Promising Practices… Achieving a more welcoming, integrated and accessible One-Stop Career Center system

As one of the key principles of WIA, universal access offered the promise of a welcoming, integrated, and user-friendly system. Job seekers would be able to independently tap into all available employment services, resulting in fewer requests for specialized assistance and more efficient use of staff resources. Under WIA and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations would be provided upon request; however, One-Stop Career Centers would streamline services so that a wide-ranging population of job seekers, including job seekers with disabilities, would have direct access to their resources, programs and activities. With the addition of Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) in One-Stop Career Centers across the nation, universal access moved into the spotlight. Read the full Brief to learn how DPNs throughout the country are helping to expand universal access in One-Stop Career Centers for a more diverse population of job seekers.

How Students with Disabilities Can Prepare for College

How Students with Disabilities Can Prepare for College Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Program https://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/college.html This publication addresses issues surrounding the transitions from high school to college and beyond for people with disabilities. It covers three phases: • Preparing for college while in high school. • Staying in college, which requires numerous self-management skills. • Preparing to move beyond college and into a career. Preparing for College: An Online Tutorial https://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/cprep.html College Survival Skills: Tips for Students with Disabilities to Increase College Success https://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/survival.html

Equal Access: Universal Design of Instruction

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers, including STEM education and careers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation to promote persons with disabilties becoming trained for STEM career opportunitues. The home Web page is: http://www.washington.edu/doit/ Its Web site has many videos, information on universal design, acessible distance learning, and learning strategies.

National Network of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Centers

The ADA National Network is a network of 10 regional ADA Centers thta provide expertise for up-to-date information, referrals, resources, and training on the Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA) to business, government entities, and persons with disabilities. http://www.adata.org/network.org

Funding Sources for Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities

Assistive technology devices and assistive technology service are defined in the Assistive Technology Act (ATA) of 1998, as follows: • Assistive Technology Device-Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off-the-shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capacities of individuals with disabilities. • Assistive technology service: Any service that directly assist an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology service. There are several funding sources to assist with paying of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, including funding by the employer (tax credits are available for the employer), Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Work Incentives, Veteran’s Administration, local service, charitable, religious, and civic organizations, private foundations, and private insurance. The attached provides a list of Web sites for variety of information on assistive technology and funding sources for persons with disabilities.

GAO Report, October 2009, " Higher Education and Disability..."

The GAO recently issued a report on how education needs a coordinated approach to improve its technical assistance postsecondary schools in supporting students with disabilities. Students with disabilities represent approximately 11% of all postsecondary students in 2008. The proportion of students that reported having attention deficit disorder increased from 7 to 19%.

Fact Sheet: Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact Job Accommodation Network UPDATED: September 2009

Fact Sheet: Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact Job Accommodation Network UPDATED: September 2009

Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: Higher Education's Obligations Under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Revised Sept 1998

The Office for Civil Rights provides information on postsecondary schools' obligations to provide auxiliary aids to qualified students who have disabilities under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA. It includes examples of different types of auxiliary aids and services including a section on "Questions Commonly Asked by Postsecondary Schools and Their Students."

Find an Assistive Technology Resource Center in Your State

State Assistive Technology (AT) Act programs work to improve access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities through comprehensive statewide programs. These programs include device loans, AT reuse, device demonstrations and state financing activities. For examples of how some states have helped people with disabilities get assistive technology visit the website of the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP at http://www.ataporg.org/atap/projects.php. For a listing of AT manufacturers and distributors in your state visit ABLEDATA at http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160163&ksectionid=19326.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) 2 Part Webinar Series

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: Providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, Providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and Educating callers about self-employment options. This two-part series provides both an overview and an in-depth exploration of the Job Accommodation Network. Part I covers basic information on the services and resources that JAN provides. Part II shares situations and solutions using real life examples of training and employment related accommodations provided to students, job seekers, and employees with disabilities

Workplace Resources VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention

The resources in this section are materials and information that facilitate employment and job retention for individuals with disabilities, including new knowledge gained from the Center's research activities.

America’s Heroes at Work U.S. Department of Labor

This website is designed for employers and the workforce investment system to link to tools and resources to help returning service members affected by Traumatic Brain Inquiry (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) succeed in the workplace-particularly service members returning from Iran and Afghanistan.

DBTAC National Network of ADA Centers

The Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) is a national network of 10 regional DBTAC: ADA Centers that provide the most complete and experienced services for up-to-date information, referrals, resources, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, employers, government entities, and individuals with disabilities. Maintain a national toll free information line, (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY), and each DBTAC responds to calls generated from within its regional service area. Technical assistance includes information and answers to questions on employment, architectural access, effective communication and other issues. Training programs ranging from Web courses to on-site, customized sessions for employers, government agencies, disability organizations, architectural firms and others. Maintain an online, searchable database of ADA and disability-related publications, ranging from legal documents to user-friendly fact sheets and checklists. Contact your regional DBTAC ADA Center: 800-949-4232 (V/TTY) http://www.adata.org/network/index.html

Job Accommodation Network

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) facilitates 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 provides information regarding job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the employment of people with disabilities. JAN consultants provide individualized worksite accommodation consultation and training through its toll free number and electronic services. Phone: (800)526-7234(V)/(877) 781-9403 (TTY) E-mail:jan@jan.wvu.edu

Original 30 Second Trainings

The “Original 30 Second Trainings” include a library of the following topics, along with a set of instructions on how users can customize these 30 Second Trainings for their own use. Click here to view the library of topics:

DPN 30 Second Trainings

A 30-Second Training is a quick fun Power Point slide show that is electronically sent out to One-Stop and Partner staff and can be completed in a very short amount of time hence, 30-Seconds Trainings. They provide disability and employment information usually with a resource link for those that are interested in furthering their knowledge and expertise. 30-Second Trainings are designed to be fast, informative and entertaining to capture the attention of busy One-Stop staff, partners and/or employers in a 30-Second PowerPoint Show. 30-Second Trainings can be used to either introduce topics and information for the first time, or to reinforce information that has already been presented in a formal presentation. It is one of many options on a menu of training strategies and techniques for Navigators to have in their toolbox. While it can be used as a stand-alone training, it is best used to augment other training. 30-Second Training topics cover a wide-range of disability and employment issues in a way that is easy to process and that leads the end-user to a reputable internet resource where they can find additional information on the topic when they have the time or the need to access it.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) 2 Part Webinar Series

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: Providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, Providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and Educating callers about self-employment options. This two-part series provides both an overview and an in-depth exploration of the Job Accommodation Network. Part I covers basic information on the services and resources that JAN provides. Part II shares situations and solutions using real life examples of training and employment related accommodations provided to students, job seekers, and employees with disabilities.

Access & Accomodations - DPN FAQ's - U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration National Technical Assistance Project

Access & Accomodations Click for Answers: How can I ensure that my One-Stop Career Centers are physically accessible? How can I ensure communication access in the One Stop system and in particular, for individuals who are d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing? What are Video Relay Services (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), and how can video based communication services enhance access in the One- Stops for customers whose primary language is American Sign Language (or other manual sign language)? How can I help to ensure program access on all levels of One-Stop services for individuals with a wide range of disabilities and needs? How do I know what type of adaptive equipment to recommend having available in the One-Stop Career Centers? How can I guide One-Stop staff to effectively serve individuals with non-visible learning disabilities? What resources are available on reasonable accommodations and assistive technology for individuals with learning disabilities?

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Section 188 Disability Checklist U.S. Department of Labor Civil Rights Center

The Checklist is designed to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in programs and activities operated by recipients of financial assistance under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), including those that are part of the One-Stop delivery system. Section 188 of WIA (WIA Section 188) ensures nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for various categories of persons, including persons with disabilities, who apply for and participate in programs and activities operated by recipients of WIA Title I financial assistance. WIA Section 188 Disability Checklist: Appendix – Examples of Practice This Appendix to the Section 188 Disability Checklist includes examples of policies, procedures and other recommended steps that local workforce investment area (LWIA) grant recipients can take to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to WIA Title I programs and activities. These "examples of practices" suggest ways in which LWIA grant recipients might meet their obligations to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to those programs and activities.