California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities

2021 AAPD Summer Internship In order to accommodate numerous requests, AAPD has decided to extend the application deadline for the 2021 Summer Internship Program. It is now due on Thursday, November 12 2020 at 5PM ET. In 2002, AAPD (www.aapd.com) launched the Summer Internship Program to develop the next generation of leaders with disabilities. We place college students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates (up to 5 years out of school) with all types of dis...abilities in paid summer internships with Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations within the Washington, DC area. During the summer, each intern is matched with a mentor who provides them with career guidance. AAPD provides interns with a living stipend, transportation to and from Washington, DC, and fully accessible housing. We recruit a diverse cohort of interns of all ages. As a result, we connect our host employers to talented emerging leaders with disabilities. Apply for the 2021 AAPD Summer Internship by THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 2020 AT 5PM ET at aapd1995.wufoo.com/forms/q1wexxtr093rnp5

Applications are now available for the 2021 Virtual Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities!!! Go to www.dor.ca.gov/home/YLF to get the application and for more information. Deadline to apply is December 18, 2020.

Disability:IN NextGen Applications Now Open! College Students & Recent Graduates with Disabilities Invited to Apply!

Here is an opportunity to provide input to Microsoft on the accessibility of their products. It looks like a very interesting opportunity to ensure that disability voices are heard and our private sector partners get important feedback to make better products.

Proclamation from Governor Newsom on the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act: STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROCLAMATION ... The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990, brought our nation closer to the promise of equal rights for all. This landmark legislation enshrined into law equal access and protection from discrimination for people with disabilities. Passed by a bipartisan Congress and signed by President George H.W. Bush, the Americans with Disabilities Act banned discrimination in employment and ensured equal access to public services and accommodations, telecommunications and transportation. Enactment of the ADA was a hard-won victory and, like so many other struggles for justice in American history, it was made possible by the bold actions of Californians. Decades prior to the ADA's passage, disability activists like Ed Roberts fought for the right to live independently at the University of California, Berkeley; and Congressman Tony Coelho, a Central Valley native, sponsored the ADA in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, thirty years since the ADA literally opened doors for people with disabilities, this community is making its mark in every sector of American life. Those who call California home make significant contributions to the diversity, prosperity and vitality of our state. They remind us that disability is a natural part of the human experience that in no way diminishes the rights of individuals to live independently, enjoy self-determination, make choices, contribute to society, pursue meaningful careers and enjoy full inclusion and integration. Despite this progress, people with disabilities still face stubborn disparities in education and employment. That is why we must recommit to ensuring that our communities are accessible and inclusive, and that no barriers keep people with disabilities from achieving their dreams. On this thirtieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, let us recommit to building a California that promotes independence and equality for all. NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2020, as "Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Day." IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 24th day of July 2020. GAVIN NEWSOM Governor of California ATTEST: ALEX PADILLA Secretary of State

The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) has just launched its first-ever Access to Exchange Externship, which is a remote internship opportunity for those interested in disability inclusion in international exchange. The deadline to apply is Friday, 5/15. See the link below for more information.

Our friends at the State Council on Developmental Disabilities have compiled the below money and food Resources during COVID-19. ----- Food and work are important everyday but especially right now when a lot of things are changing quickly. Here is some information about financial and food benefits that might apply to you.... 1. Good news! The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced on Wednesday that Social Security recipients will not be required to file a tax return to receive the Economic Impact Payment (commonly known as stimulus checks). Eligible recipients can expect to receive their $1,200 payment as a direct deposit or by paper check just as they would normally receive their benefits. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967 ¡Buenas noticias! El Tesoro y el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (Treasury and Internal Revenue Service) anunciaron ayer que las personas que reciben (los beneficiarios de) Seguro Social no tendrán que presentar una declaración de impuestos para recibir el Pago de Impacto Económico (Economic Impact Payment), comúnmente conocido como un cheque de estímulo (stimulus check). Los beneficiarios pueden esperar recibir su pago de $ 1200 como depósito directo o por medio de un cheque en papel, tal como normalmente recibirían sus beneficios. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967. (Para traducir el enlace en español presione el botón que se encuentra arriba de la página que dice, Languages y luego escoja Español de la lista que aparecerá.) 2. How to Apply for Unemployment: For people that have lost hours at work or even their jobs, the Council has created this flyer to share information about what you need to file an unemployment insurance claim, how to file a claim and what happens afterwards. English: https://bit.ly/2JAzB9f Spanish: https://bit.ly/3bPBxa6 3. Increases in CalFresh Benefits: There are food services available for people who are already receiving CalFresh benefits and also for those who are not in the program yet. Check your eligibility and learn about the application process. English: https://bit.ly/2R8P04Q Spanish: https://bit.ly/2X7OmbK

In response to COVID-19, the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) has compiled resources and guidance documents to keep employees, employers, and their families safe. The LWDA’s Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Resources for Employers and Workers webpage is a centralized source for information, and is being updated regularly.

From our friends at DisabilityIN: "We have an employer recruiting event coming up on April 28th in Berkeley, CA. The Career Connections- West Coast event is an opportunity for job seekers who identify as a person with a disability in the STEM, Business, and Finance fields to meet our inclusive employers. We are specifically seeking candidates with disabilities with at least 2 years’ experience for a variety of career opportunities, including but not limited to: Financial Cent...er Client Service Representatives, Software Engineers, Data Analytics, Systems Engineers. During this event candidates will have an opportunity to meet one on one with these employers for informational interviews, and participate in an open networking reception. It’s an excellent venue to make some new connections and to learn about these awesome employers! Please visit https://disabilityin.org/corporate-partners/cc-west/ for more information.

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Youth Employment Series (YES) Summer Academy! Applications for 2020 are now open!

Microsoft disAbility Scholarship deadline March 1st! Microsoft has opened the applications for their disAbility Scholarship. This is an opportunity for high school seniors who are interested in careers in technology. The description and application can be found at the below link. Completed applications are due by March 1st. The disAbility Scholarship at Microsoft delivers on the mission of Microsoft’s cross disability employee resource group to empower and enable people wit...h disabilities. This scholarship enables high school students with disabilities to go to college and target a career in the technology industry. In addition, we hope to contribute to increasing the pool of persons living with a disability enrolling in higher education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for this demographic. This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and have a financial need. The amount of this renewable scholarship to be awarded is $5,000 per year, up to $20,000 total, which is paid through the Seattle Foundation on behalf of the disAbility Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Microsoft to the recipient’s school’s Financial Aid Office.

THE JOSEPH P KENNEDY, JR FOUNDATION 2020 PUBLIC POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is seeking exemplary professionals, and/or persons experiencing disability and/or family members of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are currently working or volunteering in the field of inclusive services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Public Policy Fellows...hip is a one-year, full-time, intensive immersion experience in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the Fellowship is to prepare emerging leaders to assume leadership roles in the public policy arena at the state and/or national levels. During this one-year Fellowship, the successful applicant will learn how federal legislation is initiated, developed, and passed by the Congress, as well as how programs are administered and regulations promulgated by federal agencies. Fellows also learn how the organized disability community works to shape public policy impacting people with disabilities, and their families. Applicants should submit a letter of application between 2 to no more than 4 pages in length, single spaced in 12-point font with 1 inch margins, stating their background and history in the field of services and supports to people with intellectual disabilities, interests and accomplishments to date, as well as what they hope to do with the knowledge and experience gained from the fellowship. They should also attach either a résumé detailing their work and educational experience or a summary of their involvement in the field along with three letters of support from people familiar with their work. Applications should clearly show the candidate's name, address, telephone number(s), and e-mail address on the first page. Letters of support should also be via a PDF file or a word file. Please make sure that each letter clearly specifies the candidate for which the letter is being submitted. The application deadline for 2020 is January 15, 2020 by 5:00 P.M. EST The Fellowship starting date will be negotiated with the successful applicant (s). The Foundation fellowship (s) will be awarded for the period beginning as early as January and running for one year, with the actual schedule subject to negotiation between the successful applicant and the Foundation. Finalists will be invited to Washington in late early 2020 to be interviewed by a distinguished panel of national Public Policy experts. Should you have any questions please contact Steven M. Eidelman - [email protected] The applications will only be accepted online at: https://www.aucd.org/app/jpkffellowship2018

The National Research & Training Center (NRTC) on Blindness and Low Vision is now recruiting for field test participants for a new app project, ages 4 to 24, designed to help parents and youth focus on employment. The app provides information, resources, and activities that will help youth build independence and skills for employment as an adult. To register and/or for more information, please visit the link below.

Increasing Postsecondary Opportunities and Success for Students and Youth with Disabilities The Department issued a Questions and Answers document (Q&A), with an accompanying Appendix, on the dual enrollment of students with disabilities in secondary school and postsecondary education institutions, including comprehensive transition and postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The Q&A and Appendix describe how State educational agencies (S...EAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies may coordinate to assist students and youth with disabilities, including students and youth with intellectual disabilities, at postsecondary education institutions through appropriate supports funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). See more