Accessible Technology s Impact on the Employment of People

Accessible Technology’s Impact on the Employment of People with Cognitive & Developmental Disabilities August 2, 2012 Office of Disability Employment Policy U. S. Department of Labor

Welcome • Presentation slides are currently available at http: //www. dol. gov/odep/topics/Technology. htm • We have enabled the use of closed captioning for today’s event. If you would like to utilize this feature please follow the brief instructions: – Closed captioning should be located by default in the Media Viewer panel, which is located in the panel list on the right hand side of the meeting window – What if I cannot find the closed captioning? • Closed captioning should be available at the top of all the panels. Simply left click on the Media Viewer button for the closed captioning panel to open. • If the Media Viewer is open but minimized, simply left click two times on the Media Viewer button to maximize it. • If you are still unable to access the captioning within the online meeting space, you can access the event captioning directly by visiting this web page: http: //www. fedrcc. us//Enter. aspx? Event. ID=1983092&Customer. ID=321 • We will get started momentarily…

Webinar Logistics • Audio for this event is available through your computer speakers or through our conference line: – Call-in number (US/Canada): 1 -408 -600 -3600 – Access code: 665 753 644 • Submit questions to our presenters via IM through the webinar chat, email to odep@dol. gov or tweet using #ATworks • Answers to questions we are unable to address during the webinar will be posted online at: http: //www. dol. gov/odep/topics/Technology. htm • An archived version of the webinar will also be available at: http: //www. dol. gov/odep/topics/Technology. htm

Introductions Moderator: Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, U. S. Department of Labor Presenter: Ari Ne'eman, President and Co-founder, Autistic Self Advocacy Network Presenter: Adam Anicich, Acting Director, Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs' Liaison Service, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U. S. Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Labor or the United States Government.

Presenter: Ari Ne’eman Underlying Realities • People with I/DD face persistent barriers to employment in integrated settings • Historically, most accessible technology discussions have not included I/DD • Benefits of accessible technology for people with I/DD are multi-faceted, relate to both access and relevancy

Presenter: Ari Ne’eman Key Areas of Benefit • Access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) • Executive Functioning Support • Community and Cultural Connections • Telecommunications Opportunity

Presenter: Ari Ne’eman Access to AAC • Key Barrier for Many People with I/DD is Communication • Traditional AAC devices are highly expensive, lack broader markets and general applicability • Growing use of AAC apps for smart phones and tablets, offer significant cost and functionality advantage • Third party payers (i. e. , school districts, Medicaid) reluctant to pay for dual use AAC devices

Presenter: Ari Ne’eman Executive Functioning Support • Executive functioning challenges relate to organizational skills, time management and others • Significant barrier in employment, higher ed, transportation, etc. for people with I/DD • Tablet and mobile computing apps hold significant promise as “cognitive prosthetics” • Complex questions regarding financing for dual-use devices and software

Presenter: Ari Ne’eman Community & Cultural Connections • Social communication challenges significant barrier for I/DD community, particularly Autistic adults • Online interaction has many qualitative benefits for Autistic and I/DD community, such as lack of nonverbal cues and aggregation of particular interests • Connects geographically dispersed communities, sparking development of disability culture, community and pride

Presenter: Ari Ne’eman Telecommunications Opportunity • Transportation one of the most frequently cited barriers to employment for PWD • Telecommunications helps to address both transportation and communication challenges • Affords opportunity for flexible work schedules • Requires supportive employers, trust-based relationships to ensure accountability

Presenter: Adam Anicich Acquired Cognitive Disabilities • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Form of acquired brain injury - occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain • Estimated 1. 7 million TBIs each year in the general US population • 8. 6% of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans seen at VHA over a two year period including FY 2009 -2010 had a diagnosis of TBI • Most Veterans with a TBI diagnosis also carry a mental health diagnosis, with PTSD being the most common • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • A mental health disorder that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like war, assault or disaster

Presenter: Adam Anicich Symptoms • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Physical - headaches, difficulty speaking or hearing, loss of energy, dizziness or blurry eyesight • Cognitive – difficulties concentrating, forgetfulness, trouble with concentration and decision making • Behavioral - easily angered or frustrated, acting without thinking • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Feeling upset or avoiding remembrances of a traumatic or lifethreatening event • Feeling emotionally cut-off from others, depressed, anxious or easily irritated • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

Presenter: Adam Anicich Technology Initiatives • Hardware and Software • • Smartphones Voice recorders Speech-to-text software Online calendars • Mobile Apps • Life Armor (mobile app) • m. TBI Pocket Guide (mobile app) • T 2 Mood Tracker (mobile app)

Presenter: Adam Anicich How Employers Can Help • Support for Adaptive Technology in the Workplace • • Encourage the use of smartphones and electronic contacts Allow voice recorders to be used in meetings Install speech-to-text software on computers Encourage office-wide use of online calendars for meetings • Supportive Environment • Telecommuting reduces stress level and can improve concentration for employees with TBI • A quiet workspace allows employees to concentrate • Provide flexible scheduling to avoid common stressors like traffic or congested public transit systems • Individual task assignment and personal responsibility

Presenter: Adam Anicich Support • Online • http: //maketheconnection. net/conditions/traumatic-brain-injury • http: //www. brainlinemilitary. org/ • https: //www. nationalresourcedirectory. gov/ • In Person • http: //www. va. gov/health • Phone • National Veterans Crisis Line: 1 -800 -273 -8255 • Military One-Source & Wounded Warrior Resource Center: 1 -800 -342 -9647

Presenter: Adam Anicich About Adam • Professional • US Army 2002 -2007 • Mild TBI (m. TBI) 2006, Tikrit, Iraq • Congressional Liaison Service, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs • Executive Committee Member, Poly. Trauma and Blast-Related Injuries, Veterans Health Administration • Recovery • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy • Ongoing Poly. Trauma Treatment • Cognitive Success • Smartphone – calendar, contacts and notes • Occupational Therapy – cognitive strategies for memory

Questions • Please submit questions for our presenters via: – IM through webinar chat – Email to odep@dol. gov – Tweet using #Atworks • Answers to questions we are unable to address during the webinar will be posted online at: http: //www. dol. gov/odep/topics/Technology. htm

Closing Remarks • Thank you for joining us today! • Contact our presenters directly: – Kathleen. Martinez. public@dol. gov – ANeeman@autisticadvocacy. org – Adam. Anicich@va. gov • An archived version of the webinar will also be available at: http: //www. dol. gov/odep/topics/Technology. htm • Join us for the next AT Works event on Aug. 16 at 2 pm EST, “Accessibility and Emerging Technology – Keys to Improving the Employment of People with Disabilities”