Resources for Your Company S Candidates and Employees with Disabilities

Employing People with Disabilities:

A Menu of State Agency Resources for Massachusetts Employers

1 Table of Contents

Introduction...... 3 State Agencies and/or Initiatives Listed in this Handbook...... 4 Accommodations & Assistive Technology...... 7 Health Care...... 8 Health and Safety...... 8 Internships...... 8 Recruiting & Retention...... 9 Tax Credits & Incentives...... 11 Training...... 11 Veterans...... 12 Youth Candidates...... 13 Acknowledgements...... 13

2 Introduction

Companies are always looking for ways to boost business and maintain a skilled, stable, and dedicated workforce. One way your business can create a stronger workforce is through the employment of people with disabilities, a population that is often overlooked because of fears and misconceptions. Massachusetts maintains an active network of state agencies and services ready to help you hire, accommodate, retain, and promote employees with disabilities.

What follows is a “menu” of resources available to businesses in Massachusetts through a network of state agencies. Each of the agencies listed offers services to support your business and your employees.

The menu is organized by broad topics relevant to you as an employer, and since many of the agencies listed offer multiple services, they will appear under several topic headings. Be aware that some of the agencies listed serve a broad population of people with disabilities, while others are focused on a particular type of disability, such as blindness or mental health.

Whether you are looking for guidance regarding a current employee with a specific disability, or are interested in more general information, such as disability awareness training in the workplace, you will find the answers you need here.

3 State Agencies and/or Initiatives Listed in this Handbook

Under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Department of Developmental Services (DDS) www.mass.gov/dds Mission: The Department is dedicated to creating, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their communities as valued members.

Department of Mental Health (DMH) www.mass.gov/dmh Mission: The Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights and supports mental health training and research. This critical mission is accomplished by working in partnership with other state agencies, individuals, families, providers and communities.

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) www.mass.gov/dta Mission: The mission of the Department of Transitional Assistance is to assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their incomes, and improve their quality of life.

Department of Youth Services (DYS) www.mass.gov/dys Mission: The Department of Youth Services is the juvenile justice agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our mission is to protect the public and prevent crime by promoting positive change in the lives of youth committed to our custody, and by partnering with communities, families, government and provider agencies toward this end. We accomplish this mission through interventions that build knowledge, develop skills and change the behavior of the youth in our care.

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) www.mass.gov/mcb Mission: The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) provides the highest quality rehabilitation and social services to blind individuals, leading to independence and full community participation. MCB accomplishes this critical mission by working in partnership with legally blind consumers, families, community agencies, health care providers, and employers.

4 Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) www.mass.gov/mcdhh Mission: The Mission of MCDHH is to provide accessible communication, education and advocacy to consumers and private and public entities so that programs, services and opportunities throughout Massachusetts are fully accessible to persons who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

MassHealth www.mass.gov/masshealth Mission: To help the financially needy obtain high-quality health care that is affordable, promotes independence, and provides customer satisfaction.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) www.mass.gov/mrc Mission: The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) promotes equality, empowerment and productive independence of individuals with disabilities. These goals are achieved through enhancing and encouraging personal choice and the right to fail in the pursuit of independence and employment in the community. The MRC provides comprehensive services to people with disabilities that maximize their quality of life and economic self-sufficiency in the community.

Maximize Assistive Technology in Consumer’s Hands (MassMATCH) www.massmatch.org Mission: MassMATCH is one of 56 state-level assistive technology initiatives in the United States. Our mission is to promote the use of assistive technology and assistive technology services to enhance the independence of people with disabilities, enabling equal participation in all of life's activities.

Under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Department of Industrial Accidents www.mass.gov/dia Mission: The Mission of the Department of Industrial Accidents is to administer the Commonwealth's Workers' Compensation system and provide prompt and fair compensation to victims of occupational injuries and illness, and to see that medical treatment to injured workers is provided in a timely manner while balancing the needs of employers to contain workers' compensation insurance costs.

Division of Career Services www.mass.gov/dcs Mission: The Division of Career Services (DCS) oversees the Commonwealth's network of 37 One-Stop Career Centers that assist businesses in finding qualified workers and provide job seekers with career guidance as well as referral to jobs and training.

5 Division of Occupational Safety www.mass.gov/dos Mission: The mission of the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety is to promote and protect workers' safety and health, wages and working conditions. In collaboration with public and private entities, DOS protects workers by means of education and training, workplace safety and health consultation and assessment, occupational injury and illness data collection and analysis, and consistent and responsible administration and enforcement of its statutes and regulations. DOS carries out its objectives in a manner that supports employers and strengthens the Commonwealth's communities and economy.

Others

Department of Veterans’ Services www.mass.gov/veterans Mission: The mission of the Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) is to be the chief advocate for the nearly half-million veterans of the Commonwealth and their families. DVS establishes policy, proposes legislation, ensures that adequate funding for veterans’ programs is included in the Governor's budget, and represents the interests of veterans in matters coming before the General Court. In addition, DVS represents all state agencies and individual veterans before the federal Department of Veterans Affairs in securing federal compensation and other benefits that might be available.

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) www.mass.gov/mcad Mission: The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is the state's chief civil rights agency. The Commission works to eliminate discrimination on a variety of bases and areas, and strives to advance the civil rights of the people of the Commonwealth through law enforcement, outreach and training.

6 Accommodations & Assistive Technology

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) MCB’s program, Technology for the Blind, offers the following services to employers:  Workplace assessment and worksite modification  Supply of adaptive equipment  Technical assistance and consultation

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcb and search for: Technology for the Blind

Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) MCDHH provides the following services to employers:  On-site accommodation assessments;  Statewide Interpreter/ Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) Referral Services for sign language, spoken English, oral, tactile and close vision interpreting for deaf and deaf - blind individuals. This also includes after- hours emergency interpreter services.  Technical assistance on assistive technology offered by the Communication Access, Training and Technology Services (CATTS) Department on information related to all aspects of assistive technology for deaf and hard of hearing individuals

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcdhh and search for: CART Referral Services or Communication Access Training and Technology Services.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) MRC provide the following services to employers:  Access to assistive technology resources  Consultation and technical assistance on accommodations  Consultation and technical assistance on assistive technology

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mrc and search for: Vocational Rehabilitation Area Offices to contact your local office.

Maximize Assistive Technology in Consumer’s Hands (MassMATCH) MassMATCH provides the following services to employers:  A directory of resources about assistive technology  Assistance with funding for accommodations and assistive technology

For more information, visit www.massmatch.org and search for: Employers.

7 Health Care

MassHealth CommonHealth MassHealth CommonHealth is a Massachusetts health plan for adults and children with disabilities. Their website offers the following resources to employers:  Facts and eligibility requirements about the insurance program  Application for MassHealth CommonHealth  Resources to contact with questions or for more information

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/masshealth and search for: CommonHealth.

Health and Safety

Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) DIA provides the following services to employers:  Assessments  Workers’ Compensation  Dispute Resolution

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dia and search for: Assessments, Workers Compensation or Dispute Resolution.

Division of Occupational Safety (DOS) DOS provides following services to employers:  Consultation to recognize and control potential safety and health hazards at the worksite  Technical assistance to improve safety and health programs  Employee training assistance

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dos and search for: On-site Consultation Program.

Internships

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) MCB provides the following services to employers:  Technical assistance around starting an internship program at your company for people who are blind 8  Referrals to employment service providers and youth organizations that may be a source of interns for your company

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcb and search for: MCB locations to contact your local office.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) MRC provides the following services to employers:  Technical assistance around starting an internship for people with disabilities at your company  Referrals to employment service providers organizations that can work with you to place interns with your company, including youth with disabilities

Recruiting & Retention

Department of Developmental Services (DDS) DDS provides the following services to employers:  Access to qualified candidates or referrals to resources to find candidates  Consultation services around accommodations and retention

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dds and search for: DDS Offices to contact your local office.

Department of Mental Health (DMH) DMH provides the following services to employers:  Access to qualified candidates or referrals resources to find candidates  Consultation services around hiring, placement and retention  Evaluation

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dmh and search for: DMH Area Offices to contact your local office.

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) DTA provides the following services to employers:

9  Consultation around hiring and retention services  Assistance with transportation for current and potential employees

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dta and search for: DTA Offices to contact your local office.

Division of Career Services (DCS) Through One-Stop Career Centers, DCS provide the following services to employers:  Access to qualified candidates, applicant pre-screening and testing  Assistance with recruitment activities including job postings and targeted mailings  Assistance with planning job fairs  Access to labor market information  On-the-Job training

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dcs and click on One-Stop Career Center System or Business Services.

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) MCB provides the following services to employers:  Access to qualified candidates or referral resources to find candidates  Consultation services around hiring, placement and retention  On-the-Job training  Assistance with employee transportation

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) MRC provides the following services to employers:  On-the-Job training  Employee Assistance Program Partnership Network, assisting companies to incorporate natural supports which facilitate obtaining and maintaining employment  Referral to other helpful resources for employers

10 Tax Credits & Incentives

Division of Career Services (DCS) Through One-Stop Career Centers, DCS provide the following services to employers:  Information on tax credits through the Tax Credit for Hiring Program  Information on tax credits through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dcs and search for: Tax Credit for Hiring Program or Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) MRC provides the following services to employers:  Information about accessing IRS tax credits  Consultation on employment incentives

Training

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) MCAD provides a variety of training services to employers including:  Responding to accommodation requests  Preventing and addressing discrimination or harassment in the workplace  Knowing your rights  Discrimination prevention train-the-trainer

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcad and search for: MCAD training.

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) MCB provides a variety of training services to employers including:  Disability awareness and sensitivity  Assistive technology

11 Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) MCDHH provides a variety of training services to employers including:  Communication access in the workplace  Assistive technology  Tours of the Assistive Technology Demonstration Center

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcdhh and search for: MCDHH Inservice Training or Assistive Technology Demonstration Center.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) MRC provides a variety of training services to employers including:  Understanding the American with Disabilities Act  Assistive technology  Disability awareness

Veterans

Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) DVS provides the following services to employers:  Access to qualified candidates  On-the-Job training  Information about employer incentive programs

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/veterans and search for: VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

The following state agencies work with Massachusetts businesses to provide consultation and technical assistance around accessing qualified veterans with disabilities seeking employment or consultation for accommodations and assistive technology for your returning employees.

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcb and search for: MCB locations to contact your local office.

12 Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mrc and search for: Vocational Rehabilitation Area Offices to contact your local office.

Youth Candidates

The following state agencies work with Massachusetts businesses to provide consultation and technical assistance around creating employment opportunities for youth with disabilities such as internships, summer jobs or entry level positions.

Department of Developmental Services (DDS) For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dds and search for: DDS Offices to contact your local office.

Department of Youth Services (DYS) For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dys and search for: DYS Offices to contact your local office.

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mcb and search for: MCB locations to contact your local office.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) For more information, visit www.mass.gov/mrc and search for: Vocational Rehabilitation Area Offices to contact your local office.

Acknowledgements

This document was developed with the assistance of Erin Fallon, Training Associate at the Institute for Community Inclusion located in Boston, MA. The Institute for Community Inclusion is a partner of the Work Without Limits Initiative.