TEIN25-99.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

U. S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Washington D.C. 20210CLASSIFICATION DBTACs CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL OAS DATE June 14 2000 TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 25-99 TO ALL STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS ALL STATE WORKER ADJUSTMENT LIAISONS ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES ALL ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER SYSTEM LEADS FROM LENITA JACOBS-SIMMONS Deputy Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Technical Assistance Available to the Workforce Investment System from Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers DBTACs on Serving Customers with Disabilities 1. Purpose. To provide information on the availability of technical assistance from regional DBTACs. 2. References. Training and Employment Information Notice TEIN No. 16-99 dated April 12 2000 TEIN No. 18-99 dated May 4 2000 and TEIN No. 21-99 dated May 26 2000. 3. Background. The major restructuring of the workforce investment system envisioned under the Workforce Investment Act WIA of 1998 partners numerous Federal programs including adult literacy welfare-to-work and vocational rehabilitation programs and represents significant devolution of authority to the State and local areas. This landmark legislation poses many opportunities to address the concerns of the disability community. The Employment and Training Administration ETA and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management OASAM Civil Rights Center CRC have recognized that for individuals with disabilities to realize full potential under this new workforce investment system there is a pressing need for technical assistance on how to serve this customer group. RESCISSIONS EXPIRATION DATE Continuing -2- This includes technical assistance to enable covered entities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA of 1990 section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended the disability-related aspects of WIA section 188 which relates to the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements of WIA and their implementing regulations see TEIN No. 16-99 for the full text of these regulations . In particular the technical assistance will help these entities to ensure physical and programmatic access to One-Stop delivery systems. With this in mind ETA and OASAM have entered into an Interagency Agreement with the Office Special Education and Rehabilitation Services OSERS to obtain the services and expertise of regional technical assistance grantees funded by OSERS National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research NIDRR . These grantees known as Disability Business and Technical Assistance Centers provide technical assistance to public and private entities on the ADA section 504 and other disability-related laws and regulations. ETA has transferred 300 000 to OSERS so that the DBTACs can develop and implement training to the workforce development system and supplement their ongoing activities and expertise in providing similar training to public or private organizations. In addition OSERS will contribute 300 000 to support this project. The DBTACs technical assistance efforts under this agreement will be guided by a coordinated interagency process to facilitate and assure cross-communication in the design and delivery of their activities. The Agreement is effective June 1 2000 through May 31 2001. 4. Information on DBTACs. The DBTACs which have been established in ten regional areas under their grant relationship with NIDRR are available to provide training and technical assistance to State and Local Workforce Investment Boards One-Stop delivery system and One-Stop partner staff through their participation in workforce conferences and on-site at One-Stop Centers or satellite offices. Attachments to this TEIN provide more detailed information on regional DBTACs a Fact Sheet on their mission and goals under their grant with NIDRR and the specific contact for each region under the Interagency Agreement. Among other activities under the Agreement DBTACs have agreed to work in coordination with CRC to develop training and technical assistance to the One-Stop delivery system on the application of the ADA section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act the disability-related provisions of WIA section 188 and their implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 37 develop guidance on assessing achieving and maintaining program and physical access in the One-Stop delivery system environment and include basic information and referral to the workforce investment system on related issues such as disability awareness and the role of assistive technology in achieving program access. -3- ETA will make every effort to link the DBTACs with planned conferences and other activities of the workforce investment system. Please note that the DBTACs are not responsible for the enforcement of the section 188 interim final regulations the ADA or other relevant laws or regulations. The information materials and or technical assistance they provide are intended for informational guidance and are neither determinate of legal rights or responsibilities under applicable laws nor binding on any agency with enforcement responsibilities. 5. Action Required. States are requested to distribute copies of this TEIN with attachments to each Local Workforce Investment Board to each of their open or planned One-Stop Centers and to State and local partners of the One-Stop delivery system. States are also requested to consider inclusion of DBTAC representation and or presentations at regional State and local conferences. 6. Inquiries. Questions regarding this TEIN and the DBTACs may be directed to Scherrone Dunhamn ETA at 202 219-5500 x 125 Everette Bud West CRC at 202 219-8927 or Dave Esquith DOEd OSERS NIDRR at 202 205-8801. Additional disability-related information and resources are also available at http wdsc.org disability. 7. Attachments. A. Fact Sheet B. Regional Disability Business and Technical Assistance Centers DBTACs