Support Transition of Youth with Disabilities

TASH Members and Supporters

We’re asking you to join us in contacting members of congress to encourage them to co-sponsor the Transitioning toward Excellence, Achievement and Mobility (TEAM) legislation, a package of legislation that includes the TEAM Education Act (H.R. 602), TEAM Empowerment Act (H.R. 603) and TEAM Employment Act (H.R. 604)

The TEAM legislation, if enacted, will promote meaningful post-secondary educational and employment opportunities for individuals living with intellectual disabilities. The goal of the legislation is for persons with disabilities to gain full-time employment in an integrated setting at a livable wage, leading to greater independence and inclusion in the community.

1) Please review the “Dear Colleague” letter below from Rep. Harper, the TEAM legislation’s sponsor.

2) Contact your U.S. Representative and urge them to co-sponsor this legislation

Contacting Your Representative

Online: find a representative in your state and click on their contact form to submit your letter. In your letter, identify yourself as a constituent and urge your senator/representative to “Please support the Transitioning toward Excellence, Achievement and Mobility (TEAM) legislation (H.R. 602, 603, 604).”

Phone: call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative’s office. Once connected, ask to speak with an office aide who handles employment issues. Identify yourself and ask the aide to “Please tell Representative (NAME) that I support the Transitioning toward Excellence, Achievement and Mobility (TEAM) legislation (H.R. 602, 603, 604).”

For additional background, please see this alert from the Collarboration to Promote Self-Determination

The following letter was sent to members of congress from Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss:

Support Effective Transition Of Youth With Significant Disabilities To Adulthood Through Education, Empowerment And Employment

 Cosponsor the Transitioning towards Excellence, Achievement and Mobility Legislation of 2011

 Dear Colleague,

Children living with intellectual disabilities deserve the same opportunities to experience life as every kid does. 

The Transitioning towards Excellence, Achievement and Mobility legislation, collectively referred to as the TEAM Act, seeks to promote meaningful post-secondary educational and employment opportunities for individuals living with intellectual disabilities. This proposal aims for these citizens to gain full-time employment in an integrated setting at a livable wage leading to long-term career development and inclusion in the community through independent living and social engagement.

The “TEAM-Education Act of 2011” (H.R. 602) ensures that schools are provided guidance and modest additional resources to engage transition coordinators to proactively assist America’s disabled children during their years in the public school system. 

The “TEAM-Empowerment Act of 2011” (H.R. 603) creates an adult transition planning process and system of supports for youth and their families under the supervision of state intellectual and developmental disability agencies. This plan declares that youth can choose an adviser to work with them, whether they would like to advance their education or join the workforce. 

The “TEAM-Employment Act of 2011” (H.R. 604) seeks to stimulate a national system-change, which will establish that agencies coordinate services better to produce the desired outcomes of integrated living and employment. This includes rewarding those states who reshape the focus of their current funding streams to promote those services that lead to getting our youngsters fully participating in the community through the general workforce and economic mainstream. 

Each of the three bills would strengthen accountability, clarify expectations, expand flexibility and align systems to ensure that publically-funded assistance is effectively utilized. When state education, vocational rehabilitation, workforce development, Medicaid, and other public agencies work closely together early to support and promote the growth and development of youth with significant disabilities, individuals benefit from the synergistic coordination of supports and are able to achieve better outcomes.

I encourage you to join me in supporting youth with significant disabilities by co-sponsoring H.R. 602, H.R. 603, and H.R. 604 (TEAM Act).

 

Sincerely,
Gregg Harper
Member of Congress