real solutions for real needs leading the way with accommodations dinah cohen cap director february...

Real Solutions for Real Needs

Leading the Way with Accommodations

Dinah Cohen

CAP Director

February 29, 2008


CAP: 17 Years of Accommodations

• CAP was established in 1990 as DoD’s 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


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


• 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

Assistive Technology and Services


CAP Accommodations Profile by Disability (FY90 - FY07)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Hearing Vision Dexterity Cognitive Communication

61,448


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)


Real SolutionsEmployment Lifecycle

• Recruitment

• Placement

• Promotion

• Retention

• Accommodations


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)


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

Veteran’s Preference• Preference over non-veterans both in Federal hiring practices

and in retention during reductions in force (RIF).

• http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/veteranscenter/


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


Retention

• Aging Workforce

• Healthy Work Practices Program

• Workers’ Compensation

• Telework

• Wounded Service Members


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


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


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


• CAP’s 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

From Deployment to Employment


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


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


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


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


www.tricare.mil/cap


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


www.tricare.mil/cap

real solutions for real needs leading the way with accommodations dinah cohen cap director february...

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