Glossary
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| Massachusetts-specific terms |
Access
Providing a barrier-free environment, accommodations, or changes in policies, procedures, or the built environment to ensure that everyone can participate fully in activities.
Accessibility Survey
Surveying programs, policies, and the environment as they relate to the participation of people with a range of disabilities.
Accommodations
A device, technology, service, or change that is made to the environment, work process, practices, or policies that support the full participation and productivity of a person with a disability.
Alternate Formats
Different ways of presenting information other than standard print documents, such as text files on a computer disk, large print, books on tape, Braille.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
1990 federal law that makes discrimination based upon disability illegal, and requires certain employers to make reasonable accommodations for a worker with a disability so that the person can perform the essential functions of a job.
Assistive Technology (AT)
A tool or device that helps a person with a disability be independent. Ranges from low-cost items available at the local hardware store to sophisticated tools such as specialized computer equipment.
Barriers
Obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society. This includes attitudinal barriers such as, attitudes, fears, and assumptions that prevent individuals with and without disabilities from meaningfully interacting with others. It also includes obstacles to physical access and communication.
Barrier-Free Design
An approach to architecture and design that creates buildings, transportation systems, and outdoor environments that people with disabilities can enter and use independently and safely. See also universal design.
Barriers to Employment
Term that covers a wide range of life situations that may cause a person to have trouble finding or keeping a job, such as low literacy, lack of education or transportation.
Benefits Planning, Assistance & Outreach (BPAO)
Confidential planning for Social Security benefits recipients that helps them make informed choices about work and earnings, and manage benefits.
Business Leadership Network (BLN)
Employer-led organizations that offer participating employers resources for recruiting candidates with disabilities, information on disability employment issues/topics, recognition for best disability employment practices, and exposure to an untapped market for goods and services.
Community Rehabilitation Provider (CRP)
An agency, typically private and non-profit, that provides employment services to adults with disabilities. May also be called a provider, service provider, community organization or vendor.
Developmental Disability (DD)
A severe, chronic, often lifelong disability that causes substantial limitations in several major life activities ...attributable to a mental, emotional, sensory, and/or physical impairment that is apparent before the age of twenty-two.
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)
Federally funded centers that provide information and technical assistance concerning the ADA to businesses, people with disabilities, and other entities.
Disability, Person with a
Defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act as a person with 1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or 2) a record of such impairment; or 3) a perception of such an impairment, even when the impairment does not exist. Defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as "a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment."
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Employment Specialist
A staff member of a community rehabilitation provider (CRP) who assists an employee with a disability integrate into the workplace, also sometimes referred to as an Employment Training Specialist (ETS) or job coach.
Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
A legal term and federal requirement that employers not discriminate because of factors unrelated to job qualifications including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.
Essential Job Functions
Those functions that are fundamental or critical to the service or position,: they are not marginal tasks.
Hidden Disability
A disability that is not readily obvious to the casual observer; or a disability which is rendered non-obvious by circumstances or environment. Hidden disabilities may include mental and cognitive disabilities, chronic health conditions or hearing loss. Also called non-apparent disabilities.
Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE)
For SSDI & SSI, Social Security deducts the cost of certain impairment-related expenses needed in order to work from earnings when deciding substantial work. See the Social Security Administration website for more information.
Inclusion
The active engagement of people with disabilities in all levels of society where people with disabilities are valued contributing members who have a sense of belonging.
Independent Living (IL)
Advocacy movement/philosophy that individuals with disabilities have the right to live with dignity and with appropriate support in their own homes, fully participate in their communities, have control and make decisions about their lives.
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Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
A free consulting service that helps employers support workers with disabilities by 1) providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, 2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and 3) educating callers about self-employment options.
Job Coach
A staff member of a community rehabilitation provider (CRP) who assists an employee with a disability integrate into the workplace. Also called an Employment Specialist.
Job Development
The process of assisting a job seeker in finding a job that is consistent with their interest and skills. May involve the modification of an existing job site, or work process to make a particular job accessible, or creation of a new job, often used to assist a person with a disability to be successful in their job.
Major Life Activity
Basic activity that the average person in the general population can perform with little or no difficulty, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, talking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.
Marginal Job Functions
Functions of a position that can be easily reassigned or changed without altering the nature of the position.
Mental Retardation (MR)
Beginning in childhood, a person has intellectual functioning level (IQ) below 70-75 and significant limitations exist in two or more adaptive skill areas. The American Association on Mental Retardation defines MR as is a disability originating before age 18 that is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills.
Networking
A technique to find jobs that relies on talking to informal contacts such as family members and local community acquaintances and the employers they may know.
One-Stop Career Center
"One stop shop" for employment services for all job-seekers, including those with disabilities. "Core services" are free, other services may have costs.
People-First Language
Language that puts the person first when speaking of someone with a disability to remind us that they are people first. For example, "person with a disability" instead of "disabled person"; "people with disabilities" instead of "the disabled."
Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
Helps an individual with a disability maintain independence by providing assistance with activities such as dressing, eating, using the bathroom and homemaking. Usually hired directly by the individual with a disability.
Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
Allows someone on SSI to set aside a portion of their earnings towards a specific work-related goal. The income set aside is not counted when determining eligibility for SSI or reviewing assets.
Program Accessibility
Central requirement/standard under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which requires that recipients of federal funds or contracts and /or state and local government entities operate programs and activities so that "when viewed in its entirety" such a program/activity is readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.
Provider Agency
Private agency that offers residential, vocational or support services purchased by a state human service agency.
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Qualified Individual with a Disability
A legal term defined under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as ""an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodations, can perform the essential functions of the position that such individual holds or desires."
Reasonable Accommodations
Adjustments in work methods, environment, or equipment to allow a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of their job.
Record of Impairment
Legal term used in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), refers to a history of having a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. A person who used to have a disability or was misclassified as having one.
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
A federal agency that oversees programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment through the provision of such supports as counseling, medical and psychological services, and job training.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The federal statute that ensures the rights and participation of individuals with disabilities in federally funded programs.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
An amendment that requires accessibility to people with disabilities for all websites and information technology used by the federal government or contractors to the government, effective June 2001.
Disclosure
Action by an individual with a disability to identify their disability to another individual or individuals.
Situational Assessment
An evaluation that identifies a person's job interests and skills through the performance of job tasks in actual workplace environments in the community.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Federal agency responsible for disability insurance policies, programs, payments and administration, such as SSI and SSDI.
Substantial Limitation
In terms of disability, when an individual is unable to perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform; or significant restriction as to the condition, manner, or duration under which an individual can perform.
Supports
Supportive services, services or relationships that an individual with a disability requires to be independent.
Supported Employment (SE)
Ongoing support from a community rehabilitation provider to an individual in a paid community-based job where the majority of workers do not have disabilities. Job coaches are often used.
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA)
This law reduces barriers that keep people with disabilities from working by improving Social Security Work Incentives and Medicaid Buy-In programs.
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Undue Hardship
Term used in the ADA, major difficulty or expense in trying to accommodate an employee with a disability, considered in light of the employer's financial resources, facilities, workforce, and business operations.
Universal Design
The design of products and environments to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Vendor
Private agency that offers residential, vocational or support services purchased by a state human service agency.
Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (VR)
Agency in each state that provides, funds and/or monitors employment services for individuals with disabilities. Priority is given to those with the most severe disabilities. Funded largely by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and by the state.
Voice Recognition
Computer software that allows people to control a computer using their voice rather than their hands. When used for computer data entry, referred to as speech recognition.
Web Accessibility
Tools to make online materials (including websites) usable by people with a range of disabilities.
Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit (WtW)
A federal income tax credit that encourages employers to hire long-term welfare recipients who begin work. The credit can reduce employers' federal tax liability by as much as $8,500 per new hire.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
A federal tax credit that encourages employers to hire eight targeted groups of job seekers, including some people with disabilities, the credit reduces employers' federal income tax liability by as much as $2,400 per qualified worker.
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)
A law that streamlines employment services and establishes One-stop Career Centers to serve all job seekers, including those with disabilities. WIA also includes legislation and regulation for a variety of other federally funded employment and training programs
Workforce Investment Board (WIB)
A state or local board, at least 50% employers, and the remainder designated state agencies and other interested parties, oversees One-stop Career Centers and other workforce development programs. WIBs are a provision of the Workforce Investment Act.
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Massachusetts-specific terms
Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
Massachusetts agency that operates regional employment boards, sets policy and administers programs to make the labor force competitive, well trained and responsive to the needs of state employers.
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
State agency responsible to investigate and adjudicate instances of discrimination, including workplace discrimination, and discrimination based upon disability.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
State agency responsible for vocational rehabilitation services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
State agency responsible services for people who are deaf or heard of hearing.
Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council (MDDC)
Provides opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families to enhance independence, productivity, integration and inclusion. Develops a State Plan every 5 years to address the most important issues.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
State Vocational Rehabilitation agency.
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