Disability Initiative Update

1. 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 http://www.jobcorpshealth.com/disability

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