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Work Incentive and Disability Employment Grants Conference

Washington, D.C.
May 29-31, 2002

The Law, Health Policy and Disability Center in its role as a partner in the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workforce Investment and Employment Policy for Persons with Disabilities, facilitated a 3-day conference for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) on Wednesday, May 29 through Friday, May 31, 2002 at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. Over 150 participants attended from 40 states.

The Work Incentive and Disability Employment Grants conference brought together grantees from three DOL funded projects: Work Incentive Grant (first and second round), Disability Employment Grant, and Disability Information Technology Initiative (please see project descriptions below) to learn more about current federal initiatives and to engage in small group discussions on workforce challenges to effective participation of persons with disabilities.

The conference agenda included presentations from other federal agencies; small group problem solving sessions on critical issues affecting the workforce development system such as One-Stop Accessibility, service delivery coordination, involvement of the local Workforce Investment Board, and use of Individual Training Accounts; along with presentations from grantees on lessons learned from systems change activities.

Work Incentives Grantees (WIG)

The Work Incentive Grant program, working in tandem with the workforce development system, facilitates model service delivery for people with disabilities involving coordination of multiple programs and agencies that frequently impact their ability to achieve self-sustaining employment, skill attainment and long-range career opportunities. Recognizing that many One-Stop delivery systems may not currently have the capacity to provide comprehensive services to people with disabilities, the Work Incentive Grant is designed to provide seed monies for the enhancement of service delivery in the One-Stop delivery system.

WIG projects are working at a state and local level to facilitate a seamless workforce development system that assures physical and programmatic access for youth and working age adults with disabilities. As a facilitator, WIG programs are bringing mandated and non-mandated partners together to improve service coordination and program access. Through work groups at local and state levels, policy barriers are being identified and solutions crafted that improve opportunities for acquiring new skills that result in employment and/or career advancement.

Disability Employment Grantees (DEG)

The Disability Employment Grant program builds upon other DOL Employment and Training Administration initiatives, including the Work Incentive Grants and the Disability Information Technology (IT) Initiative that focuses on expanding opportunities in the information technology industry for people with disabilities. The Disability Employment Grants also support President Bush's New Freedom Initiative by increasing workforce, employment, and educational opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies. A primary purpose of the Disability Employment Grant program is to implement strategies resulting in long-term quality employment outcomes and opportunities for skill attainment that address the needs of people with disabilities, particularly those with severe disabilities.

Disability Information Technology Initiative Grantees

The purpose of this initiative is to expand opportunities for information technology training and improve access to employment with long-term career potential in the information technology industry for people with disabilities, particularly those with severe disabilities. The Disability Information Technology Initiative seeks to foster the commitment and experience of the One-Stop system in the training and successful attainment of employment for people with disabilities, including supporting partnerships with 1) the business community to achieve quality program designs and placement outcomes, 2) academic institutions with expertise in information technology skill requirements, 3) and non-profit entities which may provide expertise regarding accessible technologies and accommodations or outreach. Non-duplication of existing services, and leveraging of scare resources are also important factors.

The following list represents a sample of documents and materials from conference presentations:


At a Glance


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