This blog post from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlights a new resource that the Bureau has released called "Focus on People with Disabilities" which is a companion piece to a financial empowerment toolkit previously released. The guide covers information such as how Supplemental Security Income works, identifying financial abuse and exploitation, and ways to pay for assistive technology. Additionally, the Bureau has 11 new tools to help organizations and their staff implement this toolkit.

This web page from the Office of Disability Employment Policy within the U.S. Department of Labor provides information and resources regarding customized employment – an employment strategy that has been shown to work well for those with disabilities. The web page offers videos, federal and state policy resources, and links to research about customized employment.

This reference guide from the U.S. Department of Labor provides promising practices regarding specific nondiscrimination requirements in Section 188 and the current Section 188 regulations. It was developed as a resource document for any organization that desires to ensure universal access to and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in the workforce development system. It is available for download from the web site.

This website helps Medicaid beneficiaries receive services in their home or community rather than segregated settings. It provides information for targeted population groups, including people with mental health disabilities as well as intellectual, developmental, and/or physical disabilities. Every state has a HCBS waiver that identifies the population(s) they will serve through this program. Resources and contact information are also provided.

This article, published in the IZA Journal of Labor Policy, highlights the prevalence of workplace accommodations and how they reduce employment barriers and increase access for people with disabilities. The article finds that people with disabilities that are not working cite employment barriers that could be addressed by accommodations. Additionally, people with poorer health are less likely to get needed accommodations in the workplace. Most importantly, the article highlights that accommodations are positively correlated with continued employment.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the LEAD Center published training materials to help create a Customized Employment program for individuals with disabilities. These trainings use a Guided Group Discovery approach, which helps jobseekers find employment that would matches both their skills and interests and an employer’s needs. The materials available include a facilitator manual, a PowerPoint introduction and course, and a participant workbook.

This Lead Center brief details employer perspectives on customized employment for individuals with disabilities. In customized employment, the job candidate and employer create an individualized match between the candidate’s strengths and interests and the business needs of the employer. The brief includes the results of six focus groups of employers of various sizes, industries, and locations who had hired individuals with disabilities for customized jobs. Employers who had tried customized employment found it to be worthwhile and valuable, but many employers lack experience in working with individuals who have disabilities. The brief includes recommendations for employers, funders/policymakers, employment service providers, and trainers to inform the approach of customized employment programs moving forward.

This annual progress report from the National Council on Disability provides a glimpse at the current state of people with disabilities in the United States. The 2014 Progress Report details the status of people with disabilities across the nation and reviews top-level policy developments affecting people with disabilities, including key federal actions and state trends. The report notes progress where it has occurred and provides further recommendations where necessary.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy provides free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. JAN provides support for people with disabilities to enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.