Individuals with Disabilities

Workforce Solutions is here to provide resources to support individuals with disabilities find and retain employment. Listed below are some resources to assist you on topics ranging from accessibility in the community to disability issues in employment.

• Accessibility in the Community
• Accessibility and Disability Disclosure at Workforce Solutions
• Employment Issues for People with Disabilities
• Resources for Jobseekers with Disabilities

Accessibility in the Community: (back to top)

• A Guide to Disability Rights Law: This guide provides an overview of Federal civil rights laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities. To find out more about how these laws may apply to you, contact the agencies and organizations listed in the guide. http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm


• Southwest ADA Center: www.swdbtac.org
  • 800-949-4232 is the ADA hotline for free and confidential guidance on disability rights issues. For a list of other ADA Centers please see www.adata.org


• US Department of Justice Website for the Americans with Disabilities Act: www.ada.gov


• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth provides information about transitioning from school to work http://www.ncwd-youth.info/youth.

Accessibility and Disability Disclosure at Workforce Solutions (back to top)

• Accommodation Policy and Assistive Technology/Auxiliary Aids: Workforce Solutions is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please contact a staff member to request an accommodation. Relay Texas: 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) and 1-800-735-2988 or 7-1-1 (voice)


• Disability Disclosure at Workforce Solutions: It is your personal decision whether to tell staff about your disability. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, staff can ask if you have a disability to determine if you are eligible for certain services from our office. However, disclosing your disability and information about it, is strictly voluntary. By disclosing your disability, you can receive the accommodations and assistance you need to fully benefit from the services of the Career Center. By disclosing, you may also become eligible for special programs available for people with disabilities and find out about additional resources to help you reach your employment goal.

Employment Issues for People with Disabilities: (back to top)

• Issues and Implications of Disability Disclosure—Disability Disclosure is your personal decision. You do not need to disclose your disability to a prospective or current employer. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): "if you think you will need a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions, you should inform the employer that an accommodation will be needed. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation only for the physical or mental limitations of a qualified individual with a disability of which they are aware. Generally, it is the responsibility of the employee to inform the employer that an accommodation is needed" (http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html). For further guidance in making this decision please visit the links and resources listed below.



Do's and Don'ts of Disclosure http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/disclosurefact.doc




Youth, Disclosure and the Workplace: http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/ydw.htm




For additional guidance from the EEOC: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm




• To learn more about Rights and Responsibilities for Employees with Disabilities:



The ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With a Disability http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html




Job Accommodation Network for Individuals(JAN): http://askjan.org/indiv/index.htm#on




Visit the Employment and the ADA section of the Disability Law Handbook of the Southwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (www.swdbtac.org) at http://www.dlrp.org/html/publications/dlh/employment.html




• For an overview of the protections that you have against employment discrimination under State and Federal Laws please visit



http://www.eeoc.gov/employees/index.cfm and http://www.twc.state.tx.us/customers/jsemp/jsempsubcrd.html




• To Request Accommodations:



How to Get Reasonable Accommodations (www.swdbtac.org): http://www.dlrp.org/html/publications/blog/blog025.html or call 1-800-949-4232.




Job Accommodation Network's (JAN) Employees' Practical Guide to Negotiating and Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): http://askjan.org/EeGuide/




Sample Accommodation Request letter http://askjan.org/media/downloads/accommodationrequestletter.doc

Other Resources for Jobseekers with Disabilities (back to top)

• The ABCs of SCHEDULE A For Applicants with Disabilities: Tips for Getting Federal Jobs (http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/abc_applicants_with_disabilities.cfm)


• The Ticket to Work Program is for Social Security Beneficiaries receiving SSI or SSDI who are interested in going to work www.yourtickettowork.com


• The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program that helps people who have physical or mental disabilities prepare for, find or keep employment. http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ or http://www.dars.state.tx.us/services/index.shtml
  
  
  • Division for Blind Services (DBS) assists individuals with visual impairments to access employment. Please call 800-687-7010 or (806) 351-3870 for more information.
  
  
  • The Amarillo Center of the Workforce Solutions Panhandle has a Division for Rehabilitation Services (DRS) counselor in house on most Tuesdays at 9am. Please call 806-351-3830 or 800 392-1958 to set up an appointment and to find another counselor in your area.


• www.disability.gov is a federal web site that contains disability-related resources on programs, services, laws and regulations to help people with disabilities lead full, independent lives.


• www.dol.gov/odep is the website for the Office of Disability and Employment Policy of the Department of Labor.


• www.ada.gov is the US Department of Justice website on the Americans Disabilities Act.


• The Southwest ADA Center is a federally sponsored organization that is a resource on the Americans with Disabilites Act and other related diability rights laws. www.swdbtac.org 1-800-949-4232


• The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). www.askjan.org


• The Panhandle Independent Living Center promotes the inclusion and self-sufficiency of all people with disabilities. http://www.panhandleilc.org/


• Disability Rights Texas is the legal protection and advocacy agency for Texans with disabilities to help people with disabilities understand and exercise their rights under the law. http://www.disabilityrightstx.org/


• Imagine Enterprises has a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) that will help Social Security Beneficiaries plan how their wages will affect their SSI &/or SSDI amounts. Free consultation available only for people receiving SSI/SSDI. Please call 325-676-8988 (phone) or visit http://www.imagineenterprises.com/index.html


• The Panhandle Regional Planning Commission's (PRPC) Workforce Development programs address the needs of area employers and workers. www.theprpc.org


• Amarillo College provides students with disabilities services to gain equal access to its Programs and Services. http://www.actx.edu/disability/


• The Office of Student Disability Services at West Texas A&M University provides assistance and accommodations to students with disabilities for equal access to a quality education. http://www.wtamu.edu/student-support/disability-services.aspx


• The Texas Medicaid Buy-In Program offers health insurance coverage to employed people with disabilities. To find out the eligibility criteria and learn more at http://www.dars.state.tx.us/edc/medicaidbuyin.shtml


• The Texas Panhandle Centers (previously known as TPMHMR) serves people with mental illness, intellectual & developmental disabilities and children with development delays. This agency serves the upper 21 counties of Panhandle Texas Area. www.texaspanhandlecenters.org or www.tpmhmr.org

Equal Opportunity is the Law
Auxiliary aids and services are available, upon request, to individuals with disabilities.
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