One-page briefs · Print-ready
Publications library
Downloadable one-page policy briefs across all eight focus areas. Plain language. Every claim cited. Section 508 conformant PDFs and accessible HTML. Handouts for state teams, agency staff, employer partners, and legislative briefings.
Cited briefs, ready to file
Focus 04 · ABLE
Financial security through the ABLE Act
Adults with disabilities can save without losing SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid. State policy can move take-up.
0.41%
Median take-up
3.04%
Nebraska top state
+0.73pp
Employment gain
+8.11%
Wage gain
The Policy Problem
2014 ABLE Act allows tax-advantaged savings for people with disabilities. Median state take-up at 0.41%. Nebraska reaches 3.04% through employer matching and benefits counselor training.
Recommended Actions
Adopt ABLE Employer Match Enabling Act. Fund benefits counselor training. Employer outreach through state chambers.
Focus 04 · ABLE
Financial Security through the ABLE Act
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Focus 06 · Mental Health
Mental Health-Friendly Workplaces
Mental health drives the largest share of SSDI claims. Recovery-Ready reduces turnover.
33%
SSDI mental health
18%
Employers ready
4:1
Program ROI
21%
Adult prevalence
The Policy Problem
Mental health drives 33% of SSDI awards. Only 18% of employers have formal MH programs. Gap costs states and employers.
Recommended Actions
Adopt EARN Mental Health Toolkit as state HR standard. Fund SAMHSA Recovery-Ready certification pilot. State plus MHPAEA enforcement.
Focus 06 · Mental Health
Mental Health-Friendly Workplaces
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Focus 07 · Employment Supports
The Accommodation Reality Check
Employers overestimate accommodation costs by an order of magnitude.
56%
Cost $0
$500
Median paid
10:1
Accommodation ROI
3.5×
Retention gain
The Policy Problem
HR teams routinely overestimate accommodation cost by 10x. Discourages hiring and drives complaints. JAN publishes real data since 1993.
Recommended Actions
Statewide HR manager training pipeline. Interactive JAN data layer in state HR portal. Model State Employer 7% executive order.
Focus 07 · Employment Supports
The Accommodation Reality Check
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Focus 08 · State as Employer
State Government as a Model Employer
Where states lead, private employers follow. Five states already meet the federal 7% goal.
7%
Federal goal
5
States meet goal
5.1%
National average
8.9%
MA (top state)
The Policy Problem
State governments employ 5M people. Only 5 states meet federal 7% goal. Signaling effect on private employers.
Recommended Actions
Governor Executive Order setting agency scorecards. Chief Accessibility Officer role (SES-level). Quarterly transparency report.
Focus 08 · State as Employer
State Government as a Model Employer
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Focus 01 · Education to Workforce
Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment
CTE and apprenticeship pathways beat college-only routes for workers with disabilities.
37%
CIE outcome
2.1%
Apprentice access
58%
CTE placement
4.6M
Transition youth
The Policy Problem
Only 37% of RSA-911 clients reach CIE. Apprenticeship access rate for youth with disabilities: 2.1%. Gap widens post-graduation.
Recommended Actions
Registered apprenticeship access budget rider (10% reserve). Pre-apprenticeship expansion in Grades 11-12. WIOA CIE emphasis.
Focus 01 · Education to Workforce
Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment
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Focus 02 · AI, AT, VR
Inclusive AI at Work
AI literacy for state agency staff. Adaptive learning for VR clients.
12
Academy courses
4
Cert levels
800+
O*NET occupations
100%
508 conformant
The Policy Problem
State VR agencies adopting AI without governance framework. DOL AI Literacy Framework provides direction. Alignment needed.
Recommended Actions
AI governance policy for VR agencies. Staff certification pipeline via AI Academy. PEAT accessible-tech alignment.
Focus 02 · AI, AT, VR
Inclusive AI at Work
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Focus 05 · Stay-at-Work
Return-to-Work through RETAIN
14-day early intervention: strongest predictor of successful return-to-work.
+12pp
Retention gain
3.5:1
ROI ratio
14 d
Contact rule
$18K
Turnover cost
The Policy Problem
Injured workers exit to SSDI when RTW could have kept them employed. Fiscal cost to state Medicaid + payroll tax loss.
Recommended Actions
Statewide RTW Coordinator rule (1 per 500K labor force). 14-day contact standard. Cross-agency MOU (BWC, WFB, DVR).
Focus 05 · Stay-at-Work
Return-to-Work through RETAIN
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Focus 03 · Entrepreneurship
Self-Employment That Keeps Benefits
Adults with disabilities are self-employed at above-average rates. PASS + ABLE + SBA opens the runway.
10.6%
PWD self-employ rate
$210M
SBA disability lending
$34,830
ABLE-to-Work max
1,800
Active PASS plans
The Policy Problem
PWD self-employ rate 10.6%. But benefits interaction blocks many prospective entrepreneurs. Systemic barrier.
Recommended Actions
State-level WIPA hub coordination. SBA Microloan disability designation. ABLE-to-Work outreach for entrepreneurs.
Focus 03 · Entrepreneurship
Self-Employment That Keeps Benefits
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Every brief ships in three formats. Print-ready PDF, accessible HTML, and editable Word. Each has an accessibility statement page and complete source citations at the end. Formats generated automatically through our Policy Product Publication Pipeline.