MOVING EMPLOYMENT POLICY RESEARCH FORWARD

1
MOVING EMPLOYMENT POLICY RESEARCH FORWARD

• David C. Stapleton, Director
• Center for Studying Disability Policy

Presented at the conference Strengthening the
Intersection of Demand and Supply-Side Disability
Employment Research Toward a Coordinated Federal
Research Agenda Sponsored by The Interagency
Subcommittee on Employment of the The
Interagency Committee on Disability
Research June 23, 2008
2
The Transition to 21st Century Disability Policy

• We have rejected the medical model in favor of
  the social model
• Medical advances, new technologies, and various
  accommodations make work feasible for many
• Disability policy lags behind technical and
  social progress

3
Whats Wrong with Current Policies?

• Fragmentation
• Problematic incentives
• Too late
• Reflects focus on
• Inability
• Fixing the person
• Caretaking

4
What Policies Do We Need?

• Integrated
• Desirable incentives
• Early assistance
• Puts the focus on
• - Ability
• - Fixing the environment
• - Individual empowerment
• - Employer empowerment

5
Why Havent We Made More Progress?

• Fragmentation
• Problematic incentives
• Late start

6
How Can We Accelerate Progress?

• Integrate
• Improve incentives
• Make up for lost time

7
Legislation, Regulations, and Funding

• To support testing of innovations that
• Are designed and conducted by consortia of
  state, local and private organizations
• Integrate supports
• Improve incentives
• Empower individuals

8
Early Support for Workers After Disability Onset

• Make it easier and more profitable for employers
  to retain workers
• Leverage the capabilities of employers, insurers,
  and vendors
• Create a different front end for SSDI
• Provide a better, less expensive alternative to
  SSDI

9
Early Support for Youth and Young Adults

• Expand on the Youth Transition Demonstration
  experience
• Pilot versions of TESS

10
References

• D. Stapleton, B. ODay, G. Livermore, and A.
  Imparato. Dismantling the Poverty Trap
  Disability Policy for the 21st Century. Milbank
  Quarterly, vol. 84, no. 4, 2006, pp. 701-732
• D. Stapleton, R. Burkhauser, P. She, R. Weathers
  II, and G. Livermore. Income Security for Older
  Workers. Journal of Disability Policy Studies,
  forthcoming.
• D. Stapleton. Transforming Disability Policy.
  Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, June
  21, 2007.
• B. MacDonald and M. ONeil. Being American The
  Way Out of Poverty. Oakland, CA World Institute
  on Disability, 2006.
• Social Security Advisory Board. A Disability
  System for the 21st Century. Washington, DC
  SSAB, 2006.
• Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory
  Panel. Building on the Ticket A New Paradigm
  for Investing in Economic Self-Sufficiency for
  People with Significant Disabilities. Final
  Report to the President and Congress. Washington,
  DC SSA, 2007.

11
Contact Information

• David Stapleton, Director
• Center for Studying Disability Policy
• Mathematica Policy Research
• 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 550
• Washington, DC 20024
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• dstapleton_at_mathematica-mpr.com