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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
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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.
14
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
15
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
16
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.
17
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.
18
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.
19
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?
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