# Presentation: 005217

## Universal Access Services for Customers with DisabilitiesDisability Program Navigator Initiative

- Presented by:
- Maggie Leedy,
- Lead Navigator, Maryland
- _[mleedy@montgomeryworks.com](mailto:mleedy@montgomeryworks.com)_
- 240-283-1564

## Goals of WIA 

- To  increase employment, retention and earnings
- Increase occupational skill attainment
- Improve the quality of the workforce

## WIA - Key Principles

- Streamlining Services
- Empowering Individuals
- Universal Access
- Strong Roles for Private Sector and Local Boards

## Physical Accommodations

- JAWS screen reading software - installed in all resource centers and classrooms
- Windows 2000 and above – Screen Reader Software and Screen Magnifiers
- Classroom materials available in alternative formats which include Braille, large print and on disk

## Physical Accommodations

- MontgomeryWorks information available in large print and Braille at front desk
- Interpreters provided upon request
- All computer stations adjustable
- 5 Partners providing disability employment services

## In-house Initiatives 

- Disability awareness survey - developed and conducted for all MontgomeryWorks staff
- Disability awareness training -  designed and conducted for all MontgomeryWorks staff
- Disability Update newsletter – written and distributed quarterly

## In-house Initiatives 

- Deaf Culture training - including common signs used in One Stops
- JAWS Training for all Computer and Resource Staff
- Depression Awareness Training
- Montgomery Youth Works ODEP grant to expand services to youth w/ disabilities

## In-house Initiatives 

- Ongoing technical assistance with MontgomeryWorks staff
- Evaluating Customer Service
- Continuous Quality Improvement

## Community Activities 

- Site survey and accommodations assistance from Director of ADA Information Center
- Project College Bound - Hosted 33 students with chronic disabilities from, a summer college prep program offered by the Adolescent Employment Readiness Center at Children’s Hospital

## Community Activities 

- US Chamber of Commerce – National Workforce Forum - Setting a National Agenda for Increasing the Employment of People with Disabilities
- National Disability Mentoring Day - Sponsored Kick-off breakfast for the American Association of People with Disability’s for Montgomery County Public Schools students

## Community Activities 

- Indiana Leadership Conference – Facilitated team building day for Indiana Work-One Center and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation personnel as they moved toward to co-location
- Next Step Program  - Montgomery County Public School’s information program for parents of graduating students in Special Ed. Presented on MW services

## Community Activities 

- St. Luke’s Back to Work Program – Presented on MW services
- Interagency Developmental Disabilities Workforce Development Task Force – Member
- DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy -  National Teleconference presentation entitled: The Workforce Investment Act: Creating Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities

## Community Activities

- National Center on Secondary Education and Transition - Presented for the Capacity Building Institute on Creating Youth Systems that Include Youth with Disabilities
- National Association of Workforce Boards Annual Meeting – Disability Services at MontgomeryWorks

## Information Sharing 

- Montgomery County Mental Health Collaboration Council on Transition
- Partner Meeting on Benefits InfoSource, co-located service to provide information and assistance to recipients of SSI and SSDI benefits on how to manage benefits and return to work

## Recommendations 

- Get buy in from the top, One Stop and Workforce Investment Board Directors
- Create Awareness that disability is not a  separate issue
- Focus equally on attitude/programmatic and physical accommodation

## Recommendations

- Be proactive, not reactive
- Ask for and use feedback from Disability Community
- Inform the Disability Community about services

## Recommendations

- Be a Positive Role Model
- Join Community Organizations
- Invite people into your One Stop, host  breakfast, staff, information meetings
- 	and tours

## Recommendations

- Have Fun!
- Be Flexible
- Remember, this is a continuous process...

## Disability Program Navigator 

- Want are we?
- What do we do?
- Where do we work?
- How benefits from our services?

## Jointly Sponsored by:

- U. S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration
- &
- Social Security Administration Office of Program Development and Research

## Historical Perspective

- Old Paradigm
- Disability = Defective
- Defects need to be Fixed
- If you can’t be “fixed”, services are denied
- You have a disability you go to VR

## New Paradigm

-    Disability, like race and gender is a natural part of the human experience.  We should not try to “fix” people rather, we should fix the environment so it is effective for everyone.

## Goals of Navigator Initiative:

- To maximize access for persons with disabilities within the one-stops
- Increase customer satisfaction of persons with disabilities within the one-stops
- Assist in the increased employment of persons with disabilities
- Enhance economic empowerment of persons with disabilities

## What is a Navigator?

- Resource
- Facilitator
- Problem-Solver
- Systems Change Agent
- Relationship/Capacity Builder

## Reason for Navigator Position

- Facilitate seamless and comprehensive services for persons with disabilities within the One-Stop Career Centers
- Provide assistance in “navigating” the variety of programs and services

## Reason for Navigator Position

- Serve as a resource to the one-stop staff and the disability community
- Conduct outreach to the disability community and organizations that serve them

## Navigator Functions

- Identify and address the needs of people with disabilities seeking training and employment
- Facilitate Universal Access to the One-Stop System for persons with disabilities

**Notes:**
Service Collaboration:  Development of relationships with mandatory partners and or other service systems (Mental Health, MR/DD, Transportation)
Training and Education:  Staff within one-stop, disability community
Relationship Building with Employers:  Outreach or networking with the business community
Counseling:  Identification of strategies and possible resources to remove barriers to employment
Accessibility Problem Solving:  Identification and assistance with implementation of solutions to physical, communication and/or program access challenges
Information and Referral:  Identification of resources and connecting job seekers/agencies with these resources
Outreach to consumers:  Presentations to disability-related organizations, school systems, or other potential points of contact to educate other systems and/or individuals with disabilities about the workforce development system

## Navigator Functions

- Provide training on issues and programs related to people with disabilities
- Conduct outreach to the disability community on resources available through One-Stop Career Center system

## Navigator Functions	

- Development of relationships with mandatory partners and other service systems
- Develop linkages and collaborate with employers, employer organizations, and community service providers

## Navigator Functions	

- Identify and assist with implementation of solutions to physical, communication and/or program access challenges
- Identification of resources and connecting seekers with these resources

## Navigator Functions

- Presentations to disability-related organizations, school systems, etc., to educate them about the workforce development system

## Navigator Knowledge	

**Social Security Administration Programs**
**Department of Labor Programs**
**Workforce Issues**
**Education**
**Housing **
**Transportation**
**Assistive Technology/Accommodations**

## Navigator Position vs. ...

_**Case Manager**__:_
- Don’t  “carry” a caseload
**Do **work _with_ both customers and case managers to ensure excellent customer service

## Navigator Position vs. ...

**Benefits Planning and Outreach Specialist**
*Do ****not*** provide benefits counseling
***Do*** refer individuals with disabilities to Benefits Planning and Assistance Counselor

## Navigator Position vs. ...

**Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist**
- Don’t provide one-one case management
**Do** work collaboratively _with_ VR to serve persons with disabilities

## Benefits of Navigator position:

- One-Stop Disability Resource
- Time Saver
- Linkage of organizations in disability community