Freedom to Work Initiative is a United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Work Incentive Grant "Pilot Program'" specifically for the residents of Northeast Tennessee who have disabilities and are seeking employment.
To better serve its customers, the Freedom to Work Initiative has established an online presence at www.freedomtowork.org. Freedomtowork.org is an internet resource directory of local, state, and national information for Northeast Tennessee job seekers with disabilities and employers.
Freedom to Work Initiative's web site includes direct links and telephone numbers for job referrals, assistive technology, career resources, ADA guidelines, web accessibility, staff training, and facilities accommodations.
Freedom to Work Initiative is designed to address the needs of individuals with disabilities who wish to enhance their employability and career progression by utilizing services and referrals through eh Northeast Tennessee Career Center system in the counties of Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington, Tennessee.
Freedom to Work Initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of labor Employment and Training Administration Work Incentive Grant through the Alliance for Business and Training, Inc. (AB&T) of Elizabethton, Tennessee which is the administrative entity for the Northeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board.
Freedom to Work has
been charged with and will develop
comprehensive strategies that include the incorporation
of Strategic Partnership and Coalition Development, Enhanced Assistive and
Accessible Technologies, Freedom to Work Network Staff Positions, One-Stop
Career Center Staff Development and Leveraged Direct Services. FTW has the
commitment of the following partners and coalition members Northeast
Tennessee Workforce Investment Board (NETWIB) - Alliance for Business and
Training (AB&T) - One-Stop/Career Center partners - Tennessee Department of
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities - Tennessee
Council of Developmental Disabilities -Eastern Eight Community Development
- Frontier Health - Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee
-Johnson City Transit - Net Trans.
The program Freedom to Work supports the NETWIB's
objective of a model, seamless, comprehensive One-Stop Career Center system
that addresses the infrastructure inadequacies and programmatic barriers. A
welcoming, progressive, and enlightened environment will encourage the truly
universal use of the resources and services available through the Northeast
Tennessee Career Center system.
Who administrates the Freedom to Work Initiative?
The Freedom to Work Initiative is administrated by the Alliance for Business and Training know as AB&T who is the administrative entity for the Northeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board.
What is AB&T?
AB&T, Alliance for Business &
Training is a not for profit corporation with its headquarters located in
Elizabethton, Tennessee. In 1999, AB&T became affiliated with the Northeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board (NETWIB)
and through
partnership established with the Northeast Tennessee Career Center System, AB&T has
provided employment and training services to residents of the Tennessee
counties of Sullivan, Washington, Carter, Johnson and Uncoi.
AB&T’s mission is to create and
sustain a workforce development system which promotes Economic Development;
meets employer needs; is responsive to changing labor market demands; fosters
economic growth; and enhances participants’ skill levels. Due to a continuing
awareness process of studying labor market demands and partnerships with the
local business community, AB&T provides training and career development
designed to meet the needs of a constant changing workforce.
AB&T has provided employment and
training services to the residents and employers of Northeast Tennessee since
1984 and continues to strive for creative and innovative solutions to keep
Tennesseans and America employed. An excellent example of how AB&T’s
addresses Northeast Tennessee employment needs is the seeking and receiving
funds for the Freedom to Work Initiative, which is a United States Department
of Labor Employment and Training Work Incentive Grant. To contact AB&T please call 423
547.5715: Ext 108, TDD#423.610.0134
or Email:
info@ab-t.org.
What is
www.freedomtowork.org?
Freedomtowork.org is the official Web Site
of Freedom to Work Initiative. FTW’s website explains the services provided to
Northeast Tennessee residents and employers through the Freedom to Work
Initiative. Plus the web site has attempted to assist its viewers by simplify
on line resources for job seekers and employers who are or either would like to
hire individuals with disabilities.
Freedom to Work On line resources include where and how to fine a job, staff training and accessibility issues for employers, the advantages of using technology as assistive technology and to incorporate web accessibility into a business’s web site plus information on how to contact AB&T.
Who has benefited from Freedom to Work services?
Disable Veteran
A Disabled Veteran requested networking assistance from the Freedom to Work Initiative Network Specialist at the Northeast Tennessee Career Center in Johnson City, TN. Knowing that the Veteran had received treatment and counseling at the local Veteran's Administration Hospital, the Network Specialist referred him to the Career Center Employment/Resume Skills Workshops so he could learn new skills in securing and maintaining a job.
Once the Veteran completed the workshops, the FTW Network Specialist helped coordinate job search assistance with an established database of employers seeking qualified employers. These employers were aware of the advantage so hiring Disabled Veterans, plus the ease of using Federal Tax Credit Incentives.
Because of the join effort of the FTW Network Specialist's, the Northeast Tennessee Career Center, Veteran's Administration Hospital and local employers, this job seeker is currently employed as a Customer Service Representative full time earning $11.00 per hour with benefits.
Social Security Benefit Receiver
An Disabled Social Security Benefit Client was referred to the Freedom to Work Initiative Network Specialist at the Northeast Tennessee Career Center in Johnson City, TN by the Social Security Administration/Benefits Planned Assistant Organization (SSA/BPAO). The individual had a learning and mobility disability and was receiving SSA benefits, but was extremely interested in finding a job. Because of the local referral system established by the Freedom to Work Commission, the job seeker was referred to a local SSA Employment Network and received a Ticket to Work Voucher.
With the assistance of the Ticket to Work Voucher and the established FTW Network assisted her in developing workplace skills such as interviewing, resume development and job counseling she was successful in finding suitable employment after several job offers. The job seeker is currently employed and has been able to advance her employment goals through her association with the Freedom to Work Initiative and the Northeast Tennessee Career Center.
Services provided by Freedom to
Work and additional on line resources include:
Freedom to Work job seekers services for
Northeast Tennesseans include referrals to the partners of the Northeast
Tennessee One Stop Career Centers and information on employment services for
individuals with disabilities call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222, Ext: 220, TDD#:
423.610.0134
Web sites that can help you with local job openings are:
Search for job openings through Tennessee's Job Service; updated daily.
Kingsport TN Times News Employment Ads.
East Tennessee State University Jobs Bulletin.
Corporate Connections - 423.434.6613
University of Tennessee Center on Disability and Employment- advances universal access for people with disabilities in employment, education, and life
Web sites that can help you with state and government job openings are:
State of Tennessee Job Listings.
Federal Employment for People with Disabilities.
Social Security Ticket to Work Program.
Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Links.
Web sites that are general job banks are:
Job Links matches people with disabilities with employers who have open positions.
Web sites that can help you with work benefits information are:
Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach Project (BPA&O) assists and educates people on their SSI/SSDI and federal benefits, who want to return to work. To contact your local Benefits Counselor at the Benefits To Work call 1.888.839.5333.voice/TTY.
Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) provide legal and advocacy assistance to people, who are receiving SSI/SSDI and would like to return or begin work. To contact the Tennessee PABSS project call 1.800.342.1660.voice 1.800.611.0773.TTY.
Social Security Ticket to Work Program.
How to I qualify for Federal Selective placement programs.
Social Security Benefits and Supplemental Security Income information provided through Social Security Administration or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee.
Freedom to Work
Career Resource for
Northeast Tennesseans include information on local services which can offer
Career Resources for
individuals with disabilities call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222, Ext: 220, TDD#:
423.610.0134
Web sites with career resources are:
America's Career InfoNet helps people make better, more informed career decisions.
America's Service Locator provides a database of government service providers.
Web sites with disability related employment resources are:
Americans with Disabilities Act Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment
Disability Resources disseminates information for individuals with disabilities.
National study on people with disabilities who are self-employed.
Epilepsy Foundation of American Career Center.
WorkWORLD© is a free software for personal computers designed to help people with disabilities to understand how to best use the work incentives associated with the various Federal and State benefit programs.
US DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Institute for Community Inclusion.
Freedom to Work
Northeast Tennessee employer services include job order referrals, training on
hiring individuals with disabilities. information on work site accommodations
and guidance on Tax Incentives and Credits call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222, Ext: 220, TDD#:
423.610.0134.
Corporate Connections, 423 434.6613.
Web sites and resources with hiring assistance for Tennessee employers are:
Tennessee Work Opportunity Tax Credit- WOTC .
Tennessee
Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities.
Tennessee
Disability Resources.
Tennessee Department and Agency Employment.
Tennessee Department
of Labor and Workforce.
Web sites with national employer
hiring assistance resources are:
National Business & Disability Council.
ADA Business Connection, ADA Business-related documents.
Institute for Community Inclusion.
National Center on Workforce Disability training for employers.
United States Chamber of Commerce Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, ADA Workshops.
Internal Revenue Service, Earned Income Tax Credit.
.
United States Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.
United
States Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.
Freedom
to Work
staff training services for Northeast Tennessee Career Centers include
"At Your Service", Welcoming Customers with Disabilities and
assistive technology training call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222,
Ext: 220,
TDD#: 423.610.0134.
Web sites with staff training resources are:
National Center on Workforce Disability training for one-stop centers and employers
United States Department of Labor Communicating With and About People with Disabilities.
ADA Information Training Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Freedom to Work workplace accessibility services for Northeast Tennessee employers include information on workplace accommodations for physical facilities call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222, Ext: 220, TDD#: 423.610.0134.
Web sites with workplace accessibility resources are:
Department of Justice ADA Workplace Accessibility Regulations
ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities.
Freedom to Work technology services for Northeast
Tennesseans include information on electrical and mechanical technologies that
will assist individuals with disabilities to become employed call AB&T at
1.877.784.0222,
Ext: 220, TDD#: 423.610.0134.
Web sites with national technology resources are:
AbilityHub
is a resource on how to adaptive computers for assistive technology.
Freedom to Work assistive technology services for
Northeast Tennesseans and employers include information on assistive technology
call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222, Ext: 220, TDD#:
423.610.0134.
Web sites with Tennessee assistive technology resources are:
East
Tennessee Technology Access Center
Johnson City Transit System assistance with transportation.
Web sites with National assistive technology resources are:
Assistive Tech provides information on assistive technology devices and services.
Freedom to Work web accessibility services for Northeast
Tennessee Employers include information on disabilities requirements for a web
site call AB&T at 1.877.784.0222, Ext: 220, TDD#:
423.610.0134.
Web sites with National web accessibility resources
are:
Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines
Working Group (WCAG WG)
US
Access Board a resource on web access.
The Road to Accessibility,
Official Website for Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act.
Contact information for the Alliance for Business and
Training is
Phone:
423.547.7515 Ext 108
TDD#423.610.0134
Fax:
423.547.7527
Email:
info@ab-t.org
Address:
AB&T
Alliance for Business & Training, Inc
PO Box 249
386 Hwy 91
Elizabethton, TN, 37644
Contact information for the Northeast Tennessee Workforce
Investment Board
Phone: 423.547.5700 www.netwib.com
Additional On Line Resources for Disability Issues are:
Tennessee One-Stop Career Centers
Tennessee
Department of Labor & Workforce
Tennessee Department of Health
and Human Services
Tennessee
Department of Rehabilitative Services
US Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration
AB&T is a WIA Title 1-financially assisted program and activity and an equal opportunity Employer/Agency for employment and training services. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency.