Until next
Legislature, disability supporters find training on Web
By Barbara McKee / Tribune
Columnist
March 29, 2005
Lawmakers
passed 525 bills during the the 2005 New Mexico
Legislature. A small number of them deal with disability
issues.
Of the bills signed so far by Gov. Bill Richardson,
most involve HIV/AIDS programs. One is Sen. Phil
Griego's Billy Griego Act. The act tasks the state
Department of Health with improving coordination of all
state AIDS/HIV services; creating an ombudsman to
respond to consumer issues; appointing a medical
advisory committee; and promoting more consumer-directed
services.
The governor signed two additional bills sponsored by
Griego, a San Jose Democrat, which aim to further
improve HIV/AIDS treatment. One establishes a Governor's
HIV/AIDS Policy Commission to advise the Department of
Health on AIDS/HIV issues. The other requires the Health
Department and other agencies and organizations to study
the AIDS service system to better coordinate existing
services.
Unfortunately, some bills that would have assisted
disabled persons in finding employment didn't make it
through the Legislature. So disability advocates will
have to wait until the next session.
Until then, I found a Web site giving online job
training, sponsored by the Minnesota Governor's Council
on Developmental Disabilities. Established in 1987, the
program, Partners in Employment, offers a self-study
Internet course on how to overcome the obstacles that
developmentally disabled people face finding employment.
Although the training is aimed at people with
developmental disabilities, I believe the tutorial is
beneficial to anyone entering the job market.
For example, the program promotes employment
strategies that apply universally: understanding the
hiring process; understanding supported and competitive
employment; identifying a circle of friends who can help
you achieve your dream; knowing your strengths, skills
and interests and how they might translate into a
career; understanding natural supports and how they
might help you succeed; creating a resume or portfolio
that presents you and your abilities in the best light;
knowing how to network and identify potential employers;
preparing for a successful job interview; and knowing
how to evaluate a job offer to make sure it fits your
skills and dreams.
Getting a job is the same for everyone. The missing
ingredient for the disabled is the objectivity of the
employer. If the skills and desire exist in a potential
employee, it is up to the employer to provide equal
opportunity. No legislation will change that.
For more information, visit: www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/employment/index.html.
You can e-mail Barbara McKee at chairgrrl@chairgrrl.com.
Her column runs on Tuesdays.
