Arthur L Keyes Memorial Trust

The Arthur L Keyes Memorial Trust generously donated $10,000 to our Health and Wellness program. Activities are varied and constantly changing to expose individuals to new experiences that promote the development of social skills, learning to follow instruction, and overall general health and well-being. These funds allow us to offer programs like martial arts, dance and movement classes to the individuals that we serve.

An Open Door: Temple Grandin

“The film ‘An Open Door,’ which premieres on several major streaming services Tuesday, offers a look at Temple Grandin and her contributions as a leading voice on autism as well as an expert in livestock handling.”

Read more from Disability Scoop about this new documentary here: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/…/documentary…/31572/

Opportunity Networks is proud to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

On July 26th, we honored this landmark civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to public and private spaces open to the public.

The ADA ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. We are grateful for the progress made, and remain committed to advancing inclusion and accessibility every day.

Legislative Information

There continues to be several key topics before legislation in Concord which focus on support for individuals with developmental disabilities and may be of interest to you. The rollout of Managed Care continues to be a hot topic as it relates to the potential impacts it may have.

Remember, everyone’s voice is important so please speak to your local representatives for more information about ways you can participate in the process.

You can also find additional legislatives updates at www.gatewayscs.org

What’s the best way for individuals with disabilities for the workforce? The authors of Escaping the Disability Trap discuss the limitations to the school systems model and the lackluster models of sheltered workshops.

Labor Department Seeks Changes to Disability Hiring Mandate

Overview of the Proposed Rule

What’s at stake?
The Department of Labor (DOL) is rolling back key provisions under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, notably the 7 percent workforce utilization goal for federal contractors to hire persons with disabilities—a rule originally established in 2013. disabilityinsider.com
Reasoning behind the change:
The DOL argues that, while quotas are officially prohibited, contractors might feel implicitly pressured to meet that utilization benchmark. They express concern that requiring individuals to self-identify as disabled to meet that goal may conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits disability-related inquiries before a job offer is made. disabilityinsider.com