The Offices of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities provide various employment programs to individuals with disabilities. Evidence has shown that individuals recovering from a disability are better prepared to achieve independence when they have secured gainful employment. Supported employment offers an individual the opportunity to gain useful skills, earn an income and qualify for benefits. Other opportunities, such as vocational rehabilitation programs, prepare individuals with disabilities to apply for stable work. The Committee seeks input from the stakeholders in this system on how employment programs have been addressing employment needs and improving outcomes for individuals with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on employment programs offered by the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to:

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