FEAT Glossary

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A

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts
The ABLE Act of 2014 allows people with disabilities and their families to save money for disability-related expenses. The money can be used for things like housing, education, transportation and other daily needs. Having money in an ABLE account may allow a person to save without losing access to programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

American Job Center (AJC), formerly netWORKri
These centers help people find jobs, learn new skills and get employment services.

They provide services to all job seekers. People with disabilities can also request additional services, such as one-on-one help, resume assistance and employment support.

Rhode Island has three American Job Centers in:

• Providence
• Woonsocket
• West Warwick

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. It applies to many areas of life, including employment, schools, businesses, transportation and government services.

Anti-Discrimination Laws
These are laws that protect people from being treated unfairly because of a disability. Federal laws include the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Rhode Island also has state laws that protect people with disabilities.

Assistive Technology (AT)
Assistive technology includes tools, devices and equipment that help people with disabilities do things more easily or independently. Examples include communication devices, screen readers, mobility equipment and other technology that helps a person work or take part in daily activities.

B

RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals – Division of Developmental Disabilities (BHDDH-DDD)
BHDDH-DDD is the Rhode Island state agency that plans and manages long-term supports for adults with developmental disabilities. It funds community services, including supported employment, job coaching and other employment supports.

Benefits Specialist / Benefits Planner / Benefits Counselor
A benefits specialist is trained to help people understand how work and changes in income may affect their benefits. They can explain programs such as SSI, SSDI and Medicaid and help people understand work incentives. Benefits specialists may also be called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) or Community Partner Work Incentive Counselors.

Blind Work Expense (BWE)
Blind Work Expense is a work incentive for people who receive SSI and meet Social Security’s definition of blindness. It allows certain work-related expenses to be left out when Social Security calculates income for SSI.

Business Within a Business
This is a type of self-employment where a person starts a small business inside an existing business. The person can use the existing business space, customers and other resources. 

C

Capacity Building
Capacity building means helping an organization or community improve its ability to provide services and supports to people with disabilities.

Career Development Plan (CDP)
A Career Development Plan is a written plan that helps a person reach their employment goals. It identifies:

• The person’s job goals
• Services and supports the person needs
• Agencies and providers that can help
• Challenges that may make it harder to work
• Steps to overcome those challenges

In Rhode Island, Career Development Plans are required for certain young people and adults with intellectual disabilities under the 2014 Consent Decree.

Carved Job
A carved job is a job made by taking some tasks from one or more existing jobs. The person does some, but not all, of the tasks normally included in those jobs.

Case Manager / Case Management
A case manager helps a person find, choose, and coordinate services and supports. They can work with the person, their family, and other members of their support team to help the person reach their goals.

Competitive Integrated Employment
This means a person with a disability works in a job where he or she:

• Is paid at least minimum wage.
• Works with people with and without disabilities.
• Receives the same benefits as other employees.
• Has opportunities to advance in the job. 

Consent Decree
The 2014 Consent Decree was an agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Rhode Island. It requires Rhode Island to provide people with intellectual disabilities with opportunities and supports to prepare for and obtain employment and take part in community activities. The agreement includes things such as person-centered planning, Career Development Plans and work experiences in the community.

Countable Income
Countable income is the amount of income that is left after allowed deductions are taken out. Social Security uses countable income to help decide if a person qualifies for certain benefits and how much they may receive.

Created Job
A created job is a new job that is designed around a business's needs. The job is created by finding tasks that the business needs help with and putting those tasks together into a new position.

Customized Employment (CE)
Customized employment is a way to create a job that works well for both the person and the employer. It looks at a person’s strengths, interests, and skills and matches them with a business's needs. Customized employment focuses on one person and one employer at a time. 

D

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
DDD is part of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH). DDD provides and supports services for adults with developmental disabilities. 

E

Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility criteria are the rules a person must meet to qualify for a program, service, benefit or legal protection.

Employment and Earnings Reporting Form (EE-RF)
Some Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities may be able to work and earn money without losing Medicaid or Home and Community-Based Services. A special rule may allow some of a person’s work income to not be counted when determining Medicaid costs.

When people with a developmental disability start working, they should complete Employment and Earnings Reporting Form (EE-RF). A DD provider or case manager can help complete the form.

The form shows that the job is part of their developmental disability services. It can also help connect the person with benefits counseling. 

Employment Network (EN)
An Employment Network is a public or private organization that works with Social Security’s Ticket to Work program. Employment Networks can provide or coordinate employment, vocational rehabilitation and other support services. 

F

Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT)
FEAT is a training program that helps people with disabilities and their families learn about employment possibilities.  

The training helps families understand that people with disabilities can find meaningful and satisfying work in their communities.

FEAT was developed by the University of Kansas and is offered in Rhode Island through the Sherlock Center on Disabilities.

H

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
These services help people live and receive support in their homes and communities instead of living in an institution.

For people with developmental disabilities, BHDDH-DDD may provide services such as supported employment and job coaching.

For adults with physical disabilities, the Department of Human Services may provide services such as personal care assistance through the Personal Choice Program.

I

Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
An Individualized Plan for Employment is a written plan created with the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS).

The plan describes a person’s job goal and the services to help reach that goal. Services may include counseling, training, job placement and job supports.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA is a federal law that gives students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education.

IDEA also requires schools to help students plan for life after high school. This includes planning for work, education and independent living. In Rhode Island, transition planning begins at age 14. 

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
These are certain expenses related to a person’s disability that are needed to work. Examples may include medical equipment, transportation or personal assistance.

If a person pays for an approved work-related disability expense, the expense may be deducted when Social Security calculates income.

J

Job Coach / Vocational Specialist / Employment Facilitator / Employment Specialist
A job coach or employment specialist helps a person find and keep a job.

A job coach may help with:

• Finding a job
• Learning job duties
• Learning how to get around the workplace
• Working with employers and co-workers
• Adjusting to the workplace
• Providing job support when needed

M

Medicaid
Medicaid is a government health care program for people with low incomes and certain other groups, including many people with disabilities. Medicaid can also help pay for long-term services and supports.

Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program. It mainly serves people who are age 65 or older and some people with disabilities.

N

National Policy Outcomes
Federal disability laws – including IDEA, the ADA and Section 504 – support four main goals:

• Equal opportunity
• Economic self-sufficiency
• Independent living
• Full participation in the community

Natural Supports
Natural supports are unpaid help from family, friends, coworkers, supervisors or other people in the community. At work, natural supports may include a co-worker showing someone how to do a task or a supervisor providing extra guidance. 

O

Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS)
Part of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, ORS provides vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities who need help finding or keeping a job.

Services may include:

• Career counseling
• Training
• Job placement
• Job development
• Job supports
• Help creating an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)

P

Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
PASS is a Social Security work incentive for people who receive SSI. A PASS allows a person to set aside certain income or resources to pay for things needed to reach a work goal. This could include education, job training, starting a business or services that help them work. 

R

Reasonable Accommodation
A reasonable accommodation is a change or adjustment that helps people with disabilities do their jobs or take part in a program or service.

Examples include changes to a workspace, schedule, equipment, communication methods or the way a task is done.

The ADA and Section 504 require covered organizations to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 / Section 504
Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funding.

Section 504 also requires reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.

Resource Ownership
In this type of customized employment or self-employment, people bring something they own or control to a business to help meet a business need.

For example, a person may own equipment or provide a service that helps a business. The business then hires the person and benefits from that equipment or service. 

S

Self-Determination
Self-determination means having control over your own life and making your own choices. For people with disabilities, this can include choosing where to live, what work to do, who provides support and how services are provided.

Self-Directed Supports
Self-Directed Supports allow people to have more control over some or all of their Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services.

Depending on the program, a person may choose their services, supports, workers and how services are provided. People can direct their services on their own or with help from someone they choose.

In Rhode Island, this option is available through BHDDH-DDD for adults with developmental disabilities and through the Department of Human Services for adults with physical disabilities through the Personal Choice Program. 

Self-Employment
Self-employment means owning and running your own business. A person may start a small business based on skills, interests and goals. The business should also meet a need in the local community.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
This federal agency helps people start and grow small businesses. The SBA also supports the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center.  

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
This federal program provides monthly income to people with disabilities who have worked and paid Social Security taxes.

Social Security Ticket to Work 
Ticket to Work is a Social Security program that helps people with disabilities find work and become more financially independent.

People who qualify receive a “ticket” that can be used with an Employment Network or other approved provider for employment and support services.

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
The Student Earned Income Exclusion is a Social Security work incentive for students under age 22 who regularly attend school. It allows some of a student’s earnings from work to not be counted when Social Security calculates the SSI payment. The amount that can be excluded changes each year.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
This federal program provides monthly payments to people who have limited income and resources and who are disabled, blind or age 65 or older.

Supported Employment (SE)
Supported employment helps people with disabilities find and keep competitive jobs in the community. A person may receive ongoing support, such as help learning job duties, communicating with co-workers or adjusting to the workplace.

Systems Navigation
Systems navigation means getting help understanding and using different services and programs. A systems navigator can help people and their families understand complicated systems, such as education, health care, employment and social services. 

T

Ticket to Work (TTW) / Sherlock Plan
These are Rhode Island’s Medicaid coverage plans for working people with disabilities who are no longer eligible for SSI. They can pay a premium based on income to Medicaid.

To qualify for TTW, people must be employed or self-employed and between the ages of 16 and 64. As they approach age 65, they will be automatically evaluated to determine whether they are eligible to switch to the Sherlock Plan.    

Transition
Transition means moving from one stage of life or program to another. For students with disabilities, transition planning helps prepare for life after high school. This may include planning for work, college or training, independent living and community life. 

V

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
VR helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep jobs. In Rhode Island, VR services are provided through the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS).

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
WIOA is a federal law that supports employment and job training programs. For people with disabilities, WIOA focuses on competitive integrated employment. It also supports better coordination between vocational rehabilitation, schools and other agencies. WIOA includes customized employment as part of supported employment services.

Work Incentives
Work incentives are rules that can help people with disabilities work while keeping some or all of their benefits. Work incentives may help pay for work-related expenses or allow some income to not be counted when benefits are calculated.

Examples include:

• Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
• Blind Work Expense (BWE)
• Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)