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Economics and Workplace PAS 
About this projectAmong the many issues affecting people with disability, the socio-economic factors have a major impact on PAS. With a greater understanding of socio-economic factors, policies and access to PAS services can be improved as well as providing greater information for PAS planning.
For many working-age people with a disability, there are many barriers that prevent working or returning to work. Lack of PAS at work is one key barrier. There is little public funding for workplace PAS, and the ADA does not require employers to provide PAS.
PAS in the workplace are typically construed much more broadly than just help with personal care ADLs, such as eating and toileting. At the PAS Center, we have defined “workplace PAS” to also include “task-related assistance at work, such as readers, interpreters; help with lifting or reaching; re-assignment of non-essential duties to co-workers”. Job-related PAS is, in effect, the equivalent of receiving assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) at home, in that it enables the person to fulfill his or her role, either of maintaining the household or performing the job. At the workplace, some forms of job-related PAS could reasonably be requested as a job accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but it is generally understood that non-job-related PAS (e.g., for personal care) could not.
To help provide a better understanding of the socio-economic factors effecting PAS, the Center is looking into the two areas of research.
First, this research activity will analyze the relationship between employment and employment supports, the use of technologies, and PAS. Five separate research activities will be conducted.
- Analyze the relationship between workplace PAS and AT job accommodations and employment outcomes. This study is being conducted by Stephen Kaye.
- Collect and analyze primary data on workplace PAS, AT, and employment supports. This study is being conducted by Stephen Kaye.
- Analyze barriers to employment among Medicaid PAS beneficiaries. This study is being conducted by Wayne Anderson and Josh Wiener.
- Analyze whether AT lessens the need for PAS among older persons with disabilities. This study is being conducted by Marc Freiman and Josh Wiener.
- Understand the complexity of the economics of PAS differences by age in paying for PAS in the community. Study conducted by Mitchell LaPlante.
Second, this research activity will analyze the role of tax laws that affect reimbursement for PAS. Although tax policies are one way to improve assess to PAS and provide economic support to family caregivers, current federal and state policies offer limited assistance and these are typically in the form of tax credits and deductions. This will involve two projects.
- Examine federal tax policies related to reimbursement for PAS. Study conducted by Michael Morris and Steve Mendelsohn.
- Collect and examine state tax policies related to reimbursement for PAS. Study conducted by Michael Morris and Steve Mendelsohn.
Resources
Promising Practices
The Center for Personal Assistance Services is conducting a study of employers and workplace personal assistance services. The study involves interviewing businesses and organizations of all types to determine the criteria for selecting promising practices. Then, case studies are conducted on companies and organizations that provide PAS in the workplace. Below are the promising practices.
State Medicaid Infrastructure Grants
Since 2001, the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) program has provided federal funding for state initiatives to support the competitive employment of people with disabilities. States can use MIGs to develop Medicaid supports for working people with disabilities, such as Medicaid Buy-In programs and greater availability of personal assistance services. The program is administered by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Actvities in Workplace PAS of the Medicaid Infrastructure Grantees
State Medicaid Infrastructure Grants contact list
CMS website on State Medicaid Infrastructure Grants
West Virginia University's International Center for Disability Information/Job Accommodation Network
The Job Accommodation Network is a service run by the West Virginia University's International Center for Disability.
JAN's mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, entrepreneurship, and related subjects.
JAN Resources
JAN
Home Page
Small
Business and Self-Employment Services
Searchable
Online Accomodation Resource (SOAR)
Workplace PAS Teleconferences
New! The ICDI is involved in hosting a series of free teleconferences
that will allow employers to learn more about PAS, as well as to tell
JAN what their experiences have been with PAS in the workplace.
Learn more: http://pas.icdi.wvu.edu
 State
by State Workplace PAS Data Available
State Resources for Employment of Persons with Disabilities
A compilation of agencies and resources available, by state,
for people searching for information, advocacy or assistance with employment
of persons with disabilities.
PAS Center Reports and Publications
A list of publications related to the Economics of PAS. Included in this lists are reports and publications related to PAS in the Workplace. The citations provide links to abstracts, press releases, and
either the entire publication, or information about where to obtain it.
All PAS Center reports and publications related to the Economics of PAS
Annotated Bibliography on Workplace Personal Assistance Services
Recent additions
Misra, S., Orslene, L.E. & Walls, R.T. (2010). Personal assistance services (PAS) for workers with disabilities: Views and experiences of employers. Journal of Rehabilitation, 76, 1, 22-27.
View Abstract and Obtain Full Version Solovieva, T.I., Walls, R.T., Hendricks, D.J. & Dowler, D.L. Cost of workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities: With or without personal assistance services. Disability and Health Journal, Volume 2, Issue 4, October 2009, Pages 196-205
View Abstract and Obtain Full Version Ng, T., Harrington, C., Kitchener, M. (2010). Medicare and Medicaid in long-term care. Health Affairs, 29 1, 22-28.
View Abstract and Obtain Full Version
Library
Important publications related to the Economics of PAS. Included in this lists are publications related to PAS in the Workplace. Abstracts and information on how to obtain the complete publication is provided with each citation.
All publications related to the Economics of PAS
Recent additions:
Misra, S., Orslene, L.E. & Walls, R.T. (2010). Personal assistance services (PAS) for workers with disabilities: Views and experiences of employers. Journal of Rehabilitation, 76, 1, 22-27.
View Abstract and Obtain Full Version Brennan, J. (2009). The Disability Law Handbook. Houston, TX: DBTAC Southwest ADA Center. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.
View Abstract and Obtain Full Version Albert, S.M. & Schulz, R. (February 2010). New Insights and Innovations for Reducing Health Care Costs for Employers. Westport, CT: MetLife Mature Market Institute. Retrieved February 21, 2010 from: http://www.metlife.com/mmi/research/working-caregiver-employer-health-care-costs.html#findings
View Abstract and Obtain Full Version
Presentations
Presentations related to the Economics of PAS. Included in this lists are presentations related to PAS in the Workplace. Links to abstracts, PowerPoint files and summaries are provided.
All presentations related to the Economics of PAS
Recent additions:
Kraus, L. (2007, November 6). New promising practices in workplace personal assistance services. Presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition hosted by American Public Health Association (APHA).
More information
Kraus, L. (2007, November 6). Facilitating workplace personal assistance services (PAS): The role of employment service providers. Presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition hosted by American Public Health Association (APHA).
More information
Jans, L. (2007, November 6). Perspectives of people with disabilities who use workplace personal assistance services. Presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition hosted by American Public Health Association (APHA).
More information
Links
The Center for PAS has assembled a list of links to organizations, resources and information available on the web related to the Economics of PAS. Included in this lists are links related to PAS in the Workplace.
All links related to the Economics of PAS
Recent additions: Disability.gov
http://www.Disability.gov Disability.gov, is a redesigned federal Web site that connects more than 50 million Americans with disabilities to thousands of trusted resources on disability-related issues, programs and services. Formerly known as DisabilityInfo.gov, the site has been completely redesigned and updated with new social media tools, such as a blog and a Twitter feed, to encourage feedback and interaction among visitors. Disability.gov is not just for Americans with disabilities, but also for parents of children with disabilities, employers, workforce and human resource professionals, veterans, educators, caregivers and many others. Accommodation and Compliance Series: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/bulletins/adaaa1.htm On January 1, 2009, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 went into effect, making some major changes to the way the definition of disability has been interpreted in the past. The changes apply to both the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act. Very few people argue that these changes were not needed – the courts had interpreted the definition of disability so narrowly that hardly anyone could meet it – but the challenge now is understanding what the changes are and who is covered as of January 1st. We do not yet have any regulations nor do we have any court interpretation; all we currently have are the words of the Amendments Act and its legislative history. With that said, let’s take a look at what we know so far. Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)
http://www.communityinclusion.org/index.html ICI offers training, clinical, and employment services, conducts research, and provides assistance to organizations to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in school, work, and community activities. Publication topics listed on the site include: employment, disability policy, finding and keeping a job, health care, social security benefits and eduction.
Of interest to those seeking employment are "Flexible funding stories" which describe funding approaches used by people with disabilities in order to obtain employment, often involving the hiring of personal assistants or job coaches in the workplace.
Ticket to Work Program Statistics
The Social Security's 'Work Site' offers employment support
for people with disabilities. An included table in the website contains Ticket
to Work Program statistics for State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.
View
the State Agency Ticket Information table.
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