Technical Assistance on Native American Cultures

Cornell Releases 2006 Disability Status Report
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics at Cornell University released the 2006 Disability Status Report in December.  The report summarizes data from the American Community Survey (ACS), an annual survey completed to supplement the decennial census.  The Disability Status Report focuses on working-age people with disabilities, age 21-64, and their employment rates.  

Click here to see the findings for the state of Washington

The full report, including other individual state reports, is available online at http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/disabilitystatistics/

Native American Business Development Resources
A fact sheet discussing resources available from the Tribal Business Information Centers, sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well other organizations providing business services for Native Americans.

Storyteller, Dream Maker, Goal Setter:
Disability and Employment Resources for Enhancing the Quality of Life for American Indians and Alaska Natives with Disabilities
A  resource guide (2005) providing basic referral information for a wealth of tribal, state, and federal disability-related programs.

American Indian and Alaska Native Culture

Understanding Disabilities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
An article (2003) from the National Council on Disability that discusses many disabilities common in American Indian and Alaska Native communities and organizations available to provide services.

We the People: American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States
 U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features article (2006) on characteristics and statistics regarding American Indians and Alaska Natives in the US.

Information About Alaska Native Cultures
A series of articles on the five cultural groupings of Alaska Natives.

Meeting the Challenges & Seizing the Opportunities in Indian Country
An article discussing some of the cultural challenges and opportunities for those working with Native Americans, presented in the context of developing self-employment strategies for those with disabilities living on reservations.

History and Discussion of Native American Languages
A brief discussion of Native American languages in the United States, Canada, and South America.

American Indian Resource Directory
Links to a variety of literature by indigenous people.

Native Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian Culture and the Path of Huna
A article on the deeper meaning of Aloha and the code of Hawaiian ethics implied in the word.

The Aloha Spirit
An online booklet describing Hawaiian characteristics represented in the concept of Aloha.

Significant Dates in the History of Hawaii
A publication of the Hawaiian Historical Society providing a timeline of significant events in Hawaiian history.

"Disability" Defined
A discussion on how the term “disability” is defined by various government programs.

Great Opportunities & Room for Improvement
 A discussion of the effects of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999.

Poverty and Disability
A discussion of SSI and Medicaid policies.

Alternatives To Guardianship
A discussion on how a caring, involved family and a network of community connections can be a better alternative to legal guardianship provisions for a child with a disability.

Fact Sheet: Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)
 A listing of DBTACs and how they provide information, training, and technical assistance to employers, people with disabilities, and other entities with responsibilities under the ADA.

Native American Independent Living
A discussion of the cultural and practical connections and obstacles to implementing several key components of the IL philosophy in Native American communities. An actualizing process - one that recognizes the tremendous diversity across reservations and Individuals - is discussed as one method for merging these two perspectives and implementing IL services on reservations.

A Profile of Independent Living Center Services for Indians with Disabilities Living on Reservations
A manuscript (1992) discussing ILCs on reservations, showing that services are quite inadequate and often insensitive to cultural issues. The author, Julie Clay, concludes with several recommendations to improve ILC services on reservations.

Strategies on Successful Independent Living Services for American Indians with Disabilities
A research dissemination project with the purpose to o develop a culturally appropriate training and technical assistance curriculum with IL outreach programs for American Indians with severe or significant disabilities.

Independent Living Outcomes for American Indians with Disabilities: A Needs Assessment of American Indians with Disabilities in Northwestern New Mexico (Cibola, San Juan, and McKinley)
A study to understand the needs of American Indians with disabilities who may have problems that limit their ability to carry out daily activities such as walking, talking, working, eating, bathing, or shopping.

Independent Living Center Employment Programs:
Important Resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives With Disabilities
A fact sheet (2005) providing an introduction to employment services associated with Independent Living Centers, which are available to Native Americans with disabilities.

Paychecks and SSI Benefits
 An overview for students receiving SSI and Medicaid benefits.

SSA Work Incentives 2007
A good summary of SSA Work Incentive definitions and the effects of various types of earnings on SSI and SSDI benefits.

SSI And SSDI: Similarities And Differences
A description of eligibility requirements and 2007 benefits for SSI and SSDI programs.

Changes In SSI and SSDI For 2007
A list of all SSI and SSDI dollar figures that have changed for 2007.

SGA & TWP PASS Plans Turn Student Dreams Into Reality
An introduction to the Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) plan.

Identifying Students Eligible For SSI PASS Plans at IEP Meeting
An introductory article (2006) that discusses who is eligible for SSI PASS benefits.

Don't Hurt with Your Help!-Why Benefits Analysis is Critical!
An introduction to how programs such as PASS can help someone work and continue receiving benefits.

Benefits & Resources: A Quick Overview
A brief introduction to how work income can affect SSI and SSDI benefits.

How Work Impacts Multiple Benefits: A Quick Overview for WIA Partners
Addresses how work income can affect SSI and SSDI benefits.

Weighing The Risks: Some Tools for Benefits Analysis & Planning for SSI & SSDI Recipients
Some excellent tools, including three simple forms useful in the process of analyzing the impact of work on someone’s benefits.

Considerations for Customers with Disabilities in the WIA System
A good introduction to Work Incentive Act (WIA) considerations along with etiquette and courtesies for working with a person with a disability.

It Doesn't Take a Rocket Scientist to Understand & Use Social Security Work Incentives
A good summary of concepts and programs involved in SSA work incentive programs.

Introducing the Social Security Administration's Social Security Disability Insurance Work Incentives: Helping American Indians and Alaska Natives With Disabilities Go to Work.
A description of Work Incentive programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives with disabilities.

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The United States Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation and Pension Program: The Compensation Link to VA Vocational Rehabilitation.
A discussion of the VA Compensation and Pension program and its importance to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, and other veterans.

The Center for Veterans Enterprise and The Veterans Corporation: Important Self-Employment and Business Development Resources for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans.
A fact sheet discussing two 2001 programs for veterans established after the passage of The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999, specifically how they provide self-employment and business resources for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans with and without service-connected disabilities.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services Available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Services
A practice guideline featuring terms and definitions that are commonly used by Department of Veterans Affairs compensation, pension, and vocational rehabilitation programs.

Vocational Rehabilitation and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs:  Important Terms and Definitions
A practice guideline discussing the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program and how it assists American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, and other veterans, with service-connected disabilities achieve independence in daily living and obtain and maintain suitable employment.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Launches Cultural-Based Health Care Initiative
An Indian Country newspaper article (2007) discussing a new culturally-based health care program developed by Western Carolina University and  Wake Forest University in Winston in partnership with the Eastern Band . The initiative adopts a multipart approach that includes graduate-level certification in different aspects of Native health and an introduction to health care opportunities for Eastern Band youth.

The Health of Minority Women
An article (2003) discussing women’s health issues unique to five minority groups in the United States: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

A Guide to Native American Studies Programs in the United States and Canada
A list of Native American study programs showing certificate and degree programs organized by region (updated February 2007).

CSAP's Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT)
The website of CAPT, which supports the application of evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs and strategies at the regional, state and local levels, especially in the western part of the United States, which has a high concentration of Native Americans.

Indian Health Service: Health Care Services Are Not Always Available to Native Americans. GAO-05-789, August 2005
A GAO report (2005) examining the availability of primary care services as well as ancillary and specialty services for Native Americans with analysis of the underlying factors associated with variations in the availability of services.

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Vocational Rehabilitation: Better Measures and Monitoring Could Improve the Performance of the VR Program. GAO-05-865, September 2005
A GAO report (2005) under the Comptroller General’s authority as part of an effort to assist policy makers in determining how federal disability programs could more effectively meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. In 2003, GAO placed federal disability programs on its list of high-risk programs because many of these programs have not kept up with scientific advances and economic and social changes.

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The Rural Institute, RTC: Rural Publications
An RTC website listing their publications related to people with disabilities
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The Rural Institute: Adult and Community Services and Supports Publications (ACSS)
Links to other Rural Institute ACSS publications.

American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC)
A website containing many of the AIDTAC publications addressing issues concerning Native Americans with disabilities.