National Electronic Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) 

This email is to make you aware of the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed rules regarding the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program. NEVI will provide funding to the states to install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. All stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback to help tailor the proposed rules to create a program that meets the needs of industry, charging providers, and the driving public. More details are provided below.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish minimum standards and requirements for projects funded under the NEVI Formula Program. The proposed minimum standards will help ensure a national EV charging network that is user-friendly, reliable, accessible to all, and interoperable between different charging companies with similar payment systems, pricing information, and charging speeds.?FHWA requests comments on the proposed rule by close of business on August 22, 2022. You can view the NPRM and instructions for submitting comments by clicking the above link or by entering the following URL into your browser: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/22/2022-12704/national-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-formula-program.

Please take a moment to review this proposal and submit comments on any aspect of the information provided in the published notice.

Thank you.

Charge Up Kansas

988 Suicide Line Now Operational

988, the new 3-digit number for mental health and suicide crisis, is now available across the nation. This is a reality because of mental health advocates like you who raised their voice in support of a vision that we can provide everyone a better response to mental health crises.

Starting today, anyone experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicide crisis can call or text 988 or chat with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.

No matter where you live, you can be connected to trained crisis counselors at Lifeline call centers across the country. This support is available to people in crisis or their loved ones, and it is free, confidential and available 24/7/365. Learn more about 988 and what it means for you at nami.org/988.

Mid-West Ability Summit

Time is running out!

There are only 32 days until the Mid-West Ability Summit!

Do not wait any longer to sign up!

We must have your registration by August 1 to be included in the event program.
If you are receiving this email, I have not received your registration yet!

Don't miss out on this great event!!
Saturday, August 20, 2022

Click link to register:
https://midwestabilitysummit.org/exhibitor/

Sponsors - Main Hall
https://midwestabilitysummit.org/sponsor/#mainhall

Please contact me if you have any questions. Erin Brown [email protected]

Professional education is open!
https://midwestabilitysummit.org/professional-education/

We are looking for volunteers for the event… volunteers like YOU…your parents… your spouse…your teen aged child or sibling…your friends…your students. Volunteers will help with registration, sell T shirts, assist vendors with set up, give directions and assist participants where needed.

We prefer that you volunteer for a period of 3-4 hours and we can provide those who need volunteer hours with proof of their hours worked.
Volunteers can sign up on our website: https://midwestabilitysummit.org/volunteer/

Disabled and Proud Parade

The Disabled and Proud parade is Saturday, July 23rd from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on the south law of the State Capitol building at 300 SW 10th Street. To learn more, go to the Disabled and Proud website. 

Job Vacancy Announcements

Blue Cross Blue Shield has the following positions open to external candidates:

*Customer Experience Representative

Interested applicants can apply online at www.bcbsks.com/careers. 

July Final Rule Stakeholder Call Reminder

This is a reminder to join KDADS on the third Wednesday of the month for the HCBS Settings Final Rule (Community Connections) Stakeholder Call. This is an opportunity to stay updated on the State’s planning for Community Connections and Final Rule implementation. Call in line: 1 (253) 215-8782 Meeting ID: 961 0034 0589 Here’s what you can expect during the Wednesday, July 20, 2022 calls at Noon and at 5:30 PM: KDADS will share information and updates on the HCBS Settings Final Rule including remediation, heightened scrutiny, and training and resources.

General information about these calls:
• Calls are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
• During each call, KDADS staff will share updates about what they’re working on for the Final Rule (Community Connections) and the feedback they’ve gotten from CMS.
• There will be time for questions from stakeholders during the call.
• Calls will be facilitated by Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute.
• During each one-hour call:

o The WSU facilitator will introduce the topic of the day.
o Participants will be asked to keep their phones on mute (*6 on your keypad or use your mute key) until the Q&A Time. This will reduce background noise.)
o KDADS Staff will provide any updates they have.
o After KDADS updates, the line will be opened for questions related to the updates or the Final Settings Rule (Community Connections) in general.

Or Write To: Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Home and Community Based Services 503 S. Kansas Ave Topeka, Kansas 66603 Phone: 785-368-6246 Fax: 785-296-0256 Visit Our Website: www.kdads.ks.gov

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief

July 15, 2022

National Online Dialogue to Understand and Address Long COVID’s Workplace Challenges Open Now

The U.S. Department of Labor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General are inviting the public to join the “Understanding and Addressing Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” national online dialogue. Through this virtual crowdsourcing event, the department seeks to better understand workplace challenges of those experiencing new or lingering symptoms of COVID-19 — a condition known as long COVID — as well as gather ideas to address these challenges and minimize associated employment and financial impacts of the condition. Participate in the online conversation to provide insight, share experiences and offer solutions related to long COVID in the workplace.

• Register for the “Understanding and Addressing Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” national online dialogue.

Disability Data Snapshot: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

A new post on the U.S Department of Labor blog offers a data snapshot on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities, based on a recent interview between Amy Fong, a Mathematical Statistician in ODEP, and Justin Tsang, Hanna Lee and Shruti Rajkumar of the Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative. The piece, which also explores the importance of ensuring research includes the experiences of this population, is the latest in an ongoing series of data snapshots about different subgroups of people with disabilities; previous snapshots explored Black workers with disabilities and women with disabilities.

• Read the data snapshot on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities
• Read the data snapshot on Black workers with disabilities
• Read the data snapshot on women with disabilities

Celebrating Neurodivergent Employees throughout July

About 20% of adults identify as neurodivergent, and neurodivergent employees bring many skills and talents to the workplace. Neurodivergent employees are a key part of organization-wide diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives and can offer new perspectives, creativity and insight into a large customer base. To help employers attract, retain and support neurodivergent employees, EARN is sharing resources and information throughout July. Check out these resources to learn about creating a workplace culture that is inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent workers, including information about accommodations, business benefits, performance management and mentorship.

• Learn more about Neurodiversity in the Workplace
• Follow EARN on Facebook, Twitter 

Protecting the Rights of Workers with Disabilities and Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment

A recent blog jointly authored by Kristin García and Anupa Iyer Geevarghese, chiefs of staff for the department’s Wage and Hour Division and Office of Disability Employment Policy, respectively, explores efforts by both agencies to advance competitive integrated employment for workers with disabilities. As part of this, the blog post shares recent guidance published by WHD related to Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act and shares information about ODEP’s long-standing work to assist states and service providers align funds and facilitate collaboration to advance CIE.

• Read the blog post

Request for Information on Current Population Survey Disability Supplement 2024

The Department of Labor is seeking information from the public regarding a supplement to the Current Population Survey on disability employment issues, which will be conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau; it is expected to be fielded in 2024. The department is publishing this Request for Information to gather information to aid in revising this CPS Disability Supplement and to inform its general disability employment research agenda.

• Read the Request for Information
• Provide Comments Here

Workforce Recruitment Program Seeks Federal Employees to Recruit Students with Disabilities

The Workforce Recruitment Program is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and select private-sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through internships and permanent jobs. The WRP is the primary pipeline bringing students and recent graduates with disabilities into federal employment. Volunteers are needed to act as WRP Recruiters for the upcoming recruitment season, which runs from October 24-November 16, 2022. Recruiters must be Federal Government employees who commit to conducting up to 10-12 virtual informational interviews with students. To participate, recruiters must complete an online training this summer on the WRP website. Registration is open until August 26, 2022.

• Learn more information about serving as a WRP Recruiter and register to be a WRP Recruiter. Recruiters play a vital role in the program and all federal employees are encouraged to volunteer! If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

PEAT Launches New Jobs Pages

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology launched new jobs pages on their website. These pages make it easy to find popular PEAT resources that are specifically related to HR, Hiring & Recruiting Professionals, Organizational Leaders as well as CTO & IT Managers.

• Find PEAT resources related to your job

Expanding Apprenticeships as a Career Pathway for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities

The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth will host a webinar on August 3 at 2:00pm ET on expanding apprenticeships. This webinar will highlight the benefits of apprenticeships as well as provide an overview of approaches states can take to design and implement pre-apprenticeship, registered and non-registered apprenticeship programs as viable career pathways for career seekers with disabilities.

• Learn more and Register here

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE • CREATING OPPORTUNITY

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