From: nff2355@dsac.dla.mil (Dale Pennington)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) Newsletter
Date: 15 Dec 92 02:16:05 GMT
Reply-To: nff2355@dsac.dla.mil (Dale Pennington)
X-Fidonet: Split
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 26729

[Note from Bill McGarry: This was forwarded from the Disability
 Research mailing list by Patt Bromberger]

Questions about this newsltter should be
address to: nff2355@dsac.dla.mil (Dale A Pennington)

    Cover letter

    Dear Colleague:

    The Department of Defense (DoD) Computer/Electronic
    Accommodations Program (CAP) was established to assist DoD
    employees, supervisors and managers in meeting accessibility
    requirements throughout the Department.  In an effort to
    ensure awareness of our responsibility to employees with
    disabilities, the CAP Program Office disseminates
    information regarding technology and related issues
    supporting individuals with disabilities.  Attached is a
    copy of the CAP News Bulletin for your interest.  This News
    Bulletin is also available on disk or in Braille upon
    request.

    This News Bulletin represents the first in a series of
    releases designed to inform the DoD community about the
    Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) and related
    disability management issues.  Look for these regular
    features in each issue of our News Bulletin:

    SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    Highlights special activities throughout the DoD which
    relate to the CAP program and disability related issues.

    CAP STATUS:
    Provides current data on accommodations provided through the
    CAP office and program related information.

    FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
    Provides information on providing accommodations, technology
    developments, other subjects of interest.

    CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
    Provides a calendar of events which you may be interested in
    attending.  Points of contact for more information are noted
    in this section also.

    It is anticipated that bulletins will be released
    periodically.  If you have suggestions, comments or
    questions, please contact the CAP office, 703D756D8811
    (voice/TDD).

		     Dinah F.B. Cohen

		     Program Director

		     Computer/Electronic
		     Accommodations Program

=======================================================================

	  CAP, Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program

			 DATE:  June, 1992

For More Information Call:  703-756-8811

This News Bulletin is also available on disk or in Braille upon
request.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) is expanding
eligibility for interpreter and reader services to support job-related
training and professional conference attendance.  For a limited time,
financial assistance is available for interpreter and reader services
for job- related training and conferences which are three (3) days or
longer.  CAP financial resources had previously been available only
for training and conferences lasting five days or longer.  This
revised policy will be in affect through September 30, 1992.  REQUESTS
FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE SUBMITTED THIRTY DAYS IN ADVANCE TO
SECURE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.  [NOTE: When requesting CAP financial
support for interpreter or reader services, please determine if the
organization sponsoring the conference is providing interpreters and
reader services prior to requesting assistance from the CAP Program
Office.]

In May, the National Security Agency (NSA) opened a center to support
DoD employees with disabilities.  NSA's Center for Computer Assistive
Technology (CCAT) provides demonstration capability, technical
assistance and training for computer, telecommunications, and office
equipment supporting a fully accessible work place.  The CCAT is
located in Lithicum, Maryland and is open to all DoD employees.
Appointments are required, 301D859D6164.

CAP STATUS:

In FY91, the CAP office filled over 850 requests for accommodations.
In the first half of FY92, the CAP office has already provided over
500 accommodations.  Accommodations have been distributed throughout
the DoD as follows:

103 for Army, 192 for Navy, 72 for Air Force and 158 for DoD Agencies.
These include 236 accommodations for employees with hearing
impairments, 246 accommodations for employees with visual impairments,
and 43 accommodations for employees with dexterity impairments.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

For employees with disabilities and their supervisors, determining
appropriate accommodations can be a challenge.  To simplify this
process we recommend the following approach for conducting a needs
assessment.  This approach can be modified to meet the individual
needs and constraints of your environment.

1 .  Conduct Job Analysis D Review current job descriptions,
    conduct an interview with the employee regarding job
    requirements, and observe the work as it is accomplished to
    identify essential functions of the position.  Essential
    functions are the key elements of the position which must be
    achieved by the individual with or without an accommodation.

2.   Identify Skills Required D Identify the requisite
    skills for each essential functional requirement.  These
    include physical requirements (carrying, reaching, climbing,
    seeing, speaking, etc.) and cognitive requirements (problem
    solving, math, reading, reasoning, etc.).

3.   Determine Functional Characteristics D Identify the
    functional characteristics of the employee.  The emphasis is
    not on the type of disability, but on the specific
    capabilities and functional limitations of the individual.
    It is important to recognize that individuals with
    disabilities have different capabilities and varying degrees
    of disabling conditions.  For example, just because an
    individual is blind, does not mean that a Braille printer is
    needed D many blind individuals do not read Braille.

4.   Evaluate Methods and Processes D Identify current and
    proposed alternative approaches for accomplishing the
    essential functional requirements of the position.  In many
    cases there is more than one way to accomplish assigned
    tasks.  All options should be explored during this process.
    Often a process can be changed which will enable the
    employee to achieve the desired results without incurring
    additional costs.

5.   Identify Areas Requiring Accommodation D Compare the
    essential functional requirements and the associated skills,
    methods and processes with the functional characteristics of
    the individual employee.  This will clarify areas of the
    position which require some type of accommodation.

6.   Identify and Evaluate Alternatives D Work closely with
    the employee to explore all alternatives before selecting
    the solution that will work in an individual situation.
    Different individual situations require different solutions
    from restructuring of the job to physical changes in the
    work environment to providing communication tools
    (interpreters, TDDs, etc.) or other assistive devices.

7.   Execute the Selected Alternative(s) D Affect the
    change(s) which will accommodate the individual with a
    disability.  In those cases where communication enhancements
    and computer assistive devices are required, CAP is here to
    assist you and your activity to obtain appropriate
    accommodations and associated training.

When completing a needs assessment, it is important to involve the
right team of individuals.  The employee with the disability and their
supervisor should always be involved.  As appropriate, the personnel
office, ADP personnel, procurement personnel, facilities management
personnel and external resources should also be included in the
process.

External sources that may provide assistance in this process include
the following:

	 Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program Office
	 [703D756D8811 (Voice/TDD)];

	 General Service Administration's Clearinghouse on
	 Computer Accommodations (COCA)  [202D501D4906
	 (voice), 202D501D2010 (TDD)];

	 Job Accommodations Network (JAN) [1D800-DIALJAN];

	 Private Service Providers/Contractors;

	 State and Local Rehabilitation Centers; and

	 Veterans Administration Information Technology
	 Center (ITC) [202D535D8922]

For additional information on conducting a needs assessment, you may
also wish to obtain the following materials:

	 "Handbook of Job Analysis for Reasonable
	 Accommodations", Personnel Management Series
	 720DB;

	 "Managing Information Resources for
	 Accessibility", General Services Administration,
	 Clearinghouse on Computer Accommodations (COCA);

	 "Ready, Willing, and Available", The President's
	 Committee on Employment of People with
	 Disabilities [202D653D5044 (voice), 202D653D5050
	 (TDD)]; and

	 "The Workplace Workbook", by James Mueller, RESNA
	 [202D857D1199].

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

    Conferences/Meetings:

    June 29 D July 4:  National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
	 Conference, Denver, CO.  For more information contact
	 Jerome R. Moers, 303D988D8832 (TDD).

    June 29 - July 4:  National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
	 Conference, Charlotte, NC.  For more information call
	 410D659D9314.

    July 4 D 11:  American Council of the Blind (ACB)
	 Convention, Phoenix, AZ.  For more information call
	 202D467D5081.

    July 21:  DoD Forum at the Federally Employed Women (FEW)
	 Conference, Cincinnati, OH.  For more information
	 contact June Hajjar, 703D607D1978.

    Oct. 1 - 2:  AACT V Conference, U.S. Department of Commerce
	 Washington, D.C.  For more information contact Alexis
	 Malcolm, 202D523D0913, or Zoe McDonald, 202D377D3201.

    Oct. 29 D Nov. 2:  Access Expo, Washington, DC.  For more
	 information contact Art Kerley, 203D775D0422.

    Dec. 9 - 11:  Perspectives on Employment of Persons with
	 Disabilities, Bethesda, MD.  For more information
	 contact Isabelle Howes, 202D382D8502.

CAP Personnel Site Visits:

    Aug. 18 - 19:  Navy Office of Civilian Personnel
	 Management/SE, Norfolk, VA

    Sept. 14:  Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Puget sound, WA

	      CAP OFFICE
	      DEFENSE MEDICAL SYSTEMS SUPPORT CENTER
	      5109 LEESBURG PIKE, SUITE 502
	      FALLS CHURCH, VA  22041-3201