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May 2020 Monthly News and Updates
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| Essential Employee Spotlight:
It is still business as usual, but with things far from normal
Submission received from Nick Sampson, who self directs his services.
This is Nick Anthony Sampson. People who know me call me Tony. I live in Silver Spring, Maryland. Home Depot is where I walk every day. With the Coronavirus epidemic in place. It is still business as usual, but with things far from normal.
The stay at home orders have affected the people in the disabled community. People with disabilities have nowhere to go. Malls, beaches, libraries, theaters, arenas, sporting events, and community centers are shut down for an unknown period of time. Even Special Olympics events have been suspended for the rest of the year. And now even the people have nowhere to work. The workshops, day crews, and enclaves are shut down. They can't work in places like, theaters, schools, and other non-essential places if businesses. It takes a toll of their morale, mentality, and their economic way of life. What the councilors need to do is that they can keep them active by going out on walks, on a bike trail, or in the neighborhood, instead of making them rot at home watching television, and playing board games.
That's good, but they need more that staying inside all the time. They can even have councilors come to the homes and talk to them to get them through these adverse times. I, like other people who work at essential jobs, miss a lot of things so far; like for example:
Bringing snacks to my coworkers
Going to meetings and appointments
Go to malls, theaters, sporting events
Hugging and touching people
Special Olympics
Annual events like, parades, conventions
My volunteering services at The Spy Museum, 2020 census
I even have to hold plans for my vacation. It is really hard on all of us. They need to help these people get through. This may be the new normal, but it is anything but. If we all work together, we can bring the old normal back.
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John at Smithsonian's Natural History Museum
Submission Received from John Bogasky II father of John Bogasky III -
My son works are part of the maintenance team at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. All of the maintenance workers at the Smithsonian are considered essential workers, including my son. He has continued to go to work during the lockdown, riding very empty Metro cars independently from Rockville to and from the museum. With the museum closed and most professional staff working from home, much less maintenance is needed, so he is only going in once or twice a week right now.
John graduated from the Katharine Thomas High School in 2011, and from the GROW Program at the Riverview School on Cape Cod in 2014. While at Riverview, John made a cameo appearance in the Oscar-nominated documentary
Life, Animated.
After Riverview, John was accepted into the Project SEARCH Smithsonian internship program.
A successful internship led the Smithsonian to offer John a permanent position. Today he works on the maintenance team at the National Museum of American History. John's employment is supported by SEEC, of Montgomery County.
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Maintaining Schedules and Routine: SEEC
Thank you to SEEC, of Montgomery County, for submitting the stories below, sharing ways they are supporting people to maintain their schedules and routines in the midst of COVID.
Al
tho
ugh COVID-19 has shut down worksites for individuals working at the National Institutes of Health, it hasn't stopped the amazing people we support from being their best selves and staying productive. Following a schedule or some sort of a routine is important for most people, but is critical for individuals with disabilities to help with maintaining skills and providing guidance for those who may otherwise struggle with organization or self-direction.
Here are a few stories to highlight some of the things people are doing at home to continue professional and personal development during this time of crisis.
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| Chris in his at-home workspace |
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Chris works at the National Institutes of Health(NIH) as a Supply Clerk in the Clinical Center Supply Store. Chris' job consists of delivering packages and mail within the Clinical Center and other buildings around the NIH campus. During the first couple of weeks of the crisis, Chris was expected to be on-site working to continue delivery of important packages to NIH departments. The department then made changes to ensure the safety of all employees and placed people on paid administrative leave. Although Chris is on leave and does not technically have to work from home, he is working hard to learn about topics of interest and those related to improving his work skills.
Activities Chris is engaging in to stay sharp include the following:
- Ted Talks and online trainings: Chris is working on completing various trainings on work related skills, to include: internet safety, Microsoft Office Suite, and math concepts. He is also watching Ted Talks on topics of interest such as "Video Gaming as a Coping Tool" and "Where is Google Going Next?".
- Virtual Job Club: Chris attended Project Search NIH's weekly Job Club on campus prior to the COVID crisis. Now, he has learned to adapt and use ZOOM to continue attending job club in a virtual format. Job Coaches host job club on a variety of topics like Adapting to Change, Increasing Motivation, Critical Thinking and Decision Making, and Social Distancing Activities.
- Communication: Chris has maintained regular weekly communication with his supervisor to ensure he has the most up-to date information and knows expectations for when he will return to work. He is also communicating a couple times a week with his Job Coach to help him make a plan for the week and get ideas of ways he can utilize his time at home.
- Other Activities: Chris is also engaging in additional activities to fill his day productively. He created a daily schedule for himself to include activities such as completing online trainings, doing work around the house or yard, taking a walk or dancing, completing puzzles, talking to friends, or playing video games.
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Help Highlight Essential Workers with Disabilities
We know that during this time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, many people with disabilities who are employed may be at home. However, many people with disabilities are deemed as essential employees and are continuing to report to work. DDA, along with our Employment First partners, would like the opportunity to highlight those employees, along with their support staff, by sharing stories in this newsletter.
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Griffin Hammis Associates: Updated Customized Employment Resources
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Funding Reimbursement for DDA Approved
Employment Training
The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is extending funding reimbursement for the DDA approved employment trainings and cost of Certified Employment Supports Professional (CESP) exam until the new Employment Services rates become effective.
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April 2020 Jobs Report: COVID Recession Stats
"Unlike the Great Recession and the Great Depression, many workers in the COVID Recession may be 'on temporary layoff' (aka furloughed) and may be recalled, rather than losing their jobs completely," explained Andrew Houtenville, PhD, research director of the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. "To further investigate this issue, we plan to release a Special nTIDE Report on May 15."
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Institute for Community Inclusion: New COVID-19 Resources
The Institute for Community Inclusion, (ICI) has released a
series of publications on providing day and employment services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include offering services remotely, effective use of technology, dealing with the economic impact of COVID-19, and much more. Additional publications will be added in the next few weeks.
These resources have been developed to guide professionals, individuals, and families through this challenging time. This public health crisis has created emotional turmoil and economic damage. However, it is also a chance to develop new approaches to providing day and employment services and supporting community life engagement.
ICI's
Think College initiative also has
up-to-date resources to support students with intellectual disabilities as they learn, work, and live in the time of COVID-19.
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DORS Summer Youth Employment: Announcement
The below information is being shared on behalf of our partners at the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) in reference to their Pre Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).
Thank you for your continued support as we strive to navigate virtual service delivery to students as a result of the pandemic. As a statewide system, shifting to virtual services has been both a challenge and an opportunity for DORS.
Due to the impact of the pandemic, DORS has made the difficult decision to continue the suspension of DORS funded on-site Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLE) and
not participate or support any on-site work experiences for our students during the summer of 2020.
However, DORS will be extending the option of virtual delivery of other approved DORS funded Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) until September 1, 2020. Please review the updated
DORS Pre-ETS Temporary Operational Procedures for additional information and details.
DORS is continuing to follow all federal and state guidance regarding safe practices for operational procedures and will provide updated DORS guidance around the delivery of on-site WBLEs and virtual Pre-ETS.
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The DDA Educational Series Webinar Recordings
The DDA Education Series webinars are available to view at the DDA archived webinar page. You will find a complete list of webinar topics on the right side of the page. Below is a list of topics in the series.
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Want more information about Employment First?
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Maryland Department of Health
201 W. Preston St. | Baltimore MD, 21201
The Maryland Department of Health promotes the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management, and community engagement. The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with quality customer service. Take our Customer Satisfaction Survey.
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