ODEP - Workforce Development Case Study

Workforce Development Case Study

How People with Disabilities are served through the Workforce Development System.

The WIA (Workforce Investment Act) Case Study project is a five-year longitudinal study effort by ODEP to understand what supports the workforce development system needs to provide universal access to services for people with disabilities. The study will document the actual challenges faced and strategies employed by states and local communities in serving people with disabilities within the workforce development system. Twelve sites around the country were selected for the study based on geographic location, demographic composition, and economic challenges. Six sites each were selected to represent the adult and youth programs.

One-stop career centers from the following states were selected for the study. Los Angeles, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; New Orleans, LA; Utica, NY; Clark County, WA; Providence, RI; Tucson, AZ; Albany, GA; Waterloo, IA; Syracuse, NY; and Bellingham, WA. These sites provide a snapshot of how people with disabilities are served in the workforce development system. There are over 2,000 One-stop career centers all over the country.

The research team conducts interviews at each site. Interviews are combined with a review of documents and reports that the site uses for organizational or planning purposes. Following document review, the research team then interviews One-Stop frontline staff, One-Stop management, State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) frontline and management staff, staff of partnering disability organizations, State or Local Workforce Investment Board members and staff, One-Stop customers with disabilities, and employers. A protocol of questions guided the interview process. Participants were asked about issues such as policies, practices, and strategies related to leadership, collaboration, accessibility, and employers.

The publications are produced by the research teams from the Institute for Community Inclusion/UCEDD and the Academy of Education Development, which is funded by the Department of Labor, Office of the Disability Employment of Policy. The opinions expressed herein are in those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor.