Disabled Latinos 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) 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 United States. The project is now supported by a mix of funding from public and private sources.

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

Proyecto Visión is:

1. connecting disabled Latinos with employment services and related resources;
2. working with government agencies and private organizations focusing on employment, education and technology, to increase their outreach to disabled Latinos; and
3. helping Latino organizations to better serve their disabled community members.

To accomplish these goals, the project offers:

• bilingual technical assistance via a toll-free hotline;
• a bilingual Web site, newsletter and listserv;
• annual employment-centered conference/training; and,
• leadership development activities.

The project is also building a national Latino disability network based on the regional trainings, developing unique outreach activities with Spanish-language media, and carrying out an extensive translation program focused on employment related legislation and training opportunities.

Innovative Partnerships

According to Project Director Kathy Martinez, Executive Director of WID, "This initiative enables us to build innovative partnerships between the national Latino business and cultural communities, government agencies, and the disability community. 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 is addressing these disparities and helping to even the playing field for Latinos with disabilities as they prepare to enter or advance in the workforce."

Latino Community Partners

Raul Yzaguirre, past President of the National Council of La Raza, stated, "Our community-based organizations told us they have many disabled Latino clients who are eager to work and contribute, but lack the opportunity. This project provides an exciting approach to tapping into this underutilized resource within our community."

Other leading community partners in this project include the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and League of United Latin American Citizens.

Disability Community Partners

This project was designed by the World Institute on Disability in close partnership with:

• Access Living, Chicago, IL
• Best Buddies Jobs, Miami, FL
• Central Coast Center for Independent Living, Salinas, CA
• Harlem Independent Living Center, Harlem, NY
• Independent Living Research Utilization, Houston, TX
• Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
• Rehabilitation International, New York, NY
• Westside Center for Independent Living, Los Angeles, CA

Technical Assistance Hotline

Our hotline operators have served hundreds of people providing answers to a wide variety of employment and benefits inquiries. Technical assistance specialists are available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to receive calls.

The Technical Assistance Hotline at 866-EMPLEO-1 (1-866-367-5361) can help you:

• obtain information about rehabilitation, training and employment services, and resources for people with disabilities;
• get information about employment services offered by the Latino community;
• find up-to-date job leads;
• find out about upcoming conferences on employment;
• obtain information about qualified job-seekers who are Latinos with disabilities;
• get connected with selected role models who have disabilities and who currently hold jobs;
• obtain information about employment-related disability rights legislation;
• get information about assistive technology and how to fund it; and,
• obtain information about Proyecto Visión activities.

Web site www.proyectovision.net

The Proyecto Visión Web site features information in Spanish and English about employment services and resources such as job banks, resume writing, employment success stories, assistive technology and worksite accommodation. There also is news about employment initiatives of government agencies and service providers, legislation, and articles about the transition from school to work. New information is added to the Web site bimonthly.

Annual Training Conference

Each year Proyecto Visión hosts an employment-centered training conference in which disabled Latinos participate in hands-on workshops covering topics such as interview skills, self-assessment for employment, and transitions from benefits to work.

Developing Leadership

The project is identifying disabled Latinos around the country to be paid for reports of events and success stories from their regions. In addition, Proyecto Visión has begun work to identify and train emerging Latino disabled leaders. These individuals will conduct disability awareness presentations and information sessions about legislation, employment and disability to a wide variety of Latino organizations and businesses.

Advisory Board

Proyecto Visión works in close collaboration with the Rehabilitation Services Administration team and the project advisory board of Latino leaders 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, employment resources, information on assistive technology or know of an upcoming conference or training opportunity, please send material in English or Spanish to the Proyecto Visión editor, Gabriel Many at gabriel@wid.org. To suggest specific collaboration or ideas, contact the project director Kathy Martinez at (510) 251-4326 or Kathy@wid.org.