Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer that would create a one-year pilot program for individuals with disabilities to address social and community inclusion needs was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Individuals with disabilities face many challenges in finding employment and vocational programs can provide training and support to help these individuals gain employment and become more independent,” said Singer (R-30). “This bill addresses the importance of teaching social, recreational, and soft skills to persons with disabilities and creates data for researchers to study the effectiveness of vocational programs for these individuals.”
Singer’s bill, S-3736, establishes a one-year pilot program for persons with disabilities in the Department of Human Services to address social and community inclusion needs for such individuals through recreational, social, vocational, and other community-based activities.
The purpose of the pilot program is to provide individuals opportunities to learn recreational, social, and vocational skills and provide individuals the opportunity to explore their interests and build confidence in their abilities.
The bill appropriates up to $85,000 to the Department of Human Services for the purposes of the pilot program.