DB101.org provides free benefit information, is available in English and Spanish and exceeds all accessibility guidelines.

It is not a replacement for benefit counseling

Disability Benefits 101 Demonstration

• Are you an agency/entity/community partner that works with individuals living with disabilities who receive Social Security Benefits?
• Are you or your team often approached by individuals or their families with questions about SSI, SSDI, Medicaid or Medicare?

If so, contact the Coordinator of Employment Services at the NJCDD to set up a short demonstration of the major features of DB101, the free, highly accessible, disability benefit information website.

NJCDD Coordinator of Employment Services

Adam Kubler
adam.kubler@njcdd.org

How does Supported Employment work?  

In New Jersey, there are two entities that fund Supported Employment services. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services(DVRS)  and the Division of Developmental Disabilities(DDD). Once services are authorized by either of these entities a selected community organization provides services.

Per a Memorandum of Understanding between the agencies, DVRS is the primary funder of employment services.*  

*Regardless if an individual qualifies for DDD or not, they must exhaust employment support from DVRS before utilizing the DDD budget for employment purposes. Should an individual be determined as ineligible for DVRS, it is possible to utilize the DDD budget for primary supports.*

Pre Employment Transition Services

Pre-ETS offer students with disabilities an early start at career exploration and preparation for adult life. Beginning at age 14, students with disabilities can connect with DVRS for Pre-ETS. DVRS works with students, their families, their schools, and community partners to enrich transition planning and support students in gaining knowledge and experiences necessary for making informed decisions about one’s future. DVRS counselors from each field office are assigned to secondary schools to function as the liaison between the school and DVRS. Our counselors collaborate with child study teams and other school personnel regarding student transition plans, as well as to offer in-service trainings to school staff, students, and parents. Referral

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) 

Transition from School to Adult Life

Students receiving services through school are able to continue doing so through age 21. If you choose to graduate or leave school between the ages of 18 and 21, it is important to discuss service options with your school’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team and transition coordinator.

NJ DDD Planning For Adult Life

Planning for Adult Life is a statewide project funded by the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to assist young adults (between the ages of 16-21) with developmental disabilities and their families in charting a life course for adulthood. Informational sessions, webinars, and resource guides/materials will address the following core areas:

• Postsecondary Education/Employment
• Housing Legal/Financial Planning
• Self-Direction
• Health/Behavioral Health
• Building/Maintaining Community Ties & Friendships
• Planning/Visioning a Life Course

Project SEARCH NJ

Project SEARCH is a unique, business led, school-to-work vocational training and internship program that takes place entirely at a workplace. The program typically serves high school students over the course of their last year of school who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP); however, the program has also served out-of-school youth and young adults.

• Visit the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation website and select Project SEARCH near the bottom of the services listing.
• Project Search National Site 

One Stop

New Jersey’s One-Stop Career Centers offer the most services and provide the most direction for jobseekers. They are staffed with qualified employment counselors to provide guidance for jobseekers. Other services offered at these locations include:

• job search assistance
• training and education assistance
• specialized services
• on-site resource rooms (PCs, telephones, etc.)

State As a Model Employer

In January 2022, the State of New Jersey adopted legislation to develop and implement the “State as a Model Employer of People with Disabilities” (SAME) program. As New Jersey’s largest employer, the State should promote awareness of persons with disabilities as a valued employee resource, as well as work to attract, engage and retain persons with disabilities in the State workforce.

The goal of the SAME program is to increase the number of persons with disabilities in State government from 1.38% to at least 7% based on the goal established by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Job Accommodation Network

AN helps employers recognize the valuable contributions that qualified workers with disabilities add to the workforce by providing accommodation solutions, trusted strategies, and practical guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Job accommodations play a vital role in creating inclusive workplaces, advancing the goals of the ADA, and increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Schedule A Federal Employment

There are a lot of rules and regulations that govern the hiring process in Federal agencies.  Most of the time, an individual must go through a competitive process which is open to all applicants.  Selectees through this process are hired into the “Competitive Service”.

The Schedule A Hiring Authority for people with disabilities (Schedule A) is an exception to the traditional hiring process. Schedule A streamlines the hiring process for persons with disabilities and, in some instances, hiring officials may select solely from a list of qualified Schedule A applicants.