Project Description:
The Institute on Disabilities will support improved employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities by conducting activities to increase awareness of and access to accommodations and supports in the workplace, especially assistive technology devices and services. High growth industries in the Mid-Atlantic region, like travel and tourism, will be targeted.
The Institute will develop a training curriculum on Assistive Technology in the Workplace ?Tools to Accommodate Employees with Disabilities. The training will include modules of 30, 60 and 90 minutes, to allow for flexibility in training human resource staff, small business owners and other interested employers who want to learn how to accommodate and support employees with disabilities. Assistive Technology in the Workplace ? Tools to Accommodate Employees with Disabilities will provide an overview of American with Disabilities Act (ADA); disability etiquette; assistive technology (AT) tools for employee participation, independence and productivity; work site modifications; accessible electronic and information technology; and resources available to support Mid-Atlantic employers locally, regionally, and nationally.
The Institute will lead in the development and production of the training curriculum and supportive materials. These include a training manual (print and electronic), reproducible promotional materials (e.g. customizable fliers announcing the training), PowerPoint presentation, large assistive technology training kits for each state and the DBTAC to use during their trainings, and mini-training kits as ?give-aways? to HR staff, small business owners and other employers who will attend the trainings.
Development of the training materials and curriculum will be done collaboratively with the Mid-Atlantic Consortium states (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia), with solicitation of materials already produced by these and other state Assistive Technology Act programs; regular review of curricular materials as they are developed, input into the design of the initial train-the-trainer event, and subsequent modifications to the training. This will require two conference calls to be scheduled, regular email communication with staff and a face-to-face meeting of project directors at the National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Program?s annual conference, in May 2007 in Denver, Colorado.
During the summer of 2007, the Institute on Disabilities will coordinate a two 1-day trainings (to be offered twice to accommodate schedules and travel distances), and support (travel, accommodations, meals) the attendance of staff from the Mid-Atlantic State AT Act Programs that comprise the Mid-Atlantic Consortium. It is expected that each Consortium state will send at least two staff to the training, who will subsequently conduct at least one training in their state using the materials and curriculum, before September 30, 2007. Technical assistance will be provided to each state in arranging and providing their first training.
