Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities

Welcome to the website for the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities (ACICIEID). The Advisory Committee is a key part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2014 to help job seekers — including those with disabilities — access the services they need to succeed in employment and match employers with skilled workers. It is mandated by section 609 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by section 461 of WIOA.

Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez with the Committee

Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez with the Committee, January 22, 2015

Final Report

As provided for by section 609 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by section 461 of WIOA, Congress directed the Advisory Committee on ACICIEID to prepare and submit a final report to the Secretary of Labor and to Congress. The report summarizes the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on ways to increase competitive employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or other individuals with significant disabilities as well as the use and oversight of the certificate program as carried out under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938. As required by law, the Committee submitted the final report to the Secretary and Congress on September 15, 2016.

Purpose

The purpose of the committee is to prepare findings, conclusions and recommendations for the Secretary of Labor on:

  • Ways to increase employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or other individuals with significant disabilities in competitive integrated employment;
  • The use of certificate program carried act under section 14(c) of the FLSA for the employment of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or other individuals with significant disabilities; and
  • Ways to improve oversight of the use of such certificates.

Integrated employment refers to jobs held by people with disabilities in workplace settings where the majority of persons employed are not persons with disabilities. In these jobs, the individuals with disabilities earn wages consistent with wages paid workers without disabilities in the community performing the same or similar work, earn at least minimum wage and are paid directly by the employer.

Membership

Thank you to all those who responded to the request for member nominations. More than 280 nominations were received for consideration. Only a few individuals could be selected to serve on the Advisory Committee, however, the Department is committed to engaging the public and providing the committee with access to the best expertise, knowledge and experience available to inform its work. Consequently, we will remain in contact with all the nominees and the public to encourage vigorous participation in the committee's work.

The Advisory Committee consisted of both federal officials and private citizens from specific groups identified in the WIOA legislation. The Secretary of Labor appointed 18 representatives from the following groups:

Self-advocates for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities — Patrick Hendry, Mental Health America; Karen McCulloh, McCulloh and Associates; and Santa Perez, People First of Nevada.

Providers of employment services, including those who employ individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in competitive integrated employment — Brian Itzkowitz, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Inc.; and Christine McMahon, Fedcap.

Representatives of national disability advocacy organizations for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities — Alison Barkoff, Bazelon Center; Ruby Moore, National Disability Rights Network; and Ari Ne'eman, Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

Experts with a background in academia or research and expertise in employment and wage policy issues for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities — Valerie Brooke, Virginia Commonwealth University; and David Mank, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.

Representatives from the employer community or national employer organizations — Oswald Mondejar (MA), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, and Partners Home Care; Steve Pemberton (IL), Walgreens; and Jim Brett, The New England Council.

Other individuals or representatives of organizations with expertise on increasing opportunities for competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities — Cesilee Coulson, Washington Initiative for Supported Employment; Sharyn Hancock, Workforce Essentials, Inc.; Rita Landgraf. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services; Lisa Pugh, Disability Rights Wisconsin; and Fredric Schroeder, Interwork Institute at San Diego State University.

There are also seven federal official members of the Advisory Committee. These include the:

  • Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL);
  • Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at DOL; and
  • Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) at DOL;
  • Commissioner of the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), or the Commissioner's designee;
  • Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), or the Director's designee;
  • Commissioner of Social Security, or the Commissioner's designee; and
  • Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), or the Commissioner's designee.

Interim Report

As provided for by section 609 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by section 461 of WIOA, Congress has directed the Advisory Committee on ACICIEID to prepare and submit an Interim Report to the Secretary of Labor and to Congress. The purpose of the interim report is to summarize the progress of the committee, as well as to provide any interim findings, conclusions and recommendations. As required by law, the committee submitted the interim report to the Secretary and Congress on September 15, 2015.

How Will the Advisory Committee Accomplish Its Work?

The Advisory Committee is required to meet at least eight times to accomplish its work. Within one year of the committee's establishment, the committee must submit an interim report with recommendations to the Secretary of Labor. Within two years of the committee's establishment, the committee must submit a final report with recommendations to the Secretary of Labor. The committee will also provide these reports to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Resources

For more information on WIOA and services to jobseekers with disabilities, please visit: