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CHAPTER 10
EDUCATION
CHAPTER 10
EDUCATION
A.
INTRODUCTION
B. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - WHAT TO LOOK FOR
C.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - WHITEWATER
D.
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
E.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
F.
ADULT EDUCATION - ABE, GED, ESL
G.
SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND MAINSTREAMING
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OTHER PROGRAMS
H. DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (DVR)
I.
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA)
195
EDUCATION
A. INTRODUCTION
Today's adults, whether disabled or non-disabled, have
more education opportunities than ever before. They partici-
pate in education programs for a variety of reasons: for self-
growth and personal satisfaction, to increase the respect of
family members, to have more opportunity for job advancement,
to get an increase in pay, and as a means of getting involved
in the community.
This chapter will explain the general types of programs
available in the Milwaukee area. It will also discuss the
things a disabled person should consider when selecting a
school to attend.
197
B.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Making the right choice of a college or university is a
difficult task. There are many things to consider, even for
those who do not have a disability. Some of the decisions that
must be made are:
1.
geographic location
2.
resident or commuter
3.
cost and financial assistance
4.
type of academic programs available
5.
employment opportunities while attending school
6.
social incentives
If you have a disability, there are other factors that
must go into your choice of a school. A school is similar to
your home; whatever support services are available at home
must be available at school. Some of the general things that
must be considered are:
1.
Is the campus free of architectural barriers?
2.
Is there an attendant care program on campus?
3.
Is there a disabled students organization?
4.
Is there adequate transportation available?
5.
Are there resources for the visually impaired?
6.
Are there resources for the hearing impaired?
7.
Is there a special office for disabled students that can
help with financial aid, counseling, volunteer assistance,
note-taking, etc. ?
8.
Is there a wheelchair repair service?
9.
Is there a recreation/leisure program that meets the needs
of disabled students?
10.
Are there vocational counseling and job placement services
that consider the special needs of disabled students?
198
These questions have been provided to make you aware of
your own special needs. When choosing a college or university
to attend, whether it is in-state or out-of-state, be sure to
ask questions, and get definite answers. Doing SO ahead of
time will help you avoid problems during your college career.
For a list of the colleges and universities in the Mil-
waukee area, see "Schools - Colleges & Universities (academic)"
in the Yellow Pages.
C.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - WHITEWATER
The University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, located in South-
eastern Wisconsin, is less than a half hour's drive from
Milwaukee. It is specially mentioned here because it is designed
to encourage disabled students to participate in all facets
of their undergraduate and graduate programs. However, the
major emphasis is on the role of the student.
Although the disabled student is responsible for his
own academic and personal program, the Rehabilitation-Education
Services program will work with the student to help develop the
necessary resources to accommodate his/her disability.
A pre-enrollment evaluation is strongly encouraged to
ensure that the necessary support services are available.
This is generally done the semester before admission.
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
Some of the services offered at Whitewater are:
1. Career counseling
2. Tutorial services; individual and group tutoring
sessions are offered in most subject areas and
generally free of charge
3. Advising
4. Financial aid
5. Learning skills center; provides assistance to increase
reading, writing and math skills. This is offered
as a credit course.
6.
Placement offices; assists students with job placement
after graduation.
7. Speech and Hearing Clinic; offers free hearing
evaluations and speech therapy.
199
SPECIALIZED SERVICES
Whitewater offers a wide variety of services for the
severely disabled student in order to assist them to success-
fully participate in University life. Among these services
are:
1.
Transportation; a weekly fee is charged
2. Wheelchair repair and maintenance service; there is
a charge for the needed parts.
3.
Taped textbooks, braille and large print services
are available for the visually impaired; there is
a charge for some methods of reproducing textbooks.
4.
Reader services; this is sometimes done by volunteers
and therefore, helps to eliminate any charges.
5. Attendant care for hire; assistance will be provided
with attendant recruitment and training (for students
who complete the on-campus evaluation)
6. Mobility orientation for the visually impaired
7. Assistance in applying for financial aid.
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND FUNCTIONAL TRAINING
Services offered in these areas are:
1. Special testing available to the visually impaired,
learning disabled and those students with severe
motor impairments with difficulty in writing.
2. Training is available in dressing, showering, groom-
ing, wheelchair transfer and general wheelchair
handling skills.
3. Consultation on prosthetic/orthotic needs as well
as adaptive equipment.
4. Attendant Care Training.
ACCESSIBILITY
All major academic areas and programs are designed to
provide maximum accessibility, including curb cuts, ramps,
elevators, automatic doors, etc.
200
HOUSING
Wells Hall is a University-owned residence hall with full
accessibility for the disabled student. All the University halls
are open to disabled students if they do not require any special
modifications.
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
A wide variety of recreational activities are available
for the disabled student including swimming, bowling, basket-
ball, track and field, table tennis and canoeing.
For more information on the admissions procedures and the
above listed programs, contact:
UW-Whitewater
Baker Hall
Admissions Office
Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190
D.
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Accessibility, cost, location, and whether special
services are available for disabled students must also be con-
sidered when choosing a training program to attend. Compared
to a university, the completion of a training program leads
more directly into employment. So, career choice is a major
consideration to keep in mind. When selecting a school, its
overall credibility should be checked, as well as its job place-
ment rate for students who complete a particular program.
An important source of occupational information is
available at the downtown library. It is a two-volume study
entitled the "Wisconsin Career Information System" and it
provides thorough occupational information both county- and
state-wide. For over 600 occupations, there is a job descrip-
tion as well as workers' opinions on the advantages and dis-
advantages of that occupation. The study also describes the
methods of entry into the job, such as experience, apprentice-
ship, degree, and the recommended or required courses for the
training program. Finally, it discusses opportunities for
advancement, provides salary information, and presents the
current and long-range employment outlook for the occupation.
This text, along with many other sources of information, is
available at:
278-3000
MILWAUKEE CENTRAL LIBRARY
814 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
For information on a particular training program, call
the school that offers it. See "Schools" in the Yellow Pages.
201
E.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
A community education class or continuing education
class is offered for one main reason: because a group of
people have expressed interest in learning about a particular
subject. The emphasis in community or continuing education is
not on what people "should" learn, but on what people "want"
to learn.
Milwaukee is a community-oriented city. There are
numerous community education programs with classes and facilities
in neighborhoods. They are there for you to participate in.
A list of all the programs available would be incomplete,
because many programs are seasonal. Also, the programs that
are offered change often.
The best way to find out what community education classes
are available is to get on a mailing list. The YMCA and YWCA
are good places to start. Another would be your local church,
school, or parish. These institutions publicize special
events and educational opportunities through bulletins and
flyers. If there is a block club where you live, they might
have information. Or, there might be a community health center
that serves your neighborhood and that offers interesting
education/outreach programs. Check your local supermarket's
bulletin board, too.
Following are major educational institutions in Milwaukee
that offer community education or continuing education classes.
Call them and get on their mailing lists.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EXTENSION
963-5925 Continuing Education
MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Admissions & Registration Information
278-6370 Day School
278-6686 Evening School
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Municipal Recreation & Community Education
475-8190 Adult Classes
475-8193 Programs for Exceptional Education Students
& Disabled Adults
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
224-7345 Continuing Education
202
F.
ADULT EDUCATION
"Adult basic education" is a general term for education
programs for people over seventeen years of age who read at
the eighth grade level or below. These programs focus on the
development of basic reading and math skills. "GED programs"
help adults prepare for the GED tests.
"GED" stands for General Educational Development, and a
person who takes and passes the GED test earns his High School
Equivalency Diploma. This diploma is as acceptable as a regular
high school diploma in meeting the requirements for a job, or
for admission to a college or technical training program.
There are five tests that make up the GED, and they are given
in the following order:
1.
Writing Skills (english grammar)
2.
Social Studies
3.
Natural Science
4.
Reading Skills
5.
Mathematics
The cost to take the GED test is $10, and pre-registra-
tion is required. For more information about where and when
the GED test is given and how to sign up for it, call:
278-6233 MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Counseling Center
A person who fails any of the five tests must wait 90
days before taking it again. The retest fee is $2 per test.
Special arrangements can be made to take the test in Spanish,
to take it on tape, or to have assistance in recording the
answers on the answer sheet. The test may not, however, be
read to a person.
Passing the GED test can be the first step toward getting
into a technical training program, getting a pay raise, or find-
ing a more challenging job. Without the High School Equivalency
Diploma these opportunities might not be available and so,
for a disabled or non-disabled person, not having this diploma
can be a "handicap" in itself.
A person is not required to attend classes before taking
the GED test. Instead, he can buy GED practice books at many
area bookstores and study for the test on his own. However,
for those who prefer to attend classes, there are a variety of
programs in Milwaukee. Classes are held in the daytime and in
the evening.
Some classes meet every day, and others just
once a week. Besides the usual classroom setting for instruction,
GED preparation is offered on TV Channel 10/36 through Milwaukee
203
Area Technical College. This method of study would be
especially suitable for a homebound person. Some programs
require attendance on a term-by-term basis; others allow stu-
dents to enter or drop out of classes at any time.
Adult basic education classes are for the purpose of
improving an adult's reading and math skills. This area of
adult education also includes "literacy training", or
learning how to read. Every effort is made in adult basic
education classes to meet a student's individual learning
needs. Generally, instruction is provided to small groups of
students who are at a similar reading level.
"ESL" refers to English as a Second Language, and ESL
classes are a part of many basic education programs in Milwaukee.
These classes are for people who are non-English speaking or
limited in their use of English, and who want to improve their
conversational, reading, and/or writing skills in English.
Presently, there are 22 different organizations in the
Milwaukee area that offer adult education programs. Basic
Education for Adults: A Resource Directory for Southeastern
Wisconsin describes these programs. The booklet 1S available
free of charge by contacting:
963-4934 EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING INSTITUTE
UW-M Enderis Hall
P. 0. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201
This booklet is also available for use at SEWCIL. It can
help a person decide on the best classes to attend, based on
the cost (if any) , hours, and location. The booklet also states
whether the building the program is located in is accessible.
G.
SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND MAINSTREAMING
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Milwaukee Public Schools (M.P.S.) divides its program-
ming into two major areas: general services and exceptional
education programs. The exceptional education programs are:
1.
autistic program
2.
deaf & hard of hearing
3.
generic early childhood
4.
emotionally disturbed
5.
home & hospital
6.
learning disabilities
204
7.
physically handicapped
8.
mentally retarded
9.
school age parents
10.
speech and language disabilities
11.
visually handicapped
These exceptional education programs are located at various
elementary, middle, and high schools in Milwaukee. For specific
school locations of the above programs, contact:
799-1122 M.P.S. INFORMATION CENTER
For more information on the preceding exceptional education
programs at M.P.S., contact:
475-8783 M.P.S.
Exceptional Education
The amount of time that an M.P.S. student spends in an
exceptional education program depends on the individual's needs
and the severity of the disability. In those areas where a
disabled student can successfully function with peers in the
regular school program, the student is encouraged to do so.
This practice of including disabled children in regular class-
rooms whenever appropriate is called "mainstreaming".
When parents or a teacher, doctor, social worker, or other
professional suspect that a child might have an exceptional
education need, this is reported to the child's local school or
to the school district. With the parents' consent, the child
is then referred to an M-Team (Multidisciplinary Team) for
evaluation. The M-Team is made up of professionals such as a
special education teacher, reading specialist, speech/language
therapist, psychologist, regular classroom teacher, and social
worker. This M-Team identifies the specific needs of the child
and then develops an appropriate education plan for that child.
This plan is called an I.E.P. (Individualized Education Program)
and spells out in detail how and where special services will be
given to a student. It must be approved by the student's
parents.
OTHER PROGRAMS
258-8150 WAUWATOSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
7420 W. State Street
SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
744-0136
ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL FOR
3680 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue
THE DEAF
St. Francis, WI 53207
205
This private education program serves children 3 to 19 years of
age who are deaf or severely hearing impaired. Its financial
support comes from tuition, contributions and fund raising
events.
257-6793 CHILD FIND
2930 S. Root River Parkway
Milwaukee, WI 53219
This private non-profit organization will work with the
parents or significant others and their disabled children in
relation to finding appropriate services, e.g. school and reha-
bilitation programs, etc.
In addition, when you have specific questions concerning
school programs for disabled children please refer to your
community's school listing and ask for information regarding
Special or Exceptional Education Programs. Refer to them in
either the white or yellow pages (listed under Schools). .
H.
DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (DVR)
The Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
provides financial and material assistance for a disabled indi-
vidual to attend an education or vocational training program,
provided that the program will contribute to a person's employ-
ability.
For an explanation of DVR's services, see Section D of
Chapter 4 or Section B of Chapter 11.
I.
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA)
Persons who have served in the military may be eligible
for educational assistance through the Veterans Administration
Eligibility and the amount of benefits depend on when the person
served, for how long and the level of enrollment in school
full-time, half-time). The VA also provides vocational
and educational counseling. Other VA programs that are related
to education include:
1.
Loans - eligible veterans may also receive loans for college
or other vocational training programs. The loans must
be repaid with interest and are based on financial need.
2.
Vocational Rehabilitation - Vocational rehabilitation
services are available to eligible veterans who have a
service connected disability. The veteran will be pro-
vided with vocational counseling and financial assistance
with education or vocational training.
3.
Work-Study - Some work-study positions are available
through the VA for veterans who enroll in education pro-
grams. Those who have a disability are given preference.
206
4.
Benefits for Spouses and Children - The spouses and
children of totally disabled veterans are eligible for
financial assistance. These benefits usually are avail-
able for education beyond the high school level only.
It should be noted that, for the above programs, future revisions
in the Federal budget might affect a veteran's eligibility for
these benefits.
Booklets with more detailed information about the benefits
are available from the VA. For more information, contact:
278-8680 VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
342 North Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
For a general description of the Veterans Administration,
see Part A of Chapter 4, "Financial Assistance".
207
CHAPTER 11
EMPLOYMENT
CHAPTER 11
EMPLOYMENT
A. LEGISLATION
B. THE ROLE OF DVR IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED
C. JOB SERVICE
D. EFFECTS WORKING CAN HAVE ON BENIFITS YOU RECEIVE
E.
WORKING AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENIFITS
F. THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN GOING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW
G.
VOLUNTEERING
211
EMPLOYMENT
A. LEGISLATION
You are disabled, qualified, and in need of a job.
Looking for work is not an easy task for anybody. Certainly,
the difficulties can be compounded if you are disabled. How-
ever, affirmative action and non-discrimination programs
exist today for the purpose of making it easier for you to
get a job. Being aware of these programs will not be a "free
ticket" to a job, but they might make it less difficult for
you to obtain employment.
There are three programs covering the employment of
disabled people. Nation-wide, they cover thousands of employ-
ers.
Section 503: Every employer doing business with the
Federal government under a contract for more than $2, ,500 must
take "affirmative action" to hire the disabled. Contracts
may be for the acquisition of supplies or services, or for
the use of real estate or personal property.
Affirmative Action involves more than encouraging employ-
ers to hire more disabled people. It also covers job assign-
ments, promotions, training, transfers, working conditions,
terminations, and other work-related arrangements. Affirmative
Action also involves encouraging more disabled people to enter
the work force.
Section 504: Each institution in the USA getting Federal
financial assistance must take steps to assure that the disabled
are not discriminated against in employment. Included are:
schools, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, social service
agencies, and many more kinds of institutions and establish-
ments.
Section 503 calls for "affirmative action". Section 504
calls for "non-discrimination" In practice, there is little
difference in how they affect the disabled in employment.
Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act: Any
employer with a Federal government contract of $10,000 or more
must take "affirmative action" to hire disabled veterans of
all wars, and all veterans of the Vietnam Era.
Here,also, Affirmative Action applies not only to hiring,
but to all other personnel actions as well.
Essentially, these three programs mean this: Employers
subscribing to any of them no longer may screen out people on
the grounds of being disabled. The emphasis has shifted away
from DISABILITY toward ABILITY.
213
How can you locate employers covered by these programs?
Here are several ways:
1. Local public employment offices should know. about
government contractors covered by Section 503 and
the Veterans program.
2. Nearly all schools, colleges, hospitals, and institu-
tions comply with Section 504.
3. Look over the Help Wanted ads in the newspapers.
Some employers are beginning to mention that they
hire the disabled.
4. The direct approach: When you apply for a job,
simply ask whether the company is covered by any
of these programs.
When you apply for a job, be sure you are qualified.
This is a must. You will not get a job just because you happen
to be disabled. You might get the job because you are qualified.
B. THE ROLE OF DVR IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED
The Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
is a state agency that is funded by the Federal government.
The goal of this agency is to help the disabled person prepare
for and find suitable employment.
To accomplish this goal, DVR provides counseling, guidance,
physical and mental restoration, evaluation, training, and
job
placement services. DVR serves people with physical, emotional,
and mental disabilities.
For more information about eligibility for DVR, specific
services offered, and the location of DVR offices in the Mil-
waukee area, see Section B of Chapter 4.
C.
JOB SERVICE
The Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor, and Human
Relations is a comprehensive place to begin your employment
search. This is the State Job Service. Job Service is a
public employment center that helps employers find workers,
and workers find jobs. Job Service is mandated by law to
work with disabled persons or to refer a disabled person
to other agencies to receive the help they need from the
proper source.
For blind persons, Job Service will provide reader assist-
ance for taking any state test in applying for a job.
Job Service also operates Unemployment Compensation. It
determines benefit rights and pays benefits to qualifying
unemployed workers.
214
Local branches of Job Service operate out of the following
locations:
224-4201
Downtown JOB SERVICE
819 North 6th Street
Down
Milwaukee, WI 53203
224-4801
North JOB SERVICE
4222 West Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
224-4008
South JOB SERVICES:
3023 West Greenfield Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53215
257-8990
2363 South 102nd Street
West Allis, WI 53227
762-3999
905 Milwaukee Avenue
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
D.
EFFECTS THAT WORKING CAN HAVE ON BENEFITS YOU RECEIVE
The decision to seek or return to work is not a simple
one to make, particularly when you are a disabled person
receiving any type of financial assistance from the govern-
ment.
This decision can affect the amount of benefits you
receive, your eligibility. for further benefits, and even your
eligibility to reapply and receive these benefits at a later
date.
Again, this decision should be made very carefully and
only after having ALL your facts straight; consult with your
caseworker, an advocate or with other knowledgeable persons
in the community.
We would recommend contacting the following:
1. The Department of Social Services
2. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
3. Social Security Administration
4. State of Wisconsin-Division of Health
For the phone numbers and addresses please refer to our
Agencies and Community Resources Chapter 3.
In addition, a more detailed explanation of the effect
working can have on your SSI and SSDI benefits follows this
section.
215
E.
WORKING AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
If you are a disabled person collecting SSI or SSDI and
you are thinking about getting a job, ask yourself: Why do
I want to work? Your answer might be one of the following:
1. I cannot afford to lose the benefits that I am
currently receiving, but I need to earn a little
extra money.
2. I want à full-time job. I do not want to depend
on the government. I want to support myself and
earn more money.
3.
I need something productive to do with my time.
I want to feel useful.
Each of these purposes for working are, of course, valid.
Following are explanations of how the money and services you
are receiving now can change, because of income that you re-
ceive from employment.
1. I cannot afford to lose the benefits that I am
currently receiving, but I need to earn a little
extra money.
If you want to work to earn a little extra money but
cannot afford to lose the benefits you are currently receiving,
then you should find out:
a. Exactly how much money you can earn, without it
affecting the money and services you are receiving
now; and,
b. If you do earn more than this amount, what effects
this extra income will have on the money and services
you are receiving now.
To find out how much you can earn without it affecting
what you are receiving now, or what effect income above that
amount will have on the money and services you are receiving
now, contact the agency or agencies (Social Security Adminis-
tration, Department of Health and Social Services) that pro-
vide the money or services. Keep in mind that, if you earn
above a certain amount, you could lose your eligibility for
certain benefits (SSI, SSDI, Medical Assistance, housing
subsidy).
2. I want a full-time job. I do not want to depend on
the government. I want to support myself and earn
more money.
If you want a full-time job SO that you can support
yourself, not have to depend on the government, and earn more
money, then you will have to figure out exactly how much income
216
you would have to earn, in order to replace the money and
services that you are currently receiving. If you find that
you cannot earn enough to replace the money and services that
you are currently receiving, then you will have to weigh very
carefully your reasons for taking a particular job.
To find out exactly how much money you would have to earn
in order to equal the amount of money and services that you
are receiving now, you need to do the following (Note: Be
sure all of the figures you use are on a monthly basis)
a. Write down the amount of money you are receiving now.
b. List the specific services that you are receiving
now. Include those services that you are eligible
for and might need. Examples of services are:
subsidized housing, Medical Assistance (doctor bills,
medication, dental bills, home health care, special
equipment), Food Stamps, and supportive home care
services.
C. For each service listed in (b.), determine the
dollar amount that you would have to pay for it,
if it were not either free or provided at a reduced
cost to you (or, in other words, if you had to pay
for it yourself).
d. Add up the money (a.) and dollar amount for services
that you are receiving now or might need (c.).
This total (d.) is the amount that you will have to earn,
in order to live at the same level as you are living at now.
Keep in mind that your earnings will be smaller, after payroll
deductions are made in your paycheck (Federal, state, and
local taxes, insurance, union fees, etc.).
Now that you have figured out a total dollar value for
the money and services that you are receiving now, ask your-
self again: How much will I have to earn in order to equal
or exceed what I am currently receiving?
There are other things to consider as well, in relation
to employment. For example, what type of health insurance
do you have now? What medical expenses do you have now? What
kind of health insurance would you have if you were employed?
What services would that health insurance cover? Or, more
importantly, what services would it not cover?
If you are currently receiving Medical Assistance (Title 19)
and if your medical expenses are not costly or frequent, then
health insurance coverage might not be of too much concern to
you. However, if you receive Medical Assistance and your
medical expenses are costly and frequent, you will have to
check very carefully into the kind of insurance that your
prospective employer offers. You will need to find out whether
you are eligible for it, exactly what it will cover, and how
much of the monthly premium you will have to pay yourself
(none? 25%? 50%?).
217