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The line between innovation and accommodation is blurring: The new role of assistive technology.

Title: Assistive Technology: Capturing the Ability and Skill within Your Organization
Date:September 16, 2010 - Thursday
Time:11:00AM – 12:15PM EDT

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FREE TO JOB SEEKERS INCLUDING VETERANS!

Join us for a business discussion on how assistive technology (AT) can support and allow for creative workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities.

Teleseminar host Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group, Inc. will cover topics where you will:

• Learn the four (4) elements that support and allow for creative accommodation solutions
• Learn how assistive technology interfaces with Human Resources policy, Information Technology and the specialized needs of employees with disabilities
• Learn about current trends in accommodation solutions utilizing state-of-the-art technologies
• Better understand how you can be an essential component in the employment of individuals with disabilities through workplace accommodations

Technology is commonplace in today’s work setting, with many companies utilizing leading edge technologies to get real-time access to their systems. Indeed, many employers encourage their employees to work with a smart phone or an iPad to enhance their productivity. So why is it that disabled individuals using the same or similar technologies as “assistive technology”, have the highest rate of unemployment? Could it be that the term and workplace benefits of “assistive technology devices” is not really understood by employers?

This teleseminar is intended to highlight what the technology can do, how it fits in to a work environment and the business innovation benefits that await savvy companies when hiring an assistive technology user. The information learned can be essential to ensuring that highly skilled workers with disabilities are fully utilizing those skills and achieving their full work potential.

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TELESEMINAR PRICING! Your nominal fee of $29.95 will earn you CEU Credits (CRCC/HRCI), and your fee will also serve as "ONE MORE WAY” to drive up employment for Americans with Disabilities, including Veterans. Thanks to our paying participants, Teleseminars are always FREE to all job seekers with disabilities, including veterans

This program has been approved for 1 hour recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at hrci.org.

The Sierra Group to present at the Pennsylvania Community on Transition Conference

The Sierra Group to present at the Pennsylvania Community on Transition Conference occurring from July 21-23, 2010. The title for this year’s conference is Empowerment in Action: A Unified Approach.

Michael G. Fiore will address teachers, students and parents in 3 breakout sessions entitled Career Development Strategies, Interpreting Test Results: A Practical Guide for Parents, and Out Innovate Your Competition in the Labor Market. Michael will be co-presenting with Lynn Zale of Reading OVR, Joan Shindel of York’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Dana Baccanti, MA, CRC, respectively.

Seth G. Acosta will also present in a session entitled, The New Universal Design: Creative Strategies on July 22, 2010 from 12:30 pm to 1:45pm, in which he will cover techniques by which students in transition can amplify their abilities by combining concepts of universal design and creative utilization to achieve their desired outcomes.

These sessions are sure to enhance the audience’s knowledge of strategies, which they can employ to better support students in transition. Attendees will leave armed with new ideas about how to increase vocational competitiveness for students in transition, how to better understand student testing-methods, and new innovative strategies that they can offer to support students as they move into the competitive marketplace.

For more information on the conference. PDF - 712 K

The Sierra Group, Inc. and Liberty Resources partner to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the American Disabilities Act of 1990

The Sierra Group, Inc. is a proud partner and Silver Sponsor with Liberty Resources Academy celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ADA. Help celebrate the 20th anniversary by attending an outdoor festival featuring food, exhibits and music.

Monday, July 26, 2010, 11 am – 4 pm
Independence Visitor Center Lawn
5th and Market Streets
Philadelphia, PA

For more information

Looking for ways to grow in diverse your workforce? Excellent! We can help you act.

Consider the benefits of hiring a person with disabilities.

The Sierra Group, Inc.
Go to www.thesierragroup.com
or call 1-800-973-7687 for
Candidates, Jobs, Accommodations, Consulting, and more.

Janet Fiore to present at the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) conference, “20 Years of the ADA: The Fight Goes On”

On Monday, July 19, 2010, Janet Fiore will present at the National Council on Independent Living conference, "20 Years of the ADA: The Fight Goes On". Janet will present on "Implementing the ADA Amendments Act – A Practical Look" .

NCIL Annual Conference 2010
20 Years of the ADA: The Fight Goes On!
Save the Date!
July 19-22, 2010
Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C.

For more information

"The ADA - Twenty Years Later: Progress, Obstacles and Predictions"

"The ADA - Twenty Years Later: Progress, Obstacles and Predictions"
Date: July15, 2010
Time: 1:00PM - 2:15PM EDT

Free To Job Seekers with Disabilities including Veterans!

Twenty years ago the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law creating the most sweeping civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) reinstates the intended civil rights protections to millions of job applicants and employees by renewing the original intent of the ADA to provide workers with disabilities certain workplace protections. Over the past two decades much progress has been made. Our communities are more architecturally accessible, transportation and communication services are more universal, beneficial tax incentives were created by government, and the business community more fully understands nondiscriminatory recruiting, hiring and employment practices

Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group, Inc., will facilitate the learning session with guest experts, Matt Sapolin, Commissioner for The NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Jack Fields, CEO of the Twenty-First Century Group in Washington D.C. where he advocates for legislative change on many diverse issues, including legislation designed to increase employment for American’s with disabilities.

Ms. Fiore will interview our Presenters as they:

• Review the original ADA and its intent
• Acknowledge and discuss areas of progress regarding employment
• Examine barriers that have affected employment outcomes
• Predict the anticipated employment progress over the next 5 to 10 Years.

Special guests include the NYC Mayor's Commissioner on Disability, Matt Sapolin; and Former Congressman Jack Fields of Texas.

Mathew (Matt) Sapolin is Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). MOPD works hand-in-hand with other City agencies to assure that the voice of the disabled community is represented and that City programs and policies address the needs of people with disabilities. Commissioner Sapolin also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the City University of New York's Graduate School of Professional Studies, teaching a course in the Certificate Program for Disability Studies. He created a curriculum that includes topics such as the economics and business of disability; quality management of disability organizations; and leadership in public policy issues. He serves on a variety of boards and advisory councils, and has been presented with numerous awards and accolades for his successes. www.nyv.gov

Former Congressman Jack Fields is the Chief Executive Officer of the Twenty-First Century Group in Washington, D.C., where he advocates for legislative change on many diverse issues, including legislation designed to increase employment for Americans with disabilities. From 1980 to 1997, Jack represented the 8th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his time in Congress, Jack served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and in 1995 he became Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance. Under the leadership of Chairman Fields, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in February 1996. Jack was also deeply involved in national maritime, fisheries, energy, and environmental policy while serving as the Ranking Minority Member on the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Jack has built and maintained a wide network of personal friendships and professional relationships among government officials of both parties.

He currently sits on the Board of Directors of AIM Mutual Funds, the eighth largest mutual fund company in the United States, and on the Board of Directors for Administaff (NYSE: ASF). Jack also serves on the Board of the Discovery Channel Global Education Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational resources to people in need around the world through the use of technology. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and has his J.D. degree from Baylor Law School. For nine years, Jack served as a trustee of Baylor University. http://www.tfcgrp.com/webdocs/about/bios.html

ADA Amendments Act - What you NEED to know!
READ this ADA Amendments article by leading experts, Janet Fiore, CEO & Jill Fisher, Esq.

The July 2009 edition of Counterpoint, The Official Publication of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute features an article written by subject matter experts Janet Fiore, The Sierra Group, and Jill Fisher, Esquire, Zarwin, Baum, DeVito, Kaplan, Schaer, Toddy, P.C.

FREE TO JOB SEEKERS!

This program has been approved for 1 hour recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at hrci.org.

Vocational rehabilitation professionals, job coaches and other interested professionals, your nominal fee of $29.95 will earn you 1 CEU Credit (CRCC), and your fee will also serve as "ONE MORE WAY” to drive up employment for Americans with Disabilities, including Veterans. Teleseminars are always FREE to all job seekers with disabilities including veterans!

Now What? Advanced Interview Tactics for Applicants with Disabilities

"Your Resume, the ADA and the Interview"
Date: June 24, 2010
Time: 11:00AM - 12:15PM EDT

FREE TO JOB SEEKERS!

So, you told us after the Teleseminar on Resume Tips, that you wanted more insight regarding disability and the job search. Job Seekers and VR professionals, join us for this insightful training!

If you're a job seeker with a disability we can only assume that in today's competitive business climate that you've asked yourself one or more of these questions.

• My resume is out there, why doesn't anyone call to schedule an interview?
• How will my employment gap be interpreted by human resource professionals?
• How to I prepare for an interview? And what are they looking for?
• Should I disclose information about my disability? And, if so, how should I do it?
• Is it okay to talk about the financial incentives an employer might be eligible for if they hire me?

These are tough questions and we see many job seekers with disabilities struggling through the answers as they market their skills. In today's competitive market, the process is seldom easy but we know that with a plan and persistence and a targeted resume distributed to the right opportunities, your telephone will ultimately ring and the caller on the other end will ask the big and anticipated question, "Can you come in for an interview?"

Finally, the telephone rings, now what?

FREE TO JOB SEEKERS!

For professionals who work with people with disabilities seeking employment, there is a nominal fee of $29.95, continuing Education Credits (CRCC) are available. For you, the training session will cover the following learning objectives: How to develop a contemporary state-of-the-art resume; How to provide job seekers with tools to effectively market themselves to employers; How to provide an overview of hiring practices and incentives available to employers; and What are the six essential steps for preparing for successful job interview.

This program has been approved for 1 hour recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at hrci.org.

"Demystifying Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Workplace."

Title: Demystifying TBI and PTSD in the Workplace
Date: May 20, 2010
Time: 11:00AM - 12:00PM EST

Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group, a leading authority on veterans with disabilities and employment, is hosting special event focused on the unique needs of the military candidate looking for work.

Guest expert, Lisa Stern, Consultant to The Department of Labor, America's Heroes at Work Initiative and Meg Krause of the American's Heroes at Work Initiative will share information on how to best:

1. Separate FACT from FICTION regarding TBI and PTSD.
2. Dispel some of the frequent myths regarding TBI and/or PTSD in the workplace.
3. Present insightful information on "triggers".
4. Offer strategies for creating a welcoming and productive environment for veterans entering (or re-entering) the civilian workforce..

Your nominal fee of $29.95 will earn you 1 CEU Credit (CRCC) and, your fee will also serve as "ONE MORE WAY" to drive up employment for Americans with Disabilities, including Veterans.

This program has been approved for 1.0 hours recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at hrci.org.

The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HR Certification Institute's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.

"Translate Your Military Skills to a Civilian Job Search"

This Month's Educational Teleseminar focus:

Employment for Disabled Veterans

Title: "Translate Your Military Skills to a Civilian Job Search"
Date: March 25, 2010
Time: 11:00AM - 12:00PM EST

Space is Limited, Reserve Your Seat Now:

Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group and founder of the One More Way collaborative will interview special guest experts , Sally Hart and Matt Murphy.

Sally Hart, recently retired as the National Military Recruiting Director for CINTAS Corporation, where she developed the military recruiting program and recruited hundreds of veterans to the company.

Matt Murphy, Senior Vice President, National Sales, for RecruitMilitary develops new channels for business, new candidate aggregation strategies and new lines of business.

RecruitMilitary is the only full-service military-to-civilian recruiting firm in the United States.

Sally Hart and Matt Murphy will share information on how to best:

1. Learn key factors that civilian recruiters look for in a resume.
2. Learn common mistakes in describing your military skills;
3. Review available "translation tools".
4. Maximize military work histories in a manner that best appeals to corporate hiring managers.

Your nominal fee of $29.95 will earn you 1 CEU Credit (CRCC) and, your fee will also serve as "ONE MORE WAY" to drive up employment for Americans with Disabilities, including Veterans.

This program has been approved for 1.0 hours recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at hrci.org.

The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HR Certification Institute's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.

"Safely Navigating the ADA, FMLA and Workers' Compensation Overlap in the Workplace"

This Month's Educational Teleseminar focus:

Workplace Compliance

Title: Safely Navigating the ADA, FMLA and Workers' Compensation Overlap in the Workplace
Date: March 25, 2010
Time: 1:00PM - 2:00PM EST

Space is Limited, Reserve Your Seat Now:

Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group and founder of the One More Way collaborative will interview special guest expert, Jill Fisher, Esquire, regarding this timely workplace compliance conundrum. Ms. Fisher , co-chair of the Employment Law practice group at the firm of Zarwin, Baum, Devito, Kaplan, Schaer, Toddy, PC brings a wealth of expertise to the overlapping topics of the ADA Amendments and changing FMLA regulations, while touching on the Workers' Compensation insurance matters that also surround disability and employment law. She will address the changing laws and regulations while Janet Fiore will tie in cutting edge accommodation strategies. This session is for the human resource or vocational rehabilitation professional who is looking for advanced understanding and information regarding the updates in FMLA and the ADA and how they will effect hiring and retention of employees with disabilities.

Learn at Your Desk Teleseminar participants will learn how to:

1. Recognize ADA, FMLA, & Workers' Compensation requirements and recent changes
2. Successfully navigate the overlaps
3. Understand the practical implications & benefits of providing accommodations to workers with disabilities
4. Examine and plan to improve internal policies

Your nominal fee of $29.95 will earn you 1 CEU Credit (HRCI or CRCC) and, your fee will also serve as "ONE MORE WAY" to drive up employment for Americans with Disabilities, including Veterans.

This program has been approved for 1.0 hours recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at hrci.org.

The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HR Certification Institute's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.

Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group will present at National Rehabilitation Association's 29th annual Government Affairs Summit

Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group, and President-Elect of the National Association of Rehabilitation Leaders will join with Kent Keyser, Chief of Staff for Congressman Nick Rahall in a plenary address on the opening day of the 2010 Governmental Affairs Summit in Washington, DC.

Sunday, March 14, 2PM - 3PM
King Street Hilton Hotel
1767 King Street, Old Town, Alexandria.

For more information.