The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) has received $2.4 million in supplemental funding to provide support aimed at increasing competitive integrated employment for deaf individuals.
NDC will use the funding, from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, to provide technical assistance over three years to state educational and vocational rehabilitation agencies, local educational agencies, colleges, universities, technical schools, and training programs. This technical assistance will help create innovative, collaborative partnerships between agencies, programs, and schools to strengthen educational and training pathways for deaf individuals. The assistance also will demonstrate how outcomes for deaf youth might be improved by developing a cohesive service delivery model.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act defines competitive integrated employment as “work that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis for which an individual is
- compensated at or above minimum wage and comparable to the customary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities performing similar duties and with similar training and experience,
- receiving the same level of benefits provided to other employees without disabilities in similar positions,
- at a location where the employee interacts with other individuals without disabilities, and
- presented opportunities for advancement similar to other employees without disabilities in similar positions.”
For more information and to receive updates on all of its work, visit the NDC website.