The Job
Accommodation Network (JAN) is an international toll-free consulting
service that provides information regarding job accommodations. This
publication summarizes funding search tips and describes some of the
most frequent types of organizations and groups that provide funding.
If you need further assistance, please contact JAN at 1-800-526-7234
(V/TTY) in the United States or by e-mail at jan@jan.wvu.edu.
You can also visit "JAN on the Web" at: http://www.jan.wvu.edu.
For information
on specific agencies and organizations, please look in your local
area phone directory, specifically in the Blue Pages, for government
contacts and the Yellow Pages for other organizations.
Funding
Tips for Employers
Tax incentives
are available to employers of individuals with disabilities. These
tax incentives help cover the cost of accommodations for employees
and equipment to make businesses accessible. Tax incentives available
are the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), the Disabled Access Credit
(DAC), and the Architectural and Transportation Barrier Removal Deduction.
Additional information about tax incentives can be found at: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/tax.html
or by contacting JAN at 1-800-526-7234 (V/TTY) in the United States
or by e-mail at jan@jan.wvu.edu.
For more information on these tax credit programs, contact a local
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office and visit the IRS on the Web
at: http://www.irs.gov.
Funding
Tips for Individuals
The Small
Business Self-Employment Service (SBSES) is a service of the Office
of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor that
provides comprehensive information, counseling, and referrals about
self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for people
with disabilities. Some of the benefits of self-employment or small
business include working at home, control of your work schedule, and
independent decision -making. The SBSES is staffed by the Office of
Disability Employment Policy's JAN. SBSES can be reached at 1-800-526-7234
(V/TTY), by e-mail at jan@jan.wvu.edu,
or on the Web at: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/sbses.
Funding
sources, such as grants and scholarships, for higher education are
available to assist individuals with disabilities. For a list of funding
contacts for educational resources contact JAN via phone or e-mail
or visit the JAN Web site at: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/DisQuery.exe?005M.
Funding
sources for education are also available through the federal government.
The HEATH Resource Center of the American Council on Education operates
a national clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individual
with disabilities. HEATH's Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
publication provides information on U.S. federal student aid programs
and other financial aid programs for students with disabilities. Visit
HEATH on the Web at: http://www.heath-resource-center.org.
Another
source of funding is Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). VR provides a
wealth of resources related to employment options for people with
disabilities. VR, a state-supported division of services, assists
individuals with disabilities who are pursuing meaningful careers.
VR assists those individuals to secure gainful employment commensurate
with their abilities and capabilities through local job searches and
awareness of self-employment and telecommuting opportunities. To contact
your nearest VR office, please see http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?902
or call JAN to obtain contact information.
Many of
the funding inquiries that we receive at JAN deal with assistive technology.
Assistive technology is any item or piece of equipment used to increase,
maintain, or improve a person's functional capabilities. The cost
of some assistive technology can be surprisingly high. Sometimes the
best or only way to fund the purchase of assistive technology is by
relying on more than one source. Additional funding for assistive
technology might include: the U.S. Veterans Administration, the Social
Security Administration's PASS (Plan To Achieve Self-Support) program,
your state's workers' compensation program if the disability was caused
by a work-related injury, non-profit disability organizations, and
civic or service organizations (Lions Club, VFW, Rotary Club, etc.).
Some individuals also had success working with local service groups,
churches, labor unions, or school organizations to stage fund-raisers
in their communities. When searching for funding be aware of your
rights under the law. Also know your specific technology needs. You
may need the help of a professional or from a cross-disciplinary team
of professionals who can assess your needs, suggest an appropriate
device, and clearly describe in writing how that device would be effective.
Additional
public/private funding sources are also available through various
resources. You may access a specific list of funding resources from
JAN's web site at: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/funding.htm.
The list of funding resources includes:
Community
Resources at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?285
Computers at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?288
Education at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/DisQuery.exe?005M
Food at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?297
Grants/Loans at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?300
Housing at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?303
Insurance at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?306
Medical at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?309
Prosthetics at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?311
Specific Disability at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/funding/Specdis.htm
Taxes at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/tax.html
Transportation at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?321
Miscellaneous at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?324