Quite honestly, this book is a fantastic
value. We were
astonished at how much great information was packed into this one volume!
We highly recommend ACCESS FOR ALL
to:
-
One-Stop
Administrators - as a tool to identify the programmatic issues in offering
effective service to customers with disabilities.
-
One-Stop
front-line Staff - as an initial overview of critical disability-related
issues and as an ongoing reference manual.
-
Vocational
Rehabilitation Professionals - as a terrific introduction to the Workforce
Investment Act, a detail of of the disability-related issues for
One-Stops, and as a valuable source of information on related
disability/employment issues.
For ease of
use, ACCESS FOR ALL
is divided into the following
fourteen sections...
Section 1: Overview
A very succinct overview of the One-Stop System and the
implications of service delivery to customers with disabilities. Topics
also include basic guidelines for working with
customers with disabilities, confidentiality and disclosure in service delivery,
strategies for individuals with disabilities in using the One-Stop System, and
the role of public Vocational Rehabilitation.
Section 2:
Legal Requirements
While there are a variety of practical issues that One-Stop Systems must
consider in working with customers with disabilities, there are also legal
issues that must be considered as well. This section provides a summary of the
legal requirements under the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions
of the Workforce Investment Act and other federal regulations.
Section 3:
Ensuring Accessibility
To properly serve customers with disabilities, One-Stop facilities and services
need to be fully accessible. This section includes two comprehensive checklists
to help ensure both physical and service accessibility. It also contains a
variety of information on creating electronically accessible work stations and
kiosks that meet the needs of people with a variety of disabilities, as well as
other ideas on ensuring accessibility.
Section 4:
Disability Overview
This section provides a basic overview of what the term "disability" means,
provides specific guidelines concerning language and etiquette, and also a
discussion of the "Myths and Facts" about people with disabilities.
Section 5:
Disability Fact Sheets
This section provides a great overview of the most common
types of disability and gives effective etiquette guidelines for interacting
effectively with people with disabilities. Informative "Fact
Sheets" explain the
employment-related implications of a variety of disabilities.
"Basic Etiquette" guidelines are included for six major categories of
disabilities. This section also contains three examples of simple
screening tools to assist One-Stop staff in identifying individuals with
previously undiagnosed disabilities, in order to obtain the necessary supports
and assistance so the individuals can fully benefit from the One-Stop system.
Section 6:
Job Accommodation
Many people with disabilities require some type of accommodation in order to
succeed in employment. One-Stop staff may play a significant role in the
identification of appropriate job accommodations. This section has a variety of
information on job accommodations, including guidelines for counseling customers
on accommodation issues, funding of accommodations, and numerous examples of
"high-tech" and "low-tech" accommodations, and where to get
assistance.
Section 7:
Job Placement
One-Stop Systems play a wide variety of roles in assisting people with
disabilities to find employment, from assisting individuals to use One-Stop
resources, to more intensive one-on-one assistance. In many
cases, people with disabilities will slip seamlessly into the One-Stop's
standard job placement stream. In other instances, the customer's disability
will present some unique strategic and legal considerations. This section
provides guidelines, tools and resources for the job placement process. Issues
discussed include placement planning, career exploration, disclosure during the
job search process, interviewing tips, and the role of staff in the placement
process. (As a bonus, interviewing guidelines for Employers
are also included.)
Section 8:
ADA & Employment
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities have
specific rights regarding employment, which cover both the job search process
and their role as an employee once they have a job. This section contains
information regarding the employment provisions of the ADA, including guidelines
for both employers and individuals with disabilities.
Section 9:
Social Security
A major concern of many people with disabilities who are seeking employment,
concerns the impact of working on their social security disability benefits and
medical coverage. This section is designed to provide One-Stop staff a basic
understanding of benefit issues, and where people with disabilities can get
additional assistance with benefit's management.
Section 10:
Transition & Youth
One-Stop Systems can play a significant role in assisting young people with
disabilities to successfully transition from school to adult life. This section
contains information on what exactly "transition" is, and ideas concerning how
One-Stops can play a significant role in this process.
Section 11:
Disability Services
This section provides guidance concerning the wide variety of public and private
agencies, funding mechanisms, and service delivery designs serving the needs of
people with disabilities. This information should be helpful in connecting local
One-Stop Systems with a variety of resources, and in the development of formal
and informal relationships with the disability service system. Included is
information on the new Ticket to Work Program from the Social Security
Administration.
Section 12:
Transportation
Transportation is often identified as one of the most significant barriers to
employment for people with disabilities. This section provides a variety of
ideas and resources for addressing transportation needs.
Section 13:
Definitions and Acronyms
A review of a variety of terminology related to services and employment for
people with disabilities.
Section 14:
Resources
An extensive listing of resources on a wide variety of disability related
issues, arranged topically. Includes contact information and web links.
Index:
A comprehensive index which provides manual page references for various
topics.
(Note:
As a companion to ACCESS TO ALL, we also recommend
Working With People
With Disabilities in a Job Placement Environment by Richard Pimentel.) |
