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1 >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

2 THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

3 MY NAME IS RICHARD HORNE AND I'M A SENIOR POLICY

4 ADVISOR WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON ADULTS

5 WITH DISABILITIES.

6 TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT

7 POLICY IN REGARDS TO INCREASING THE EMPLOYMENT OF

8 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITYS IN THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE.

9 AND WITH US WE'VE GOT A GREAT PANEL OF FOLKS WHO I'VE

10 HAD A GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH.

11 GENE GOALBERG, DINAH COHEN IS WITH US FROM THE CAP

12 PROGRAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

13 WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A BROAD RANGE OF POLICIES

14 AND PRACTICES AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND

15 TECHNOLOGY AND COVER A HOST OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND

16 WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PANEL FIRST, AND THEN

17 WE'RE GOING TO TO ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

18 UNLESS YOU HAVE A BURNING QUESTION, THEN WAVE YOUR

19 HANDS UP AND WE'RE WE'LL TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

20 SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT RIGHT IMMEDIATELY TO...

21 >> GOOD MORNING.

22 S AS RICHARD MENTIONED I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE EEOC.

23 I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND PRIOR TO

24 THAT I WAS IN PRACTICE FOR 10 YEARS DOING PRIMARILY

25 EEO LITIGATION.


2

1 WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS A TOPIC THAT

2 MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IN PART WHICH IS

3 FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION

4 PRESIDENT CLINTON ISSUED ON JULY 26, 2000 EXECUTIVE

5 ORDER 136 FOUR, WHICH FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ALL

6 FEDERAL AGENCIES INSTITUTE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING

7 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS UNDER SECTION 501

8 OF THE REHAB ACT.

9 PRIOR TO THAT TIME SOME AGENCIES HAD PROCEDURES, SOME

10 DIDN'T SOME HAD POLICIES BUT NOT PROCEDURES, WHICH

11 EXPLAINS TO THE EMPLOYERS AND MANAGERS EXACTLY WHAT

12 TO DO WHEN RECEIVING A REQUEST AND WHAT THE

13 REQUIREMENTS OF THE REHABILITATION ACT ARE.

14 WITHOUT OVERSTATING THE CASE, I THINK WE'VE TRULY

15 SEEN IN THE IMPLEMENTATION SO FAR THAT THIS ONE AND A

16 HALF PAGE EXECUTIVE ORDER PROMISES TO BE A REAL GIANT

17 STEP IN BOTH EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR

18 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND IN TERMS OF ENSURING

19 COMPLIANCE WITH NONDISCRIMINATION LAW.

20 IT'S BASED ON ONE SIMPLE CONCEPT WHICH IS HELP ENSURE

21 THAT EMPLOYEES AT FEDERAL AGENCY KNOW HOW TO MAKE

22 ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS AND THAT SUPERVISORS AND

23 MANAGERS KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY RECEIVE ONE.

24 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS STRUCTURED TO ALLOW GREAT

25 LATITUDE FOR AGENCIES TO DEVISE PROCEDURE COMES FIT


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1 THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.

2 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIMPLY MANDATES THAT THERE ARE 10

3 COMMON ELEMENTS WHICH MUST BE PRESENT IN EACH

4 AGENCY'S PROCEDURES.

5 AND OTHERWISE THEY LEAVE IT TO THE AGENCY TO DRAFT

6 SOMETHING THAT SUITS ITS OWN NEEDS.

7 THE MANDATORY ELEMENTS INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION FOR HOW

8 ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS OCCUR INITIATEED AND HOW

9 THEY'LL BE PROCESSED.

10 TIME LIMITS FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS, AN EXPLANATION

11 OF WHEN AND HOW MUCH MEDICAL INFORMATION AN AGENCY

12 CAN OBTAIN WHEN PROCESSING A REASONABLE ACOMMENDATION

13 REQUEST AND CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS THAT APPLY

14 TO ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT IS OBTAINED DURING THE

15 ACCOMMODATION PROCESS.

16 AN EXPLANATION OF REASSIGNMENT AS THE ACCOMMODATION

17 OF LAST RESORT, AND A REQUIREMENT THAT DENIALS OF

18 REASONABLE,A COMMENDATION BE IN WRITING, SPECIFYING

19 THE REASONS FOR DENIAL AND EXPLAINING TO THE PLANT

20 FOR WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN FILE FOR RECONSIDERATION

21 OR FILE AN EEO COMPLAINT.

22 THERE ARE ALSO VARIOUS RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS

23 AND FINALLY A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROCEDURES IN SOME

24 WAY ENCOURAGE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WHETHER IT'S IN

25 A RECONSIDERATION PROCESS OR WHETHER IT'S IN TERMS OF


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1 TRADITIONAL ADR.

2 AS IS REQUIRED UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, ON OCTOBER

3 20, 2000 THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION ISSUED A

4 POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ENTITLED ESTABLISHING

5 PROCEDURES TO FACILITATE THE PROCEDURES OF REASONABLE

6 ACCOMODATION.

7 AND THIS IS INTENDED AS A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR

8 AGENCIES IN FOLLOWING IN PREPARING THEIR PROCEDURES

9 UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

10 IT EXPLAINS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IN VERY PRACTICAL AND

11 SPECIFIC TERMS, AND IT LEAVES THE EXECUTIVE ORDER

12 REQUIREMENTS TOGETHER WITH THE INFORMATION UNDER EACH

13 TOPIC IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REHABILITATION ACT HAS

14 ALREADY BEEN INTERPRETED TO REQUIRE IN OTHER

15 GUIDANCES IN DECISIONS, IN THE FEDERAL SECTOR THAT

16 HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY IN EEO

17 COMPLAINTS.

18 IT'S TELLS THE AGENCY EVERYTHING IT WOULD NEED TON IN

19 PREPARING ITS OWN REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

20 PROCEDURES.

21 YOU CAN FIND THIS DOCUMENT AS WELL AS ANYTHING AND

22 EVERYTHING ELSE YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT

23 EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE REHABILITATION

24 ACT AND ALSO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW UNDER ALL

25 THE OTHER STATUTES THAT THE EEOC ENFORCES ON OUR WEB


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1 SITE SINCE I ONLY HAVE 12 MINUTES I'M GOING TO PUT MY

2 COMMERCIAL PLUG RIGHT UP HERE AT THE FRONT.

3 OUR WEB SET IS WWW.EEOC.GOV.

4 AND PLEASE BEAR WITH ME WHILE I SHARE WITH YOU TWO

5 STEPS ON HOW TO ACCESS THIS INFORMATION ONCE YOU LOG

6 ON TO WWW.EEOC.GOFF.

7 SCROLL DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE AND CLICK ON LAWS,

8 REGULATIONS AND POLICY GUIDANCE AND THEN CLICK ON THE

9 HEADING ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE AND RELATED DOCUMENTS.

10 AND THERE AS I SAID I THINK YOU'LL FIND A VIRTUAL

11 TREASURE TROVE OF ALL THE STATUTES WE ENFORCE IN

12 ADDITION TO THE OCTOBER 20, 2000, THERE ARE TWO VERY

13 IMPORTANT POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS ON THAT SPOT IN

14 OUR WEB SITE WHICH IF YOU DO ANY WORK IN THE

15 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AREA, I WOULD COMMEND TO YOU

16 TO PRINT OUT TO YOU TO THEY'RE A GREAT DESK REFERENCE

17 FOR SUPERVISORS, MANAGERS, OR ANYONE ELSE.

18 ONE IS OUR JULY 272000 ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE ON

19 DISABILITY INQUIRYS AND MEDICAL EXAMS.

20 TELLS YOU ALL THE RULES ON WHEN AND HOW AN EMPLOYER

21 CAN ASK AN EMPLOYEE TO DO A MEDICAL EXAM.

22 THE SECOND ONE IS OUR MARCH 1, 1999 ENFORCEMENT

23 GUIDANCE ON REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AND UNDUE

24 HARDSHIP.

25 THAT REALLY REVIEWS FROM A SUBSTANTIVE PERSPECTIVE


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1 THE LAW ON THIS AREA.

2 THAT'S THE END OF THE COMMERCIAL MESSAGE.

3 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO REQUIRING THAL ALL AGENCIES

4 ACTUALLY SUBMIT THESE PROCEDURES ONCE THEY'RE

5 PROMULGATED TO THE EEOC AND THAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN

6 DONE BY THIS PAST JULY 26.

7 TO DATE WE'VE RECEIVED PROCEDURES FROM ABOUT HALF OF

8 THE FEDERAL AGENCIES OVER WHICH WE HAVE JURISDICTION

9 ALTHOUGH THEY STILL COMING IN ON A ROLLING BASIS, SO

10 I HOPE AND EXPECT THAT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF

11 MONTHS WE'LL HAVE THEM ALL.

12 AND A UNIT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL OPERATIONS AT

13 THE EEOC IS REVIEWING EACH AGENCY'S SUBMISSION. AND

14 WE'RE PREPARING A FEEDBACK LETTER TO EACH AGENCY AND

15 THESE HAVE BEGUN TO GUT G OUT ON A ROLLING BASIS.

16 MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR MODIFYING THE PROCEDURES.

17 WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NOW AND REALLY FOCUS ON

18 MY TALK TODAY IS THE TRENDS WE'VE SEEN SO FAR IN OUR

19 REVIEW OF THE AGENCY PROCEDURES WE'VE RECEIVED.

20 THERE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING POINTS AND OVERALL

21 AGENCIES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE

22 SEEN.

23 THE FIRST INTERESTING THING WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF

24 THE REQUIREMENT IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT EVERY

25 AGENCY MAKE CLEAR IN HIS PROCEDURES THAT AN


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1 ACCOMODATION REQUEST BE MADE EITHER ORALLY OR IN

2 WRITING.

3 I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SIMPLE RULE BUT IT'S

4 PROVEN VEXING FOR AGENCIES IN TERMS OF PREPARING A

5 WORKABLE PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER STATES

6 AN AGENCY MUST ACCEPT ORAL REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION,

7 BUT IT ALSO STATES THAT AN AGENCY CAN REQUIRE AN

8 INDIVIDUAL WHO'S REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION TO COMPLETE

9 A WRITTEN FORM FOR RECORD KEEPING PURPOSES.

10 WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT WHILE AN AGENCY CAN REQUIRE

11 AN INDIVIDUAL COMPLETE A RECORD KEEPING FORM OR

12 SUBMIT SOME TYPE OF WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THEIR

13 REQUEST, THE AGENCY CAN'T WAIT UNTIL AFTER IT'S

14 GOTTEN THAT WRITTEN FORM BEFORE IT BEGINS TO PROCESS

15 AN ACCOMMODATION Q. AN ORAL REQUEST IS THE SAME AS A

16 WRITTEN ONE AND THE PROCESSING MUST BEGIN AS SOON AS

17 IT'S RECEIVED.

18 IT'S A VIABLE REQUEST.

19 AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT AGENCIES HAVE PREPARED

20 THESE PROCEDURES, THEY HAVE ATTACHED A CONFIRMATION

21 RECORD KEEPING FORM TO THE PROCEDURES WHICH THEY

22 REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS TO FILL OUT AFTER MAKING AN ORAL

23 REQUEST, BUT THE FORM ITSELF HAS EXCEEDED THAT

24 ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD KEEPING PURPOSE THAT'S ALLOWED.

25 SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS IN ONE PLACE ON ONE PAGE IN AN


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1 AGENCY'S PROCEDURES THEY STATE THE GENERAL RULE, ORAL

2 REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATION ARE PERMISSIBLE, WE WILL

3 PROCESS THEM.

4 AND THEN ELSEWHERE IS ATTACHED A RECORD KEEPING FORM

5 THAT HAS TO BE COMPLETED WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT

6 NOTHING WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THE FORM IS RECEIVED.

7 SO IT'S TANTAMOUNT TO REQUIRING A WRITTEN REQUEST

8 BEFORE ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

9 OR WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT AN AGENCY'S PROCEDURES

10 HAVE INCORRECTLY REQUIRED THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE

11 REQUESTS AN ACCOMMODATION WHICH THEY'RE LIKELY TO

12 NEED ON A RECURRING BASIS, FOR INSTANCE A SIGN

13 LANGUAGE INTERPRETER THAT THE FORM SEEMS TO INDICATE

14 THAT THE EMPLOYEE WILL NEED TO SUBMIT THE FORM EVERY

15 TIME AN ACCOMMODATION IS UTILIZED.

16 OR ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SEEN IS AGENCIES

17 IMPROPERLY USING THIS RECORD KEEPING FORM TO GO

18 BEYOND MAKING A RECORD OF THE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST

19 AND REALLY ACTUALLY ASKING ALL MANNER OF INFORMATION

20 ON THE FORM ABOUT THE DISABILITY, AUTOMATICALLY

21 ASKING FOR SUPPORTING MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION AND GOING

22 BEYOND WHAT IS PERMITTED WHICH LEADS ME TO THE NEXT

23 ISSUE WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS REQUIREMENT THAT

24 THE AGENCY'S PROCEDURES MAY NOT ALLOW THE AGENCY TO

25 OBTAIN MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION IN SUPPORT OF EVERY


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1 SINGLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST REGARDLESS OF THE

2 CIRCUMSTANCES.

3 MENT THE AGENCY'S PROCEDURES HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT THE

4 AGENCY CAN ONLY REQUEST SUPPORTING MEDICAL

5 DOCUMENTATION WHERE THE DISABILITY AND/OR THE NEED

6 FOR THE REQUESTED ACCOMMODATION IS NOT OBVIOUS OR

7 ALREADY KNOWN TO THE AGENCY.

8 SO CLEARLY AN AGENCY IS ENTITLED OF COURSE IN EVERY

9 INSTANCE BEFORE GRANTING AN ACCOMODATION REQUEST TO

10 KNOW THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS COVERED BY THE

11 REHABILITATION ACT, THAT THEY HAVE A PHYSICALO MENTAL

12 IMPAIRMENT WHICH ESSENTIALLY LIMITS THEM IN A MAJOR

13 LIFE ACTIVITY OR THAT THEY HAVE A RECORD OF SUCH AND

14 THAT THEY NEED THE ACCOMMODATION THEY'VE REQUESTED,

15 IN OTHER WORDS THAT IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR THEM.

16 BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN MANY INSTANCES AGAIN IS THAT

17 THE PROCEDURES IN ONE PLACE STATE THIS GENERAL RULE

18 QUITE CORRECTLY AND THEN ELSEWHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE

19 PREPRINTED FORM SAYS IT'S A ONE SIZE FITS ALL TYPE OF

20 FORM AND SAYS ATTACH SUPPORTING MEDICAL

21 DOCUMENTATION.

22 AND OBVIOUSLY THE AGENCY CAN'T DO THIS IN PART

23 BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SITUATIONS WHERE THE

24 DISABILITY AND THE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION ARE ALREADY

25 KNOWN TO THE AGENCY OR THEY ARE OBVIOUS BASED ON THE


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1 PRESENTATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTING

2 ACCOMMODATION AND SO NO MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION CAN BE

3 REQUESTED.

4 ALTERNATIVELY, EVEN IF IT'S A SITUATION

5 WHERE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION CAN BE REQUESTED AND THIS

6 IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT, THE AGENCY IS NOT GOING TO BE

7 ENTITLED TO SEEK THE VERY SAME MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION

8 IN EVERY SITUATION.

9 THE TYPE OF MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION OR THE EXTENT OF

10 MEDICAL INFORMATION WHICH CAN BE SOUGHT IS GOING TO

11 DIFFER IN EVERY CASE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE

12 INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATION IS, WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN TO

13 THE AGENCY, WHAT ACCOMMODATION THEY'RE REQUESTING,

14 AND SO THE REQUEST FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION IN SUPPORT

15 OF THE ACOMMENDATION REQUEST IF THE AGENCY DOES MAKE

16 IT, HAS TO BE TAILORED, INDIVIDUALIZED TO THE PERSON

17 REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION.

18 I SHOULD NOTE THAT MANY AGENCIES IN THEIR PROCEDURES

19 HAVE DONE WHAT THE EEOC HAS DONE IN OUR OWN

20 PROCEDURES WHICH IS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE SUPERVISOR

21 OR MANAGER WHO'S PROCESSING THIS ACCOMMODATION

22 REQUEST HAS ANY QUESTION AT ALL ABOUT WHETHER THIS

23 PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY, IS

24 ENTITLED TO ACCOMMODATION UNDER THE REHAB ACT, THEY

25 REFER THE WHOLE MATTER TO THE DISABILITY PROGRAM


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1 MANAGER, OR SOME AGENCIES HAVE CREATED A POSITION

2 LIKE THAT, AND THAT PERSON CREATES THE WHOLE THING IN

3 TERMS OF DECIDING WHETHER MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION IS

4 NEEDED, MAKING THE DETERMINATION IF THE PERSON IS

5 COVERED.

6 ONCE THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE, REFERRING IT BACK TO

7 THE DECISION MAKER ON THE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST SO

8 YOU DON'T HAVE FRONT LEAN SUPERVISORS HAVING TO

9 NECESSARILY MAKE CALLS THEY MIGHT NOT FEEL

10 COMFORTABLE MAKING AND HAVING THAT RESOURCE AVAILABLE

11 IS GREAT.

12 IT'S NOT REQUIRED THAT AGENCIES DO IT IN THAT MANNER

13 AND IN FACT WE ENCOURAGE AGENCIES TO AUTHORIZE THEIR

14 FRONT LINE SUPERVISORS TO PROCESS THE WHOLE REQUEST

15 IF POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THINGS, BUT IN

16 GENERAL TERMS MANY AGENCIES HAVE DECIDED TO -- WE'VE

17 ALSO SEEN THAT MANY AGENCIES THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY

18 HAVE ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER OR

19 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION COORDINATORVILLE CREATED

20 THAT POSITION AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO INSTITUTE

21 THESE PROCEDURES AND THAT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL

22 DEVELOPMENT SIMPLY EVEN TO HAVE THAT PERSON AS A

23 RESOURCE EVEN IF THE PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A FORMAL

24 ROLE IN PROCESSING A REQUEST.

25 THE NEXT REQUIREMENT IS THAT THE AGENCY DESIGNATE A


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1 TIME PERIOD FOR PROCESSING ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS.

2 AND THE A PARTICULAR TIME LIMIT IS NOT SPECIFIED IN

3 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

4 TIME LIMITS HAVE TO BE AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.

5 IN REVIEWING WHAT'S COME IN SO FAR FROM AGENCIES,

6 THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE SUBMISSION IN WHICH WE'VE

7 TOLD AGENCY THAT TIME FRAME THEY'VE A LOTED

8 THEMSELVES IS TOO LONG.

9 THE KIND OF FEEDBACK, HOWEVER, THAT WE HAVE GIVEN

10 AGENCYS ON TIME FRAMES THEY'VE SELECTED IN GENERAL

11 HAS BEEN FOR EXAMPLE WHERE AN AGENCY HAD DESIGNED ITS

12 TIME FRAME TO RUN FROM THE TIME THE DECISION MAKER

13 GETS THE REQUEST.

14 WELL, OFTEN A REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION IS MADE TO

15 SOME OTHER AGENCY OFFICIAL.

16 IT MIGHT HAVE GONE TO THE EEO OFFICE, IT MIGHT HAVE

17 GONE TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND IT

18 HAS TO BE REFERRED TO WHOEVER IS DESIGNATED UNDER THE

19 PROCEDURES TO PROCESS THE REQUEST.

20 SO WE'VE ADVISED AGENCIES PUT A TIME FRAME IN IN

21 REFERRING A REQUEST TO THE DECISION MAKER SO THAT THE

22 ENTIRE PROCESS KEEPS MOVING ALONG ANDING IN NOTHING

23 GETS LOST IN THE CRACKS.

24 AND WE HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN SOME SITUATIONS

25 AGENCIES HAVE EXEMPTED FROM THEIR TIME FRAMES


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1 ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS WHERE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION

2 NEEDS TO BE INVOLVE EVALUATED.

3 AND OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT FOR A

4 WHOLE CATEGORY OF ACCOMMODATION REQUEST.

5 BUT WHAT WE'VE SUGGESTED IS THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO

6 TOLL THE TIME FRAME WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR AT

7 DOCUMENTATION FROM A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BBUT AS

8 SOON AS THEY'VE GOTTEN WHAT'S APPROPRIATE THEN THEY

9 HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT'S PREDETERMINED IN

10 WHICH TO RENDER THEIR DECISION, AGAIN TO KEEP THEIR

11 WHOLE THING MOVING ALONG.

12 WE HAVE NOTED IN OUR FEEDBACK LETTERS TO AGENCIES

13 THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TIME FRAME DESIGNATED

14 IN THEIR PROCEDURES AND JUST BECAUSE A SUPERVISOR OR

15 MANAGER COMPLIES WITH THAT TIME FRAME, THAT DOESN'T

16 ENSURE THAT THE REHABILITATION ACT WON'T HAVE BEEN

17 VIOLATED BECAUSE THERE ARE OF COURSE SOME

18 ACOMMENDATIONS WHICH CAN BE PROVIDED IN LESS TIME.

19 THERE ARE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED IN

20 AN HOUR OR A DAY OR THREE DAYS, SO THE REHABILITATION

21 ACT STILL REMAINING THE GOVERNING STANDARD IN TERMS

22 OF ASSESSING WHETHER THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF UNDUE

23 DELAY THAT REALLY WAS NOT DUE TO ANY EXTENUATING

24 CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE AGENCY'S CONTROL IN

25 PROCESSING THE REQUEST.


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1 AND OF COURSE JUST TO REMIND AGENCIES THAT

2 SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT TO

3 KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING.

4 ANOTHER REQUIREMENT UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS THAT

5 THE PROCEDURES ADDRESS HOW REASSIGNMENT WILL --

6 SEARCHES AS REASSIGNMENT WILL OCCUR.

7 AGENCIES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN ADDRESSING THIS

8 PROPERLY IN MANY OF THE PROCEDURES WE'VE SEEN

9 PROVIDING THAT THE SEARCH FOR REASSIGNMENT HAS TO BE

10 NATIONWIDE INCLUDING OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE AGENCY,

11 OTHER GEOGRAPHIC AREAS UNLESS IT WOULD POSE AN UNDUE

12 HARDSHIP.

13 THIS IS REALLY, I HAVE TO UNDERSCORE, AN EXCELLENT

14 DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IN THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS THE

15 COMMISSION HAS ISSUED MANY APPELLATE DECISIONS ON

16 FEDERAL SECTOR EEO COMPLAINTS FINDING LIABILITY UNDER

17 THE REHAB ACT BECAUSE A SUPERVISOR OR MANAGER SIMPLY

18 DIDN'T KNOW, I'M SURE THEY DIDN'T INTEND BUT JUST

19 DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD TO LOOK OUTSIDE THEIR OWN

20 FACILITY FOR A POSSIBLE VACANT FACILITY TO ASSIGN

21 SOMEONE OR OUTSIDE THE IMMEDIATE AREA.

22 AND SO THIS IS REALLY I THINK IMPORTANT.

23 ALSO BECAUSE MANY SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS ARE SIMPLY

24 UNAWARE THAT THEY EVEN HAD TO CONSIDER REASSIGNMENT

25 AS AN ACCOMMODATION OF LAST RESORT EVEN WHERE THE


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1 INDIVIDUAL DIDN'T REQUEST THAT AS THEIR

2 ACCOMMODATION.

3 THEY MIGHT HAVE REQUESTED SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THAT

4 SOMETHING ELSE WOULD POSE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP OR FOR

5 SOME REASON CAN'T BE DONE, A LOT OF SUPERVISORS OR

6 MANAGERS HAVEN'T KNOWN THAT THEY NEED TO CONSIDER IF

7 THE PERSON CAN'T PERFORM THEIR CURRENT POSITION

8 BECAUSE OF THEIR DISABILITY.

9 IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO ELIMINATE MANY, MANY

10 VIOLATIONS OF THE FACT THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE

11 PAST THAT WERE THE RESULTS SIMPLY OF LACK OF

12 KNOWLEDGE ON THE PART OF MANAGERSES AND SUPERVISORS.

13 AND LASTLY, AS I SAID THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECORD

14 KEEPING REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND IN

15 PARTICULAR AGENCY PROCEDURES NEED TO SPELL OUT

16 CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION.

17 MANY AGENCY SUBMISSIONS WE'VE RECEIVED HAVE PROPERLY

18 IDENTIFIED THAT MEDICAL INFORMATION RECEIVED,

19 DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER KIND OF INFORMATION NOTES

20 ABOUT MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN'T BE IN THE PERSONNEL

21 FILE.

22 IT NEEDS TO BE IN A SEPARATE FILE AND THAT'S PART OF

23 ENSURING CONFIDENTIALITY. AND MOST AGENCIES AS I

24 HAVE SAID HAVE GOTTEN THAT RIGHT.

25 BUT MANY HAVE NOT LISTED ON THE FACE OF THEIR


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1 PROCEDURES THE EXCEPTIONS FOR DISCLOSURE AND WE'VE

2 ASKED THEM TO SPELL THAT OUT NOT SIMPLY TO REFER TO

3 THE PRIVACY ACT AND ITS EXCEPTIONS OR WHATNOT WHICH

4 WE'VE SEEN BECAUSE THE REHABILITATION ACT HAS BEEN

5 INTERPRETED TO REQUIRE CONFIDENTIALITY FOR MEDICAL

6 INFORMATION, HAS ITS OWN EXCEPTIONS, AND SO WE'VE

7 ASKED AGENCIES TO SPELL THAT OUT.

8 AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN SENDING INDIVIDUALIZED FEEDBACK

9 LETTERS AND WE HOPE THAT AS AGENCIES PROMULGATE THESE

10 PROCEDURES AND MODIFY THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE

11 ADVICE WE'RE GIVING AND THE INFORMATION GETS

12 DISSEMINATED TO EMPLOYEES AND MANAGERS THAT THIS IS

13 JUST REALLY TRULY GOING TO BE A MASS EDUCATION EFFORT

14 AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE RIPPLE EFFECT IN

15 TERMS OF EEO COMPLAINTS WHICH WE DO NOT SEE FILE

16 WOULD IN THE COMING YEARS AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE

17 ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THE END.

18 THANK YOU.

19 >> GOOD MORNING.

20 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

21 I FORGOT TO WEAR A MICROPHONE FRIEND SUIT.

22 SO I GOTTA TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I'M GOING TO PUT

23 THIS.

24 THIS IS A PROBLEM.

25 MEN HAVE IT EASY.


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1 USUALLY YOU HAVE A POCKET SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN

2 STICK THE MICROPHONE ON, SO HOLD ON.

3 SO I CAN FIND A PLACE FOR THIS.

4 GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

5 I'M DINAH COHEN AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPUTER

6 ELECTRONIC ACCOMMODATIONS PROGRAM, BETTER KNOWN AS

7 CAP.

8 AND I'LL BE FOCUSING A LITTLE BIT ON OUR CAP PROGRAM,

9 THE ISSUES OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH

10 DISABILITIES AND THE KIND OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

11 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF CAP?

12 RAISE YOUR HANDS.

13 HOW MANY OF YOU ARE WITH DOD?

14 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN MAYBE ONE OF MY PARTNERS

15 LAST YEAR?

16 HOW MANY OF YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SIGN UP WITH ME

17 THIS YEAR?

18 OH, ALL OF YOUR HANDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP.

19 ALL RIGHT.

20 WE'RE GOING TO TALK.

21 FIRST I WANT TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE ISSUE OF THIS

22 CONFERENCE WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A 508

23 CONFERENCE.

24 SO LET'S START OFF WITH A WHOLE ISSUE OF

25 ACCESSIBILITY VERSUS ACCOMMODATIONS.


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1 YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT SECTION 508.

2 AND 508 IS REALLY FOCUSING ON HAVING GOVERNMENT HAVE

3 AN INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE AND

4 USABLE BY ALL PEOPLE.

5 AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE DATA BASES WE'RE

6 USING, THE E-MAIL PRODUCTS, ALL THE INFORMATION WE

7 WANT TO ACCESS, ALL THE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY WE WANT

8 TO USE IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE WITH

9 DISABILITIES CAN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO IT.

10 THAT'S WHAT 508 IS TALKING ABOUT.

11 ACCOMMODATIONS DEALS WITH A SPECIFIC TOOL THAT AN

12 INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY MAY NEED TO DO THEIR

13 PARTICULAR TASK OR JOB.

14 SO 508 IS TALKING ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE.

15 ACCOMMODATION TALK TAABOUT THE ONE TO ONE TOOLS.

16 AND THAT REALLY ADDRESSES MORE OF THE SECTION 501 AND

17 504. SO I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT MYSELF AS A 504 KIND

18 OF A GAL.

19 SINCE MY VERY BEGINNING MY MISSION HAS BEEN VERY

20 CLEAR ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

21 MY MISSION FROM THE BEGINNING WITH THE CAP PROGRAM IS

22 TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE

23 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENSURE

24 THEY HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT

25 AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.


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1 AND AS I AM GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ON OCTOBER 30

2 OF 2000, LAST OCTOBER 30 PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED THE

3 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT WHICH GAVE CAP THE

4 AUTHORITY TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM EXPANDED TO ALL

5 FEDERAL AGENCIES.

6 WITH THIS MISSION, I TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF MAKING

7 SURE THAT AGENCIES AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE THE TOOLS

8 THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS.

9 THAT'S WHAT THE CAP MISSION IS.

10 IS PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH TOOLS SO THEY CAN BE PART OF

11 TODAY'S ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT.

12 TO ME 508 IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY MAKING MY

13 JOB EASIER.

14 IT WAS NOT THAT UNCOMMON FOR CAP TO PROVIDE MAYBE A

15 SCREEN READER FOR SOMEBODY.

16 THEY LOAD IT ONTO THEIR SYSTEM, BUT THEY STILL CAN'T

17 ACCESS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED BECAUSE 508 HADN'T

18 BEEN ADDRESSED AND WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INFORMATION

19 ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWED THESE TOOLS TO TALK

20 TOGETHER.

21 SO 508 IS GOING TO MAKE MY JOB EASIER AND AS ANYONE

22 KNOWS, I'M THE WORLD'S MOST LAZIEST PERSON, SO 508 IS

23 HERE TO MAKE THINGS MOVE FASTER AND BETTER AND TO

24 MAKE SURE THE TOOLS I PROVIDE TO EMPLOYEES WITH

25 DISABILITIES ARE GOING TO WORK WELL TOGETHER.


20

1 SO THAT'S MY MISSION.

2 LAST YEAR WE KICKED OFF THE PROGRAM AND IN

3 NY2001 WE HAD 45 PARTNERS SIGN UP FOR THE CAP

4 PROGRAM.

5 AND THAT INCLUDED DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT

6 OF COMMERCE, MY COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE HERE, OPM AND

7 EOC, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT YET

8 THIS YEAR.

9 >> SOON.

10 >> ALL RIGHT.

11 WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH SEC, FCC, AND IF YOU KNOW

12 ALL THESEARC NIMS YOU'VE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT TOO LONG.

13 SO NOW WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH 2002.

14 THIS IS THE THIRD DAY OF 2002 AND WE ALREADY HAVE 16

15 INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS.

16 MANY OF THEM ARE REPEATERS AND WE EVEN HAVE SOME NEW

17 AGENCIES ARE JOINING US THIS YEAR SO WE CAN PROVIDE

18 THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS.

19 NOW, THE KEY TO THIS WHOLE CONCEPT, AND I WANT TO

20 MAKE SURE YOU HEAR IT CLEARLY, WE PICK UP THE TAB.

21 WE ARE NOW THE CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR

22 ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAM.

23 THE MONEY COMES OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

24 BUDGET TO SUPPORT OTHER AGENCIES.

25 SO WE'RE PAYING FOR THE ACCOMODATIONS FOR ALL OF OUR


21

1 FEDERAL PARTNERS.

2 SO YOU PEOPLE STARTED TO SAY, GEE, THAT SOUNDS TOO

3 GOOD TO BE TRUE. AND I'M LIKE, WELL, EVERY ONCE IN A

4 WHILE SOMETHING ACTUALLY WORK LOS ANGELES.

5 AND THIS IS ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL

6 TASK FORCE WHERE THEY LOOK AT MANY OF THE IMPEDIMENTS

7 THAT WERE HOLDING PEOPLE BACK WHEN IT COMES TO

8 EMPLOYING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

9 ONE WOULD BE THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION.

10 LET'S HAVE A CENTRALLY AND TRULY LEVEL THE PLAYING

11 FIELD WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES F. A MANAGER

12 DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO

13 COST TO ACCOMMODATE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY,

14 CHANCES ARE THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE WITH

15 DISABILITIES.

16 SO WE'RE NOW THE CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR THE

17 GOVERNMENT AND WE ALREADY HAVE 16 PARTNERS FOR 2002.

18 CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S 2002?

19 THIS IS HOW WE DO THE PROCESS ITSELF.

20 WE HAVE VERY CLEAR OBJECTIVES.

21 FOR AN AGENCY TO BECOME A PARTNER WITH THE CAP

22 PROGRAM, THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THE

23 HEAD OF THE AGENCY NEEDS TO SIGN THE INTERAGENCY

24 AGREEMENT.

25 AND THE REASON PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY DOES


22

1 IT HAVE TO GET TO THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY?

2 MY GUY'S KIND OF BUSY.

3 AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING FREE

4 MONEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

5 BECAUSE IT SOMEWHAT CONTRADICTS THE ECONOMY ACT THAT

6 YOU'RE ASKING ANOTHER AGENCY TO PAY FOR SOMETHING

7 THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.

8 BUT WE KNOW THIS IS GOOD BUSINESS, AND WE KNOW WE CAN

9 DO IT WELL, SO FOR IT TO HAPPEN WE WANT THE HEAD OF

10 THE AGENCY TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOW GETTING SUPPORT

11 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

12 SO THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE NEED AN

13 INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT FROM THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY.

14 ONCE WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AND WE CAN START TO

15 PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES WITH

16 DISABILITIES.

17 WE PROVIDE THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND

18 ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENSURE YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE

19 TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS.

20 VERY SIMPLE.

21 IN PLAIN ENGLISH, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE BUY IT, WE

22 PAY FOR IT, WE GET IT TO THE USER.

23 IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.

24 AND I I'VE BEEN IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR NOW 10

25 PLUS YEARS SO I TEND TO BECOME A LITTLE BIT ANAL OVER


23

1 THE YEARS AND I LIKE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR

2 JOB L. NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATIONS,

3 WE'RE ALWAYS CHECKING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS DID WE DO A

4 GOOD JOB.

5 WE SEND OUT CONSTANTLY FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS.

6 DID YOU GET YOUR ACCOMMODATION YOU REQUESTED IT?

7 DID IT WORK OUT?

8 WAS IT THE TOOL YOU NEEDED?

9 MOST PEOPLE WILL SEND THEIR SURVEYS BACK.

10 I TEND TO READ ALL THE SURVEY RESULTS BECAUSE I'M

11 JUST THAT KIND OF GAL.

12 AND I READ ONE OF THESE AND I SEE THE SURVEY AND I

13 START TO GET A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE THE SURVEYS,

14 THE RESPONSE CAME BACK LIKE THIS: I'M A LITTLE

15 DISAPPOINTED WITH CAP.

16 YOU CLAIM YOU CAN PROVIDE ACCOMODATIONS BETWEEN 7 AND

17 10 DAYS, WHICH I THINK IS PRETTY GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT.

18 YOUR INFORMATION IS INACCURATE.

19 I WAS ABLE TO GET MY ACCOMMODATION AND INSTALLED IN

20 THREE DAYS.

21 AND I'M LIKE YES! THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR.

22 WE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE -- TO BE ABLE TO BUY AND

23 PAY FOR THAT RAH COMMENDATION, GET IT TO THAT USER IN

24 SOMETHING AS SHORT AS THREE DAYS.

25 WE SAY 7 TO 10 BECAUSE MANY VENDORS ARE A LITTLE


24

1 SLOWER THAN OTHERS.

2 SOME COMPANIES ARE A LITTLE BETTER AT DELIVERING.

3 WE TEND TO BE ABOUT 7 TO 10 DAYS BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL

4 OR TOTALLY UNCOMMON THAT AS THIS PERSON SAID, DELIVER

5 AND INSTALL IN THREE DAYS.

6 SO THAT'S ONE OF THE -- THAT IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF

7 THE CAP CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAM.

8 WE'RE HERE TO ALSO HELP WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYMENT

9 AND RETENTION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

10 THE SAME DAY THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED THE

11 EXECUTIVE ORDER DEALING WITH ACCOMMODATION, HE SIGNED

12 ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL

13 GOVERNMENT BECOME THE MODEL EMPLOYER AND HIRE A

14 HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

15 IN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

16 WE'RE IN YEAR TWO, HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

17 WE KNOW THAT AGAIN IF YOU ARE A CAP PARTNER, THAT ONE

18 OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO ADDRESS WHEN

19 YOU TRY TO BRING NEW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON

20 BOARD IS WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT ACCOMMODATION.

21 SO WE FEEL WE'RE A VERY BIG PART OF THAT EXECUTIVE

22 ORDER TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR SHARE

23 OF HIRING MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN YOUR

24 FEDERAL AGENCY.

25 IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WE HAD PROJECTED THAT WE


25

1 CAN HIRE 32,000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THIS

2 FIVE-YEAR CYCLE.

3 WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL 32,000,

4 BUT MAYBE WE WILL, BUT THE THING IS THAT THAT'S WHAT

5 GOALS ARE FOR, SO IT'S SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR.

6 WE KNOW THAT AS YOU PEOPLE COME ON BOARD, THE

7 ACCOMODATIONS WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE, MAKING IT

8 EASIER FOR A MANAGER TO DO THEIR SHARE OF HIRING MORE

9 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

10 BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE COIN.

11 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS HELPING MANAGERS RETAIN

12 THEIR TALENTED PEOPLE ON THEIR WORK FORCE.

13 MANY PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF THE YEARS WILL BECOME

14 DISABLED.

15 WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE REALLY

16 DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

17 BUT I CAN STAND IN FRONT OF ANY ROOM IN A GROUP OF

18 MANAGERS AND I CAN LOOK THEM IN THE EYES AND SAY I

19 GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE WORKING

20 FOR YOU 10 YEARS FROM NOW AS YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW, I

21 GUARANTEE THAT EVEN IF YOU NEVER HIRED A PERSON WITH

22 A DISABILITY, SOMEONE'S GOING TO BECOME DISABLED.

23 SOMEONE WILL HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

24 SOMEONE WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

25 SOMEONE WILL START TO HAVE DIABETES.


26

1 SOMEONE'S GOING TO COME TO YOU AND SAY I NEED TO BE

2 ACCOMMODATED.

3 SO IF YOU'RE SMART MANAGERS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO

4 UNDERSTAND ACCOMMODATIONS BECAUSE SOMEONE WILL NEED

5 TO BE ACCOMMODATED WHETHER YOU HIRED A PERSON WITH A

6 DISABILITY OR NOT.

7 OF ALL THE REASONS WE'RE HAVING MORE PEOPLE WITH

8 DISABILITIES ON OUR WORK FORCE IS WHAT WE CALL THE

9 AGING PROCESS.

10 I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE FOR THAT TERM SINCE I'M --

11 YEARS OLD, I DON'T LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS GETTING

12 OLDER, BUT GETTING CHRONOLOGICALLY GIFTED.

13 AND SOME OF US WON'T WALK AS FAST, WE'LL HAVE

14 PROBLEMS WITH OUR DEXTERITY, OUR VISION MIGHT HAVE

15 SOME PROBLEMS, OUR HEARING MAY HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.

16 SO AS WE START TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE NEED TO

17 MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS WE MAY NEED TO

18 PROVIDE.

19 WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED IN OUR FOLKS.

20 LET'S ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WE'VE ALREADY

21 INVESTED IN, WHO ARE ALREADY PART OF OUR WORK FORCE

22 CAN STAY ON THE WORK FORCE.

23 THAT'S WHAT CAP DOES IS WORK WITH MANAGERS TO KEEP

24 PEOPLE IN THE WORK FORCE.

25 WE ALSO TALK ABOUT PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY.


27

1 IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH

2 DISABILITIES.

3 YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUR

4 COMMUNITY OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.

5 IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY, OH, WE'LL HIRE PEOPLE WITH

6 DISABILITIES AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A TTY IN YOUR

7 PERSONNEL OFFICE SO A DEAF PERSON CAN CALL AND SAY

8 DID YOU GET MY APPLICATION.

9 SO WE NEED TO HAVE PROGRAM ACCESS.

10 WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE EMERGENCY

11 SITUATIONS PEOPLE CAN CALL WHO MAY NEED DIFFERENT

12 WAYS OF CALLING IN.

13 SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS PROGRAM ACCESS AND OF COURSE

14 WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT 508 COMPLIANCE.

15 LET ME TELL FOR A MOMENT ABOUT SOME OF THE TOOLS WE

16 PROVIDE FOR THE CAP PROGRAM.

17 AGAIN, WE WERE HERE TO BECOME THE CENTRALLY FUNDED

18 PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATIONS.

19 LET ME QUICKLY GO DOWN SOME OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS WE

20 DO PROVIDE.

21 WHAT IS THE NO. 1 DISABLING CONDITION IN THE

22 UNITED STATES TODAY?

23 CARPAL TUNNEL SEND ROM.

24 WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GO OUT ON WORKERS' COMP OR

25 NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEVELOPED


28

1 CARPAL TUNNEL.

2 IF I CAN ACCOMMODATE SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A SPINAL

3 CORD INJURY, MS, CP, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE DISABILITY

4 IS, IT'S THE SAME FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS: SOMEONE

5 MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE THEIR HANDS TO ENTER

6 INFORMATION INTO THE COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT.

7 LET'S ACCOMMODATE THEM.

8 SO WE HAVE AN ACCOMMODATION WHETHER IT'S A LOW TECH

9 SOLUTIONS LIKE A DIFFERENT POINTER SYSTEM, DIFFERENT

10 KEYBOARD, OR THE HIGH END, MORE THE VOICE RECOGNITION

11 TYPE TECHNOLOGY.

12 ALLOWING SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO INPUT INFORMATION INTO

13 THEIR COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT MAYBE USING AS

14 WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF AS A TRADITIONAL KEYBOARD.

15 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PRINT IN THE

16 PHONE BOOK HAS GOTTEN A HELL OF A LOT SMALLER OVER

17 THE YEARS? WE HAVE LARGER MONITOR, OR WHERE WE

18 PROVIDE CCTVS OR MAGNIFICATION, WHATEVER THE TOOL MAY

19 BE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT'S ON THEIR COMPUTER

20 SCREEN OR BE ABLE TO ACCESS WHAT'S ON THEIR COMPUTER

21 SCREEN IS THE OTHER TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES IT

22 EASY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY PART OF THIS INFORMATION

23 ENVIRONMENT.

24 TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES, TTY'S.

25 HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?