Welcome to our September 2025 newsletter!
Bringing you disability-related research, policy, events, training, consultation, and more.
September 2025 Highlights
Training for professionals who support individuals with disabilities seeking competitive integrated employment is now on offer from YTI’s new Disability Workforce Development Center. The Center’s flagship course, Basic Level in Employment Services Certificate Training, has been approved by the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE). This 40-hour course is fully remote and asynchronous, to help participants fit it into their schedules and benefit from new knowledge and practical skills right away. The Center will also offer a library of on-demand webinars, several in-person bootcamps, and the opportunity for organizations to work with Center staff to create custom classes.
Have you met Spike? He’s a popular character in an animated series about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) from the Northeast ADA Center! Fun for all, but aimed at children in kindergarten through fifth grade, the ADA Animated School Series follows Spike and his friends as they as they explore key concepts of the ADA and how it supports access and participation in the community. Topics include service animals, adaptive sports, video gaming, communication, and technology for people with disabilities. A short curriculum and activity guide is available for each topic, to help educators and parents teach the next generation about disability.
The Transition Planning Checklist from the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) for Transition is a practical tool that can help students with disabilities, families, and educators track progress toward goals and stay organized as they plan for life after high school. TAP for Transition helps students prepare for life after high school by offering professional development, individualized and systems-level coaching, and resources grounded in evidence-based, culturally responsive, student-centered practices.
As part of TAP for Transition, YTI provides support to schools and districts, students, and families throughout New York State to strengthen transition planning for students with disabilities. With tools like the Checklist, YTI aims to make transition planning clear, collaborative, and centered on the unique strengths and aspirations of each student.
Upcoming Events
Disability Disclosure and the Interactive Process
October 14, 2025, 1:00–2:15 PM EDT
Free webinar from the Northeast ADA Center
Can an employer ask a job applicant or employee if they have a disability? How do I best support a job seeker or employee in making the best choice about disclosing a disability? What does the ADA mean by “the interactive process?” A job application invites applicants to “self-identify” as having a disability – what does this mean? This session will review not only what the ADA says about disability disclosure in the workplace, but also the very real human impact of disclosure.
Register for the free webinar about the ADA and disclosure
Disability Rights Employment Awareness Month (DREAM) Symposium
October 28–29, 2025
Empire State Plaza Concourse, 100 S. Mall Arterial, Albany, NY
Sponsored by Governor Hochul’s Office of the Chief Disability Officer, in partnership with essential New York State agencies, the two-day Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM) Symposium will acknowledge the rights that people with disabilities are entitled to, celebrate the extreme value that disabled New Yorkers bring to the workforce, and assist in matching prospective qualified candidates with employers.
Register for the free DREAM Symposium
When the Employer Requests Documentation of Disability
November 15, 1:00–2:15 PM EST
Free webinar from the Northeast ADA Center
The ADA states that employers may request medical documentation as verification of disability, as long as it is “job-related and consistent with business necessity,” but what exactly does this mean? What are the guidelines for these requests? Who can provide this information and what should it say? This presentation will answer these questions and provide real-life examples to help you understand this important topic.
Register for the free webinar about documentation
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