Proyecto Vision Launched: First National Technical Assistance Center for U.S. Latinos with Disabilities
Disabled Latinos, members of the fastest growing U.S. population, face higher rates of unemployment and often have less education and, therefore fewer opportunities than other disabled Americans and non-disabled Latinos.
As an effort to improve this situation, the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has awarded the World Institute on Disability (WID), based in Oakland, California a five-year grant to establish the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities living in the USA.
Based on research that shows that most Americans obtain jobs and career advancement through access to informal networks, timely information and training opportunities, this project is the first national initiative established to connect disabled Latinos to these pathways to employment.
Project Goals and Activities
To be called Proyecto Vision (Project Vision), the Center will:
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connect disabled Latinos with employment services and related resources;
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work with government agencies and private organizations focusing on employment, education and technology, to increase their outreach to disabled Hispanics; and
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help Latino organizations to better serve their disabled community members.
To accomplish these goals, the project offers:
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bilingual technical assistance via a toll-free hotline,
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a bilingual website, newsletter and listserv,
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annual employment-centered trainings,
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and leadership development activities.
The project will also build a national Latino disability network based on the regional trainings, develop unique outreach activities designed with Telemundo and the national Hispanic Radio Network, and carry out an extensive translation program focused on employment related legislation and training opportunities.
Innovative Partnerships
According to Project Director Kathy Martinez, Deputy Director of WID, this initiative will enable us to build innovative partnerships between the national Latino business and cultural communities, government agencies, and the disability community. She pointed out that, "Typically, disabled Latinos do not access critical opportunities that lead to employment, such as internships, scholarships and professional networks. By bringing together stakeholders in the Latino, disability, business and employment service communities, this project will address these disparities and help to even the playing field for Latinos with disabilities as they prepare to enter or advance in the workforce."
Hispanic Community Partners
Raul Yzaguirre, President of the National Council of La Raza, stated, "Our community-based organizations have told us that they have many clients who are Latinos with disabilities who are eager to work and contribute, but who lack the opportunity. This project provides an exciting and innovative approach to tapping into this underutilized resource within our community."
Other leading community partners in this project include the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Telemundo and the Hispanic Radio Network.
Disability Community Partners
This project was designed by the World Institute on Disability in close partnership with:
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the Central Coast Center for Independent Living, based in Salinas, California, which specializes in services to disabled agricultural and migrant workers;
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the Harlem Independent Living Center, which provides bilingual services in the inner city;
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the Southwestern Regional Disability Business Technical Assistance Center, based in Houston, Texas and serving a large Latino population;
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and the InterAmerican Institute on Disability, based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, providing policy guidance and bilingual information services.
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Rehabilitation International will also be providing technical assistance on communication and public education activities.
First Meetings of Partners Held
In January 2002, the first face to face meeting of the participating disability organizations was held at the World Institute on Disability in Oakland. The meeting enabled the project staff, composed of Latinos of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Brazilian, Native American and Central American heritage to talk through how they were going to address the priorities of the project and to begin planning its first training conference, to take place late summer in Northern California, site and dates still under discussion.
A subsequent meeting in February was held at WID with an officer of Telemundo to explore ways the disability community could conduct outreach to the Hispanic community about the project and its key events.
New Website
The Proyecto Vision website features news and resources in Spanish and English about employment services such as job banks and resume writing, job listings, employment success stories, assistive technology and worksite accommodation, employment initiatives of government agencies and service providers, related legislation, and articles about transition from school to work. The website was launched in February: www.proyectovision.net
Other Project Opportunities
In addition to two new staff positions based at WID, the project will identify and develop emerging Latino disabled leaders, including project reporters who will produce articles for the bilingual website and newsletter. Other disabled Latinos will be trained to conduct disability awareness presentations and information sessions about legislation, employment and disability to a wide variety of Latino organizations and businesses.
Related WID Activities
Currently, WID operates the Center on Economic Development and Disability that provides training and technical assistance on employment related legislation, including The Ticket To Work Incentives Improvement Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. WID also partners in The Informational Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center whose goal is to inform industry, government and consumers about new laws that will make technology more accessible to all members of society.
Advisory Board
Proyecto Vision is also working in close collaboration with the Rehabilitation Services Administration team to develop a project advisory board of Latino leaders and to introduce the project to business and employment initiatives across the country.
Collaboration Invited
We welcome collaboration from all interested organizations and individuals. If you have news, success stories, job leads, upcoming conferences, training opportunities, employment resources or information about assistive technology, please send in either English or Spanish via email to the Proyecto Vision editor, Rosangela Berman Bieler: projvision@aol.com
To suggest specific collaboration or for other details, contact the project director, Kathy Martinez, phone 510 251 4326 or email Kathy@wid.org
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