The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Department of Labor & Workforce Development Division of Rehabilitation Services * Council on Developmental Disabilities Division of Special Education * Department of Mental Health Center on Literacy Studies, University of Tennessee * Council on Children & Youth Arc of Tennessee * Tennessee Disability Coalition * Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Center for Independent Living of Middle Tennessee Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative December 14, 2011

With an annual budget of approximately $800 million, the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) administers three waivers that support nearly 8,000 Tennesseans with intellectual disabilities. Waivers were created to direct federal funding to support people in their communities instead of institutions. DIDD employs nearly 2,500 people and contracts with approximately 500 provider agencies. What is DIDD? Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

The Disability Employment Initiative is a tremendous opportunity to increase the number of Tennesseans with disabilities who are employed. It is a cornerstone of the success of the Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative. A New Opportunity Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

Over $200 BILLION in unused Ticket payments* Over 300,000 Ticket holders in Tennessee (See SSA Disability Beneficiaries in TN in your packet) Approximately 7,000 people on the DIDD Waiting List * Social Security Administration, 11/2010 Just The Facts Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

Each person who receives SSA Disability (SSI, SSDI) has a Ticket to Work. This Ticket is a voucher that enables them to purchase services and resources to help them to secure and maintain employment.* * Refer to the 2011 EN Payments-At-A-Glance document in your folder to see the structure of Ticket payments. Why Ticket to Work? Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

With a strong partnership between Tennessees workforce system and the disability system, more Tennesseans with disabilities will secure and maintain employment for a better quality of life! Who wants to be unemployed? The structure of the model will allow services and partnerships to become a sustained part of services for Tennesseans with disabilities. The Goals Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development & Local Workforce Investment Areas (LWIAS): Partnership with the business community. Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS or VR): The knowledge and skills of rehabilitation counselors. Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD): Over 8,000 people in services and approximately 7,000 people on the DIDD Waiting List. Instrumental Partnerships Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative Employment Support Options for Someone Who Receives SSA Disability VR: A CRP* helps the person to get a job. Person transitions to DIDD employment-based funding for long-term job coaching. Ticket funding may also be accessed. VR: A CRP* Helps the person to get a job. The Ticket provides funding for long-term supports. * A CRP (Community Rehabilitation Provider) refers to an entity that has a signed Letter of Understanding with VR. Someone on a DIDD Waiver Someone on the DIDD Waiting List

Does someone have to entirely stop receiving benefits for an EN to collect payments? Answer: No – However, please note that the full ticket amount is only paid when someone stops receiving SSA disability payments. Does the person have to work full-time for an EN to collect milestone payments? Answer: No Common Questions Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

Career Centers and/or LWIAs Walgreens, Lockheed Martin, AT & T, etc. Non-Profit & For-Profit Organizations Examples of Employment Networks Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

An organization could function as an administrative EN for organizations that want to serve Ticket holders but do not want to become an EN– as an administrative EN, your organization would handle all the paperwork. This could be a valuable service to market to employers. An organization can serve both as an EN and as an administrative entity for other organizations. Other Opportunities Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

Expanding the number of Employment Networks in Tennessee. Partnerships on the state and local levels Getting the word out to the over 300,000 Tennesseans who have a Ticket. Key Next Steps Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative

Julie Huber State Director of Day Services Tennessee Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (615) tn.gov/didd Thank You for Your Time Connecting Employers and People with Abilities The Tennessee Ticket to Work Initiative