UNESCO: United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organizations
From Exclusion to Empowerment: Role of ICTs for Persons with
Disabilities
24-26 November 2014
New Delhi, India
Utilizing the i2Lab to Facilitate
Integrated Employment and
Community Inclusion
Scott W. Harrington, Ph.D., BCBA-D
University of Nevada, Reno
Thank you
 Other members on this panel
 Lindsay Young and Lindsay Cotton
 Mr. Indrajit Banerjee & conference organizers
 The Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the
University of Nevada, Reno
 Representatives from the Government of India
 Special thanks to Irmgarda Kasinskaite
Overview & Goals
 Ten minutes to plant seeds of innovation
 Philosophical foundation: Full community inclusion
 Conference Mission & Goals
 Inclusive Employment Examples from Nevada
 ICTs as the conduit for sustainable change, with a focus
on integrated employment
 The i2Lab at work in the Community
The facts
 650 million persons with disabilities in the world (15%)
 80% live in isolated or rural areas
 186 million children with disabilities have not completed
primary school education
 “Disability” cuts across all gender, ethnic, racial,
socioeconomic, and religious barriers.
 We are simply just “temporarily abled”
Our challenge
 “The challenge now is to take the situations of persons
with disabilities fully into account and to incorporate their
needs as well as to make responses available to
everyone.” (UNESCO)
 We can and will:
 Presume competence, while being mindful of personcentered supports
 Move toward a fully inclusive community
 Introduce new policy and new initiatives
 Share innovative practices
 Use ICTs as the conduit for inclusion
Inclusion in Employment-Nevada
Success Stories
1.
One person at a time, making a fit
where the person’s passion, skills,
and interests benefit the business.
2.
“Customized Employment”
3.
Must work in an integrated setting
4.
Must earn a wage similar to that of
a coworker
5.
Build natural supports
6.
Volunteering is acceptable when
working toward an employment
outcome.
Full Inclusion at Work-Stacy
Stacy included at Starbucks
1.
Carved a position where
she cleans the coffee shop.
2.
Been employed four years,
earned three raises
($10.25/hr)
3.
Works three days a week,
four hours per day
4.
Has natural supports
5.
Takes public transportation
from her apartment
Full Inclusion at Work-Eric
Eric scanning documents
1.
Community-based
assessment at state agency
2.
Earns $8.25/hour at small
business
3.
Scans documents and drags
PDF into folder
4.
Works two days a week, four
hours per day
5.
Starting his own business with
supports
Full Inclusion Volunteering-Ian
Ian gaining valuable
experience
1.
Volunteers for the Washoe
County cleaning the park
2.
Enjoys solitary work
3.
Listens to his music
4.
Letter of Recommendation
from the Park Ranger
5.
Time-limited to avoid
business taking advantage
of a hard worker
Full Inclusion at Arrow-Glenn
Arrow Electronics-Glenn
1.
Moved from segregated
job to inclusive job at Arrow
2.
From $40/week to
$400/week
3.
Repetitive work requiring
much attention to detail
4.
Found a girlfriend at work
5.
Bought a new TV and
videogames
6.
Takes bicycle and public
bus to work
The i2Lab at work
Which articles of
the UNCRPD can
be affected with
Integrated
Employment?
The i2Lab at work
Which articles of
the UNCRPD can
be affected with
Integrated
Employment?
Answer: All of them!
The i2Lab at work-Community
How can we use the i2Lab to
help individuals be included in
their communities?
The i2Lab at work-Community
How can we use the i2Lab to
help individuals be included in
their communities?
The Four Interlinked Zones
1. Development
2. Digital Accessibility
3. Dialog and Creative Expression
4. Diversity
The i2Lab at work-Community
The Development Zone: The
development of core
academic subjects and….
“… online resources and services,
as well as access to practical
technology that supports a
multidisciplinary approach to
formal education, access to
information and knowledge, and
civic engagement.”
The i2Lab at work-Community
The Development Zone
The zone can provide a conduit to:
1. Employment opportunities
2. Volunteer opportunities
3. Resume writing
4. Job search supports
5. Discovery supports
6. Interview tips
7. Job developers/providers
8. Video resumes
9. A pool of potential candidates
for employers
10. Information for employers on
accessibility, UDL, UNCRPD, etc.
11. ?????
The i2Lab at work-Community
The Development Zone
The zone may include access to:
1. The private sector
2. NGOs
3. Government
4. Civic engagement
5. Self-advocacy
6. Inclusive social and
recreational opportunities
7. More!!!
The i2Lab at work-Community
Key underpinning requirements
Three core principle:
1. Inclusive and accessible
learning content
2. Inclusive technologies for
experimentation and
exploration
3. Access to peer and expert
support
A Conference Declaration with teeth
 Measureable outcomes from stakeholders on:
1. Implementing ICTs
2. Draft policies, products, and innovative services
3. Clear communication about barriers and successes
4. Commitment reflected in “concrete actions” toward full
inclusion
Thank you
Scott W. Harrington, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Director Youth Transition
Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED)
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557
sharring@me.com
(775) 682-9059