth in the exhibit hall. Beth Loy presenting. http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/ April 10-11, 2007. Disability Employment Institute. Morgantown, WV. First annual conference sponsored by the WV Disability Rights Center. JAN staff presenting in employment track and stop by the JAN Exhibit booth. For more information E-mail Vicki at dat2a@aol.com or call 304-685-1730. April 24, 2007. Partnership to Employment Conference. Warwick RI. Stop by the JAN booth. RI's ONLY Disability Workforce Development Conference. Applications sought for Presenters, Sponsors and Exhibitors. http://www.P2Econference.com June 24-27, 2007. SHRM Annual Conference. Las Vegas, NV. Stop by the ODEP/JAN/EARN booth. http://www.shrm.org June 26-27, 2007. Utah's Miners Hospital and School of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies Annual National Training Conference. Salt Lake City, UT. Linda Batiste presenting. Sponsored by the University of Utah , Mining Industry Section, School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies June 29, 2007. Arizona Bar Association, Attorney General Office, Civil Rights Division sponsored event. Phoenix, AZ. Linda Batiste presenting. July 17-19, 2007. Workforce Innovations Annual Conference. Kansas City, MO. Stop by the ODEP/JAN/EARN booth in the exhibit hall. http://www.workforceinnovations.org/ August 6-7, 2007. 6th Annual JAN Conference on Workplace Accommodation and the ADA. Crystal City, VA. August 13-16, 2007. EEOC EXCEL Conference. Denver, CO. http://www.eeoc.gov/ 9 - Contact JAN E-mail: jan@jan.wvu.edu Call JAN: 800-526-7234 (Voice), 877-781-9403 (TTY), 304-293-5407 (Fax) To subscribe to or unsubscribe from JAN Updates: To subscribe, e-mail us at subscribe@jan.wvu.edu. When subscribing, be sure to include the e-mail address at which you want to receive the newsletter. To cancel a subscription, e-mail us at unsubscribe@jan.wvu.edu. Be sure to include the address at which you are receiving the newsletter. This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (#J-9-M-2-0022). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of tradenames, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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