Employment Resources for Families

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Employment Resources for Families
CT DDS Employment & Day Services Pathways Brochure 
The Americans with Disabilities Act – ADA: is a law the helps protect individuals in everyday life in an array of arenas and public settings. Understanding disability rights is an important aspect of supporting employment. 
Link: https://www.ada.gov/ 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – WIOA: is designed to support states with funding to support individuals with disabilities. Individuals being employed is encouraged on a federal level. 
Link: https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/wia/wioa.htm 
Advocacy: Self-advocacy is reflected in our everyday lives. Anyone can benefit from advocacy and support, including individuals with ID/DD at home, in the community and in employment.
• Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
Link: https://portal.ct.gov/Services/Health-and-Human-Services/Disability-Services/Protection-and-Advocacy-for-Persons-with-Disabilities 
• Disability Rights Connecticut | Self-Advocacy Resource Center
Link: https://www.disrightsct.org/resource-center 

Benefits Information and Assistance:
Med-Connect (Medicaid for Employees with Disabilities): provides medical assistance to employed individuals with disabilities. Information on income levels, eligibility and application process.
Link: www.ct.gov/MED 
Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program: Social Security offers SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities the opportunity to explore work options or education while safeguarding healthcare and cash benefit choices through the Ticket to Work program and Work Incentives.
Link: https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/tickettoworkprogram.htm 
Social Security Red Book: A summary guide to employment supports for individuals with disabilities under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities. 
Link: http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/ 
School to Work Transition Planning
One of the primary goals of secondary transition is to help prepare individuals for careers and employment. Research shows that paid employment while a student is still in school is the best way to prepare for a career path as an adult. The information and resources below may be helpful tools for working with school systems and other agencies to set goals and expectations for employment.

• Transition Checklist for 18-21 year old Students 
Link: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DDS/employment/TransitionToEmploymentTimelineforPlanning18to22.pdf 
• Charting the Life Course Guide
Link: https://cdd.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2019/11/LCEXPERIENCESBOOKLETupdated92016-1504896211363.pdf 
• The Division on Career Development and Transition 
Link: http://www.dcdt.org/ 
• The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center 
Link: http://www.nsttac.org/ 
• www.thinkcollege.net 
Link: http://www.thinkcollege.net/ 
• The Division on Career Development and Transition 
Link: http://www.dcdt.org/ 
• The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
Link: http://www.nsttac.org/ 
• Connecticut DDS Career Plan and Guidelines 
Link: https://portal.ct.gov/DDS/OperationsCenter/Documents/Career-Plan 
• Career and Individual Planning Resource Links
Link: https://portal.ct.gov/DDS/EmploymentDayServices/Employment-First/Career-and-Individual-Planning---Resource-Links 
• Disability Career Development | Disability Resources for People with Disabilities
Link: https://www.disabledperson.com/careeer-development-pwd 
• Department of Aging and Disability Services (ct.gov)
Link: https://portal.ct.gov/AgingAndDisability 
• BRS Initiative Descriptions: A Comprehensive Guide to BRS Resources & Services 
Link: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DDS/family/brsinitiativedescriptionshyperlinked.pdf