Breadcrumb Trail
Session D: The Sylvia Geoghegan Presidential Employ Ability Right Now (EARN) Program (Tentative)
- Date and Time
- Wednesday, April 23, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Presenters
-
- Stephanie Patterson (Assistant to the ADA Coordinator; Disability Support Services; Stony Brook University)
- Description
The Sylvia Geoghegan Presidential Employ Ability Right Now (EARN) Program has increased the employment of people with disabilities at Stony Brook University (SBU) on Long Island in New York. By providing financial incentives and support services to hiring administrators, the EARN program matches campus job opportunities with qualified candidates with disabilities. EARN was developed through close collaboration between SBU and the New York State Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID). SBU and VESID share the funding of the new employees' first three months salary: VESID provides up to 160hours (approx. one month) and the University President provides up to 320 hours (approx. two months) of salary support. A win-win initiative, EARN offers managers the chance to work with qualified people from an underutilized talent pool.
This presentation will chronicle the history of the program, explain in detail the steps necessary for initiation and maintenance, review the team approach and identify specific roles of involved departments/professionals. Actual cases will be used to illustrate models of success. In addition, still existing barriers will be discussed.