Raiseup

Work Incentive Grant

Managed by Goodwill Industries on Behalf of a consortium of 5 WIBs

Our Mission

• To increase the capacity within the One-Stop system to better serve persons with disabilities.

Service Areas• PA Workfore Investment Areas

– Allegheny County / City of Pittsburgh• 2 comprehensive• 8 mini

– Westmoreland / Fayette Counties• 2 comprehensive

– Southwest Corner – Washington, Greene and Beaver Counties

• 3 comprehensive• 2 comprehensive

– Tri-County – Butler, Armstrong and Indiana Counties

• 1 comprehensive• 2 under construction

– Cross Regional Sites• 3 comprehensive

Service Areas

• Northern West Virginia Workforce Investment Area– Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and

Tyler Counties• 3 comprehensive

Strategies• Focus groups• Outreach to job seekers with

disabilities • Enhance linkages between

disability service providers and the One-Stop system.

• Website• Development of One-Stop Staff

expertise / staff development• Enhancement of physical

accessibility• Outreach to employers• Linkages with benefits

counseling

Focus Groups

• Conducted by a national market research firm.• 6 total groups urban and rural.• Persons with disabilities who were looking for

work.• Findings were basic:

– One person had heard of a CareerLink or a One Stop.– Everyone reported feeling that the services they had

received in job assistance to date were not productive or effective.

– The concept of Universal access/ One-Stop services was well received.

Outreach to job seekers with disabilities

• Community Informational Presentations– Organizations / Events of and for persons with disabilities:

examples: TCC’s, Consumer Advisory Counsels, NAMI, Career Fairs, Consumer Open House’s (at One-Stops)

• Targeted Advertising: Television,Radio and Newspaper

• Consumer Feedback loop– Invitation to One-Stop– One-Stop job seeker satisfaction survey– Consumer Panel presentation on strategies for effective

service delivery which addresses issues specific to persons with disabilities.

– Consumer Advisory groups

Enhance linkages between disability service providers and

the One-Stop system• Representing the universal concept of the

One-Stop within the community. • Facilitating development of new and

enhanced partnerships between service providers and the One-Stop.– Outcomes:

• CIL/DBTAC grant• Alternate formats handbook

www.raise-up.com

• Development of an informational website which serves as a springboard for job seekers and employers to access localized resources related to the employment of persons with disabilities.

One-Stop Staff Development

Topics to date:• Assuring Access in the One-Stop – with DBTAC• Alternate Formats• Disability Fact and Myth• Disability Awareness• ADA Intro • WIA and Universal Access• Employers and the ADA

One-Stop Staff Development• State Assistive Technology Project (Lending

Library)• Interfacing with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing –

Deaf Culture• Disability Employment and Customer Service

Issues• Special considerations for persons with Mental

Health disabilitiesTraining sessions to date: 35Projected training activities: 1 per month per site

through Dec. 2002

Staff Development Process• Informal One-Stop Staff Surveys• Individual mtgs with One Stop Directors and VR

District administrators• Written plan developed for each area and

submitted to the individual One Stop Operators for approval

• Evaluation• New Surveys• Partners:

– VR DBTAC CIL’s– Wheeling Jesuit University

Enhancement of physical accessibility

• 2000 per comprehensive site.– 12 sites budgeted.

• 2 sites have used the money – both for accessible doors.

• Most sites are in the process of determining best use for money and submitting for review.

Outreach to Employers

Workplace Inclusion Network.BLN – Chambers – Rotary etc.

Coordinating outreach efforts with the individual WIB’s strategic plan.

Employer packet re: incentives and informational accommodations.

EARNPresentations for employers

The Critical Linkage with benefits counseling

Our goal was to clarify with the multiple One-Stop sites the who, what, where, when and why of benefits counseling and to ensure that the staff at the One-Stop are able to refer appropriately.

Outcome letters of agreement with each site to define amongst the partners the 5 W’s.

RESOURCE ROOM ACCESS 

ITEM PURPOSE

Adjustable height table for the personal computer Physical & visual access

Adjustable height chair w/ adjustable height arm rests Physical & visual access

Alternate mini keyboard Physical access

Alternate track ball mouse Physical access

Foam wrist rest Physical access

21" monitor Large screen for enlargement

Low glare screen filter Visual access to monitor

Monitor arm Adjustable positioning to increase viewing position

Screen magnification software Enlargement of screen information

Lynx Browser Text browser

Speech output software Voice for browser

Closed Circuit TV Magnified/enlarged viewing options for materials

Assistive Listening Devices Amplification in one-to-one or group communication

TTY Text telephone

Dedicated telephone line installation & activation Operation of TTY

COST ESTIMATE PER SITE $6000.00

TOTAL EST. COST FOR 50 SITES $300,000.00

VIS – Visual Interpreting Services

• Research Project to determine the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability of remote interpreting services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Pilot study in 2 sites – Westmoreland County and Wilkes Barre PA – will be adding two more sites this year.

VIS Partners

• CERMUSA – The Center for Excellence for Remote and Medically Under Served Areas

• St Francis University

• Hiram G. Andrews Center

• National Telerehabilitation Service System

• Team PA CareerLink

Physical Accessibility

• An ADA self assessment is provided to all sites- site self assesses and returns.

• Upon receipt, rep from the state department of labor will review.

• A formal site visit by an ADA compliance review team (cart) will occur to verify self assessment and/or to establish a site compliance action plan.

CART • Parking and Passenger loading zones• Entrances• Signs• Communication• Public Areas• Restrooms• Public Telephones and Drinking Fountains• Public Elevators• Resource Room• Alarms and Emergency Exits