Disability Initiative Update National Wellness Conference Lois Sacher, RN Regional Nurse Consultant April 26, 2001

2 Job Corps Disability Initiative Discontinued use of designated disability centers Revised PRH-1 Discontinued A or B folders--information on the 653 health questionnaire can no longer be used as a basis for classifying applicant folders for center review

3 Job Corps Disability Initiative (continued) Requires all centers and OA contractors to develop policies and procedures to ensure that applicants and students are provided reasonable accommodation Requires ACs to collect information relating to an applicant’s reasonable accommodation needs Requires all centers to appoint a Center Director’s designee (CDD) for disability issues

4 Job Corps Disability Initiative (continued) Reestablished cooperative relationship between Job Corps and Vocational Rehabilitation programs Developed relationship with the Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

5 PRH Chapter 1— Eligibility/Screening Determine eligibility Access additional factors for selection Assign applicant to center Collect health information Collect reasonable accommodation information (for applicant’s with disabilities) *** Health and reasonable accommodation information shall have no bearing on a student’s eligibility or center assignment.

6 Job Corps Disability Tutorial An online tutorial containing information on how Job Corps staff can meet the needs of students with disabilities has been developed The site contains general disability information and specific information for center, outreach and admissions, and placement staff

7 Disability Initiative—Questions for Job Corps Center Assessments 1.Are folders for students with disabilities being processed in a reasonable amount of time? -- Review folders -- Interview staff 2.Does the center have a CDD for disability issues? -- Interview Center Director/staff 3.Are other center staff aware of and involved in efforts to make the center more inclusive of people with disabilities? -- Interview staff (particularly safety officer and EEO staff)

8 Disability Initiative—Questions for Job Corps Center Assessments (continued) 4.Do students receive information about disability and reasonable accommodation during orientation? -- Interview CDD/orientation staff -- Review orientation materials 5.Has the center established linkages with VR and other disability service providers? -- Interview CDD -- Interview VR liaison and disability service providers -- Review evidence of linkages

9 Disability Initiative—Questions for Job Corps Center Assessments (continued) 6.Have students and staff received any disability- related training/education? -- Interview CDD -- Review training log 7.What action has the center taken to become more accessible/inclusive of people with disabilities? -- Interview CDD, Center Director

10 Disability Initiative—Questions for Job Corps Center Assessments (continued) 8.Does the center have a reasonable accommodation process in place? -- Interview CDD -- Interview students receiving accommodation and staff involved in providing accommodation -- Review reasonable accommodation request forms and related paper work (evidence of interactive process, follow up, etc.) 9.Is the center storing records that contain disability-related information properly? -- Review records (medical records stored separately, only those with a need to know have access to disability-related information, all information maintained in central folder after student leaves the program)

11 Overview of Disability Session JAN Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers Success for People with Disabilities Supporting the Disability Initiative Burning Questions