CDO Workforce coordinates and focuses employment, training and education development resources across three counties, providing service to employed people, unemployed people and employers alike. Our goal is to improve the long-term growth and development of the work force.
We've got a lot of great information to share with you this month! Workforce news and events, job fairs, learning, funding and training opportunities and more... Check it out here.
All CDO Workforce offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8th in honor of Columbus Day.
Many people with disabilities wait years before they are determined to be eligible for benefits. These free Office of Mental Health (OMH) workshops will show you the benefits and advantages of participating in Social Security entitlement programs.
These very informative and educational workshops will be explained in simple everyday language, so you can better understand and navigate the complex Social Security system, regardless of how much you may already know about these programs.
If you are considering going back to work and are fearful or skeptical about losing your Social Security benefits, these workshop are for you! Facilitators Garrett Smith and Regina Shoen, will explain how you can go back to work while still receiving benefits. If you are unsure if you are eligible to receive Social Security benefits, that will be explained as well.
These workshops will teach you about:
• Request a waiver for an overpayment.
• Avoid spend-downs.
• Use Social Security work incentives to help maintain SSI and SSDI eligibility as you explore returning to work.
• Ease off cash benefits and into self-sufficiency.
• Work full-time and maintain low cost (or even no-cost) health insurance.
• Get expedited reinstatement of benefits.
PASS plans,1619b, Medicaid Buy-In for Working people with a disability and some of the other underused mechanisms that will be covered.
These workshops are for people with any type of disability, however, the main focus will be for people with mental health disabilities.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 9, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Workshop 1 – PASS Plans, 11:30-1:00pm
• Workshop 2 – Medicaid Buy-in and 1619(b), 2:00pm-3:30pm
• Workshop 3 – Social Security Eligibility, 4:30pm-6:00pm
WHERE: Host site: 12 Dietz Street, Oneonta, NY 13820
Please feel free to utilize the parking garage as it is FREE ALL DAY PARKING.
If you wish to register for one and/or all the workshops listed, please contact:
Kate Hewlett ~ Peer Engagement Specialist
Otsego County Community Services
242 Main Street ~ Oneonta, NY 13820
Phone (607) 433-2343/ Fax (607) 433-6229
To download the flyer, click here.
Presented by the Office of Mental Health and the CDO Workforce.
The Southside Mall, CDO Workforce and NYS Department of Labor would like to invite you to participate in the Southside Mall 2018 Job Fair on October 25th from 3-5pm.
This event is sure to attract many candidates!
This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet job seekers and fill openings within your company!
Participants will be provided a table and 2 chairs. If you have any other needs, such as electrical outlets or additional tables, please indicate that on your registration form.
We ask that businesses commit to being available the entire length of the Job Fair, 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Setup is from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.
Please complete the registration form and return by October 19th, 2018. If you have any questions, please contact David Croston at (607) 778-3004 or by email
To download the registration form, click here.
Diversity Partners Project at the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability (YTI), located at Cornell University is offering free a Building Business Relationships seminar.
The training is beneficial for job developers, employment specialists, and others in both the public and private sector who connect people with disabilities to jobs.
The training is scheduled for Tuesday, October 23, from 9:00 AM to Noon, at The Arc Otsego, 35 Academy St., in Oneonta.
This training includes 3 hours of classroom training on October 23rd and two hours of webinar based training:
Wednesday November 7th and Monday November 19th - for one hour webinars from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Webinars will be recorded and made available.
This is a free training sponsored by Diversity Partners, with the help of The Arc Otsego and CDO Workforce.
Presenter: Wendy Strobel Gower is the Project Director of the Diversity Partners Project and the Northeast ADA Center at YTI. Ellice Switzer is a Content Development Specialist and Trainer at YTI working on the Diversity Partners Project, the NYSCASE, and the NY Transition Services Professional Development Support Center.
Reservations are required: Please e-mail: with attendees' name, title, agency, & e-mail address.
Reservations Deadline: October 18.
Questions: contact Alan Sessions at 607-432-4800 x 109
Training Outline: Building Relationships (3 hours classroom. 9-Noon, October 23, 2018):
- Assessing employer needs: Learn how to prepare for meetings with employers and how to engage them around their specific business needs.
- Establishing a professional identity: Learn about the importance of understanding business language and avoiding your own jargon.
- Understanding policy Initiatives: Learn about the business impact of employment first policies, Section 503 of the Rehab Act, executive orders and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
- Industry and Sector Expertise: Developing and using industry and sector expertise as a means of building relationships with businesses and creating better opportunities for people with disabilities
One hour webinar on Sustaining Relationships (1 Hour - Nov. 7th, 1:00 PM):
- Enhancing your value to employers: Understand and communicate your value to employers beyond one-off job match.
- Partnerships and business led coalitions: Case examples of successful Partnerships and collaborations from around the country.
Optional follow up webinar (Nov. 19th, 1:00 PM -2:00 PM): Accessing Job-Driven training: Reasonable Modification for Job Seekers with Disabilities.
Our goal is to help job seekers not just find a job, but develop and manage a career. That means helping them when they have a job and when they are looking. We also strive to help employers find the workers they need quickly and the resources to improve training, workforce retention and workforce restructuring.
A DRC is a Disability Resource Coordinator, someone who helps individuals with disabilities find employment.
High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) A high school equivalency or GED/HSE is a recognized alternative to a high school diploma.
Work-Based Learning (WBL) provides students and job seekers with real-life work experience that compliments their academic studies. Typically they include job shadowing, mentoring, internships, and apprenticeships.
A Team Helper is anyone who is the lead support person to the job seeker with disabilities along their career journey. It can be a family member, friend, employment counselor, Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC), or case manager.
A stop-gap job is temporary employment until something better or more permanent can be obtained.
Basic needs refers to the goods and services necessary for a minimum standard of living. This includes access to food, safe shelter, clothing, and sanitation. Reliable transportation and education can also be considered a basic need.
A safe space is intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations.
Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is work performed by a person with an impairment or health-related disability (health impairment) within an integrated setting. Wages are at least minimum wage or higher and at a rate comparable to non-disabled workers performing the same tasks.
For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.
