Policyworks Inc

TO SUPPORT EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, FULL PARTICIPATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

LET'S WORK! CALIFORNIA IS A PROJECT THAT POLICY WORKS, INC. CONSULTED WITH THE CALIFORNIA TRANSITION ALLIANCE, FUNDED THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (CS SCDD). FIVE YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE ENGAGED IN CUSTOMIZED INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT AND SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES WORKING TOGETHER ON AN IMPORTANT VIDEO PROJECT FOR A YOUTUBE CHANNEL. THEY ASSISTED IN CREATING A GUIDE AND VIDEO SERIES ABOUT NETWORKING AND SELF-ADVOCACY DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUNG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS AND THEIR TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK. THIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ITS PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE FOR CALIFORNIA'S YOUTH AND STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM SCHOOL TO CAREERS.

THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH EIN SOF, INC., POLICY WORKS, INC. SERVES AS CORE STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONS PARTNER IN LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! (LCA) TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN FRONT OF, AND BEHIND THE CAMERA/KEYBOARD; TO IMPROVE DISABILITY PORTRAYALS AND REDUCE STIGMA; AND TO INTEGRATE ACCESS TO MEDIA WITH CAPTIONS AND AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS. THE LCA COLLABORATIVE IS A COLLECTION OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL INITIATIVES THAT WEAVES AND BRAIDS ESTABLISHED TRADITIONAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA ENTITIES (NETWORKS, STUDIOS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, UNIONS, PRODUCTION, INTERNET AND CABLE CONTENT CREATOR AND PROVIDERS) WITH AUTHENTIC DISABILITY AND DIVERSITY LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS, FILM FESTIVALS, VETERANS, ACCELERATED HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, RECENT GRADUATES AND TRANSITIONING YOUTH. THIS COMBINATION RESULTS IN A DYNAMIC DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE DIVERSITY COMMUNITY. LCA CREATES INTERCONNECTED STRATEGIES AND TACTICS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR THREE OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING HOSTING REGIONAL LCA CAREER EXPLORATION SUMMITS. THESE SUMMITS ARE DESIGNED FOR THREE TARGET AUDIENCES: MEDIA EMPLOYERS SEEKING QUALIFIED AND CREATIVE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES AND COLLABORATORS; MENTORS IN SEARCH OF MENTEES WITH DISABILITIES; AND PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE ASPIRING MEDIA PROFESSIONALS WITH DISABILITIES OR WHO ARE DEAF. AS PART OF EACH LCA SUMMIT, POLICY WORKS, INC. CONDUCTS A WORKSHOP ENTITLED 'HOW TO LEVERAGE YOUR DISABILITY TO SHARPEN YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE'. THIS WORKSHOP INVITES PARTICIPANTS TO LOOK AT DISABILITY DISCLOSURE THROUGH THE LENS OF DISABILITY EXPRESSION BY EXPLORING INTEGRATION OF ONE'S DISABILITY EXPERIENCE INTO THEIR NARRATIVE AS AN EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY. THESE WORKSHOPS WERE HELD IN THE THREE MAJOR MEDIA MARKETS IN HOLLYWOOD, SAN DIEGO AND SILICON VALLEY SERVING NEARLY 90 ASPIRING MEDIA PROFESSIONALS WITH DISABILITIES OR WHO ARE DEAF.

CAMP NETWORX! WAS A PROGRAM THROUGH THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSTITUTE, FUNDED BY CITIBANK. THE INVITATION-ONLY GRANT WAS AWARDED TO TARGET COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR YOUTH AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES EXPERIENCING SOCIAL ISOLATION RESULTING FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS. POLICY WORKS, INC. AND IT'S LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACCESS! PROGRAM PARTNERS PROPOSED AND PRODUCED A VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP FOR 25 YOUTH AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHO WERE RECEIVING PEER MENTORING THROUGH FLORIDA DVR'S YOUTH PEER MENTORING PROGRAM. CAMP NETWORX! 2021 WAS HOSTED BY A YOUTH PEER MENTORING PROGRAM PROVIDER AND WAS HELD IN OCTOBER 2021 OVER A FIVE WEEK PERIOD, WHERE CAMPERS WOULD COME TOGETHER TWICE A WEEK, FIRST FOR A CAMP-WIDE LEARNING SESSION OR FIRESIDE CHAT, AND THEN TWO DAYS LATER FOR AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP OR CABIN-TIME WITH OTHER CAMPERS AND THEIR CABIN PEER MENTORS. THE CAMPERS LEARNED STRATEGIES TO BUILD CONNECTIONS THROUGH STORYTELLING, DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE IN THE ONLINE CAMP.