Leading the Way with Accommodations

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Leading the Way with Accommodations

• Dinah Cohen
• CAP Director
• February 29, 2008

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CAP 17 Years of Accommodations

• CAP was established in 1990 as DoDs centrally
  funded program to provide accommodations
• Expanded by Congress in 2000 to support other
  Federal agencies
• Partnerships with 65 Federal agencies
• Over 61,000 accommodations
• CAP Mission
• To provide assistive technology and
  accommodations to ensure people with disabilities
  have equal access to the information environment
  and opportunities in the Department of Defense
  and throughout the Federal government

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CAP Services

• Provide assistive technology and training
• Conduct needs assessments and technology
  demonstrations
• Provide installation and integration
• Provide training on disability management and on
  creating an accessible environment
• Support the compliance of federal regulations
• Assist in the recruitment, placement, promotion
  and retention of people with disabilities and
  Wounded Service Members

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Assistive Technology and Services

• Computer input devices
• Alternative keyboards, input devices and voice
  recognition software
• Computer output devices
• Screen readers, magnification software, Braille
  terminal
• Telecommunication devices
• PC based TTY
• Video communication devices
• Assistive listening devices
• Personal amplification devices
• Captioning services

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CAP Accommodations Profile by Disability (FY90 -
FY07)
61,448
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Needs Assessments / Tech DemoCAP Technology
Evaluation Center (CAPTEC)

• Assist individuals and supervisors in choosing
  appropriate computer and electronic
  accommodations
• Wide variety of assistive technology
• VTC capability
• Tours
• Located in the Pentagon (2A259)
• 703-693-5160 (V)
• 703-693-6189 (TTY)

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Real SolutionsEmployment Lifecycle

• Recruitment
• Placement
• Promotion
• Retention
• Accommodations

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Employment LifecycleRecruitment and Placement

• Workforce planning and development
• State Rehabilitation Services
• Disability network of advocacy groups,
  Independent Living Centers
• USA Jobs www.usajobs.opm.gov/
• Schedule A Hiring Preference
• Veterans Hiring Preference
• Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN)
• Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)

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Recruitment and Placement

• Schedule A
• An excepted service appointing authority to cover
  people with disabilities.
• Proof of disability and certification of job
  readiness from a licensed medical and vocational
  professional.
• http//www.opm.gov/disability/mngr_3-13.asp
• Veterans Preference
• Preference over non-veterans both in Federal
  hiring practices and in retention during
  reductions in force (RIF).
• http//jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/veteranscenter/

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Workforce Recruitment Program

• Co-sponsored by the Department of
  Labor and Department of Defense
• Participation from Federal
  agencies and the private sector
• Wide range of occupations
• Diverse workforce
• CAP covers the cost of accommodations for all WRP
  students participating in any Federal agency
• www.wrp.gov

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Retention

• Aging Workforce
• Healthy Work Practices Program
• Workers Compensation
• Telework
• Wounded Service Members

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Retention - Healthy Work Practices Program

• Disability Prevention
• Employees who develop ergonomic disabilities
• Secondary disabilities
• HWPP Training
• Safety and Occupational Health Specialists
• Workplace Ergonomic Reference Guide
• Needs Assessments and Demonstrations
• CAP Web site Needs Assessment Process
• CAP Technology Evaluation Center (CAPTEC)
• Disability Accommodation
• Individuals who develop Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Repetitive Stress Injury (Carpal Tunnel,
  Tendonitis)
• Keyboards, pointing devices, and other
  dexterity-related tools

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Retention - Workers Compensation

• Assist Workers Compensation claimants who obtain
  on the job injuries that result in an accepted
  claim in their return-to-work process
• Work with Workers Compensation officials to
  evaluate needs of employees
• Conduct CAP accommodation needs assessments
• Provide appropriate assistive technology or
  related accommodations
• Review Telework options

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Retention - Telework

• Target groups
• Recipients of Workers Compensation payments
• Persons with Disabilities
• As a form of reasonable accommodation
• To increase productivity and/or improve
  accessibility issues
• Persons who may be subjected to disability
  retirement
• Equipment
• Assistive technology
• Home office equipment (computer hardware and
  software, fax machine, printer)
• Trends
• Teleworkers with disabilities increased by 120
  from FY02 to FY03

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From Deployment to Employment

• CAPs Wounded Service Members Initiative
• Phase 1 Recovery and Rehabilitation
• Phase 2 Transition
• Phase 3 Employment
• FY07 Accomplishments
• Public Law 109-364 Retention of AT
  after separation or medical
  retirement
  from active service
• Provided 3,000 accommodations

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Phase 1 Recovery Rehabilitation

• Provide services throughout the recovery
• and rehabilitation process
• Introduction to assistive technology
• On-site needs assessments
• Individual accommodations
• Medical Departments
• Intensive care
• Amputee care
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Case management

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Phase 1 Recovery RehabilitationBAMC Case Study

• 26 year old National Guard soldier sustained
  multiple traumatic injuries due to mortar attack
  in support of OIF on 2 April 2005
• Transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
  and then directly to BAMC
• Comprehensive rehabilitation program
• Orthopedics
• Psychosocial
• Low vision
• Enhancement of occupational performance via OT
  services and CAP provided assistive technology

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Phase 2 Transition

• Increase awareness to impact future independence
  and employment by working closely with
• Therapists, Providers, and Case Managers
• Military Support Programs
• Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
• USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment,
• Marine for Life Injured Support
• Navy Safe Harbor Program
• Palace HART (Helping Airmen Recover Together)
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
• Provide services to housing, training centers and
  employment/career fairs

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Phase 3 Employment Education

• Provide assistive technology to WSMs to use in
  future employment and vocational settings
• Provide services and resources for
• Employment internships
• Assistive technology and services in Federal
  employment
• Partnership programs
• Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC)
• www.militaryonesource.com
• VA Seamless Transition
• www.seamlesstransition.va.gov
• DOL REALifelines
• www.dol.gov/vets/programs/Real-life/main.htm

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www.tricare.mil/cap
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Resources

• Agency Disability Program Managers
• Department of Labor
• Job Accommodation Network www.jan.wvu.edu
• DisabilityInfo.Gov
• www.disabilityinfo.gov
• Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program
  www.tricare.mil/cap

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