supporting job corps students with disabilities

SUPPORTING JOB CORPS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Region IV

Normative Culture Conference

July 10-11, 2007

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Discussion Topics

Reasonable Accommodation 101 Sharing Accommodation

Information Importance of Accommodation

Information for all Staff Resources

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The Disability Program

Job Corps serves many students with many different types of disabilities

Serving students with disabilities is a center wide responsibility, not a “wellness program” or only the responsibility of the disability coordinator

Why Accommodate?...It is the Law! It creates positive outcomes for the student and the center!

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What is an Accommodation?

A modification to: Job Work/academic/

training environment

Policy, program, or procedure

Examples: Modifying a facility, work

or training schedules Acquiring or modifying

equipment or devices Adjusting or modifying

examinations, training materials, or policies

Providing readers or interpreters

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Accommodations

Not a “lowering of the bar,” but a “leveling of the playing field”

Should be individualized and not automatic, just because the student has a disability

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Reasonable Accommodation Process

Step 1-Collect documentation– Usually done by OA (sometimes DC)

– Gathered from schools, health care providers, other programs

– What are functional limitations?

– What accommodations have been provided in the past?

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Reasonable Accommodation Process

Step 2-Develop accommodation plan– What accommodations are

necessary for student in JC setting?

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Who is on the team? Disability Coordinator Academic and Career Technical

Managers Counseling Manager Health & Wellness Manager Career Preparation Manager High School Representative(s)

Reasonable Accommodation Team

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The Individual with a Disability

Is often a valuable resource about

their own disability, accommodation,

and learning needs

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Who Else?

Center Mental Health Consultant Social Development Manager Community service provider (e.g.,

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor) Facilities Manager Food Services Manager TEAP Specialist Safety Officer Center Director

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Accommodation Plans

Team works with student to determine accommodations needed in all areas

Consider:– Accessibility (architectural and program)

(classrooms, dorms, recreation/social, and all areas on center, adaptations…)

– Medical (Impact of meds, appointments…)– Emotional / Psychological (Counseling,

outside services, mentor…)– Educational (TABE, classrooms, GED…)

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Reasonable Accommodation Process

Step 3-Share accommodation plan– Paper

– CIS (accommodation screen or case notes)

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Sharing Accommodation Information-HIPAA

There are obvious details that do not need to be shared

“Need to know…” Accommodation plans should be

shared with all staff that have a “need to know”

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Sharing Accommodation Information Using CIS

Health and Wellness Module– Disability Accommodation Detail

Report– Disability Accommodation Summary

Report Center will need to make decisions

about how staff “with a need to know” will access accommodation information

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Reasonable Accommodation Process

Step 4-Monitor accommodation plan– All staff who interact with student have a

responsibility

Step 5-Review and modify plan– As needed, but at least every 60 days

– Counselor should check with student about effectiveness of plan each time you meet

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Reasonable Accommodation Process Summary

Collect documentation

Develop accommodation plan

Share accommodation plan

– Paper

– CIS (accommodation screen or case notes)

Monitor accommodation plan

Review and modify accommodation plan

Document everything!

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What works for one

student with a disability

may not work for another

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Why Do I Need To Know About Accommodations?

A student with a particular disability may need extra time to respond to information presented orally. It would be important for staff to know that the individual is not ignoring their question nor does it mean they are less intelligent when it takes them longer to respond. 

A student with a particular disability may not respond well to physical contact. It would be important for staff who interact with this student to know this and related information.

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Why Do I Need To Know About Accommodations?

A student with a particular disability may not be able to do certain dorm duties. It would be important for residential staff to know this information and perhaps work with the student to determine if there are duties the student can substitute.

A student with a particular disability may need modifications to the dorm. For example, modifications to the way the room is set up, specific accommodations in the bathroom/shower area, or specific assistance during an emergency.

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Why Do I Need To Know About Accommodations?

A particular student with a disability might need to have a place to take a 5 or 10 minute break if the environment becomes too overwhelming/stimulating for him/her.  There has to be a location identified where he/she may go for a short period of down time. 

A student with a particular disability may need to have schedule adjustments (e.g., shortened training day, earlier wake up time in dorm, may leave center early or arrive late on certain days).

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Why Do I Need To Know About Accommodations?

A student with a particular disability may need recreation schedules, dorm schedules, student handbooks, and cafeteria menus, etc., made available to them in a way they can access (e.g., audio tape)

A student with a particular disability may not be able to participate in certain recreational activities. Staff may consider how current activities can be modified to include the student or consider how the student can be provided access to recreational opportunities that afford equitable benefit.

Other examples-What accommodations have you provided?

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Job Corps Disability Website

http://jcdisability.jobcorps.gov

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Disability Website–Areas of Interest

Common Disabilities Awareness/Etiquette Resources Site Keyword Search

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Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities Website

http://jccdrc.jobcorps.gov/ld

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Learning Disability Website– Areas of Interest

Learning Strategies IEP as a Tool Professional

Development Tools/Resources Webinar

Announcement and Sign Up

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Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities Website

http://jchealth.jobcorps.gov/health-topics/mhd

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HIPAA Reasonable

Accommodation Psychotropic

Medications

Mental Health Disabilities Website–Areas of Interest

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Resources

Job Accommodation Network a service of the

Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S.

Department of Labor

800-526-7234

800-ADA-WORK

http://www.jan.wvu.edu

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Webinars

Online presentation that uses both the computer and telephone to provide information visually and aurally so that participants are not just reading but actually having a live workshop experience

Planned– Orientation for New Disability Coordinators– Working Together: Outreach and Admissions

and Wellness Staff

Where do I sign up?– LD website

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North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD)

NDCPD is able to:

Design specific technical assistance packages for each request

Provide staff training in the areas of disability issues Customize consultations Develop material specific to your needs Assist with local resource mapping

http://ndcpd.misu.nodak.edu/proj/jobcorps/

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Other Resources

Newsletters– Disability News– Disability Newsletter for Instructional Staff– Available online

• Disability – Resources > JC Disability Newsletters

• Instructional –Instructional Newsletters Shannon Bentley, Regional Disability Coordinator

shannonbentley_rn@yahoo.com Michelle Day, Disability Program Manager

michelle.day@humanitas.com

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Points to Remember

The disability program is a center-wide program; all staff have a role

All staff are responsible for providing accommodations throughout the center.  Therefore, anyone who might have to provide various accommodations must be aware of what they are and how to implement them.

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Questions to Ask

What does the accommodation process look like at my center? How am I involved? How can I influence the process/provide feedback?

Do I have access do the accommodation information that is appropriate?

Where can I go for more information or to ask questions?

What should I do if a student discloses a disability or I suspect he/she may have one?

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Exercise

You are the Social Development Manager for your center and a member of the reasonable accommodation team.

You are going to the team meeting to assist in the development of an accommodation plan for an applicant who is deaf and has a learning disability.

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Exercise

What are some of the accommodations you may need to consider for your area?

What are some questions you may need to ask or additional information you may need to make a determination about what accommodations may be needed?

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Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.

-Henry Ford