Alaska Works Initiative

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Alaskans who experience disabilities are employed at a rate as close as possible to that of the general population. Greetings. We have developed this site to share current information surrounding barriers to employment. Whether you are an individual that experiences a disability, a support person, an advocate or a worker in the field of disabilities, you will find information on employment related topics, programs, workshop and training opportunities, referral resources, and Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits technical assistance for SSA beneficiaries that would like to pursue employment. We appreciate your feedback; any suggestions or information that you would like to see posted please contact: anjac3@uaa.alaska.edu or call (907) 264-6228. For the past several years, the Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education has been working with individuals with disabilities, state agencies and service providers to implement the Alaska Works Initiative, which is designed to increase the employment rate of Alaskans with disabilities. Together, stakeholders are working to address the major barriers that keep people with disabilities from working. Some of these barriers to employment include: Funding Sources The Alaska Works Initiative has been funded through a group of federal and state grants. The Rehabilitation Services Administration State Partnership Initiative, Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, SSA Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Grant, The US Department of Labor Workforce Coordination funds, Workforce Investment Self Employment funds, Micro-enterprise Development funds the state Transition and Mentoring Project and most recently Work Incentives Planning & Assistance Initiative (WIPA) Project. Collaborations The Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education is managing the project, in coordination and collaboration with the Alaska Works Consortium and the Consumer Advisory Board. The Alaska Works Consortium is comprised of representatives of the Council, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Public Assistance, the Department of Education and Early Development, the Division of Medical Assistance, the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the UAA Center for Human Development.

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