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ADA News |
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The Department of Labor has contracted with the Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers to provide training for One Stop Job Centers in meeting the non-discrimination mandate of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). WIA
was passed into law in 1998 and became effective in June of this year. WIA
replaces the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and includes some
significant language that affects individuals with disabilities that are
seeking to join the workforce. The
non-discrimination Section 188 of WIA mandates the One-Stop Job Centers
nation-wide to provide employment services to individuals with
disabilities in the same manner they are provided to non-disabled
consumers of One-Stop services. In the past individuals with disabilities
have been referred to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) for
employment related services. The new system will use DVR as one of the
resources that are available to facilitate the job search process.
Resource Specialists in each Center will guide employment
counselors to the correct supports for each individual applicant. Another
significant change will be the availability of tools and special services
that may be needed by individuals with disabilities. Part of the 188
mandate is that individuals receive services in their primary language.
For individuals with speech and hearing impairments this will mean that
sign language interpreters will be available. Section 188 also extends the
definition of Reasonable Accommodation from Title I of the Americans with
Disabilities Act to include services that are provided at the One-Stop
Centers. This change is especially significant because it broadens the
responsibility of Title II entities from overall program access when
viewed in its entirety to providing those specific services that
individuals need to access the programs offered at the One-Stop Centers. The ADA Partner’s Project is working in concert with DVR and the Governor’s Council on special Education and Disability to produce a training module that can be used to instruct One-Stop staff in the new requirements. The Partners Project in concert with DVR will develop and provide training and technical assistance to the One-Stop Center system. The Partner’s Project will make available relevant WIA regulations as requested, promote the use of the Employment and Training Administrations (ETA) and the disAbility On-line web-sites www.doleta.gov & www.wdsc.org/disability.
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