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Policymakers
This page is for policymakers — those who create, change, modify public policy on workforce development and disability in the form of law and regulation at the federal, state and local levels and those who try to impact those changes. NCWD/Youth was created in order to help bridge the gaps that exist in public policy, programs, and services that serve youth transitioning for adolescence to adulthood. NCWD/Youth assists state and local workforce development systems integrate youth with disabilities into their service delivery strategies.
The range of settings in which youth receive workforce development services is wide and the responsibilities of the staff serving youth call for both general and specialized knowledge. Youth service practitioners need certain knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to do this work effectively. NCWD/Youth’s new hot topic on KSAs will explain more.
Read the new KSAs Jump Start.
Materials developed by NCWD/Youth are organized around what young people need to be successful in the workplace. Evidence-based research shows that all young people need to be exposed to activities in the following four areas:
- Preparatory
Experiences are those core activities that help
youth become prepared for a successful future in
careers or postsecondary education institutions.
They include the career interest and vocational
assessments, information about careers, income potential,
and work-readiness skills.
- Work-based
Learning are supervised programs sponsored by
an education or training organization that link
knowledge gained at the worksite with a planned
program of study. Experiences range in intensity,
structure and scope and include activities as diverse
as site visits, job shadowing, paid and unpaid internships,
structured on-the-job training, and the more formal
work status as apprentice or employee.
- Connecting Activities provide
necessary support services for youth and enrich
program content. They include academic tutoring,
adult and peer mentoring, and helping youth explore
self-sufficiency issues like assistive technology,
transportation, benefits planning, and health maintenance.
- Youth
Development & Leadership are processes
that prepare young people to meet the challenges
of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated,
progressive series of activities and experiences.
These include providing structured relationships
with adults and exposing every youth to personal
leadership skills such as self-advocacy and self-determination.
Understanding Policy:
Policy, Legislation, & Regulations relating to
Employment & Youth with Disabilities
Over time, critical pieces of legislation have been
enacted at the federal level and administered at the
state and local level. These are the pieces of workforce
development system and/or are relevant to youth with
disabilities and employment.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
was approved by Congress and signed into law on August
7, 1998. The WIA provides the framework for a new
national workforce preparation and employment system
designed to meet both the needs of the nation's businesses
and the needs of job seekers or those who want to
further their careers. At the state and local level,
Workforce Investment Boards, in partnership with state
and local elected officials, plan and oversee the
state and local workforce investment system.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
gives civil rights protections to individuals with
disabilities similar to those provided to individuals
on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin,
age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity
for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations,
employment, transportation, State and local government
services, and telecommunications.
Rehab Act. Two sections of import
are Section 504 which is the Nondiscrimination
Under Federal Grants and Programs and Section
508 which requires Federal agencies to make
their electronic and information technology accessible
to people with disabilities.
Social Security Act (SSA) provides
income support to persons with disability and has
programs for people with disabilities who want to
work.
Visit
our Disability Legislation Central for a listing of
disability related laws.
What States are doing
- Legislative Summaries
- WIBs
- Legislative Briefs
- Executive Initiatives
What Localities are doing
- LWIBs
- Supporters (Partner agencies?)
- One Stops
- Youth Councils
- Legacy Organizations
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Useful Links:
Disability.Gov
@ http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/
This is a comprehensive website for all disability-related federal resources.
Employment
and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
@ http://www.doleta.gov/
The ETA builds the labor market through the training of the workforce
and the placement of workers in jobs through employment services.
National
Conference of State Legislators
@ http://www.ncsl.org/
NCSL is a bipartisan organization dedicated to serving the lawmakers
and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories.
National
Association of Counties (NACo)
@ http://www.naco.org/
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization
that represents county governments in the United States.
United
States Conference of Mayors
@ http://usmayors.org/
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization
of the nation's 1183 U.S. cities with populations of 30,000 or more.
National
League of Cities
@ http://www.nlc.org
The National League of Cities works with 49 state municipal leagues.
NLC's Institute for Youth, Education, & Families helps municipal
leaders take action on behalf of children, youth, and families in their
communities.
National
Governors Association
@ http://www.nga.org/
The NGA Center for Best Practices helps governors and their key policy
staff develop and implement innovative solutions to challenges facing
their states. The Center has both an Education Division and Social,
Economic and Workforce Programs Division.
National
Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
@ http://www.nasdse.org/
NASDSE provides support to all states and territories in the delivery
of quality education to children and youth with disabilities through
training, technical assistance, research, and policy development.
National
Workforce Association
@ http://www.nwaonline.org/
The National Workforce Association (Formerly called the National Association
of County Training and Employment Professionals)is dedicated to strengthening
the nation's workforce development system.
National
Association of Workforce Boards
@ http://www.nawb.org/
NAWB represents business-led Workforce Boards that plan and oversee
state and local workforce development and job training programs.
National
Association of State Workforce Agencies
@ http://www.naswa.org
The mission of NASWA is to strengthen the National Workforce Development
Network through information exchange, liaison and advocacy.
National
Association of State Workforce Board Chairs
@ http://www.subnet.nga.org/
workforcecouncilchairs
The National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs equips those
responsible for overseeing state workforce development systems.
The
Workforce Alliance (TWA)
@ http://www.workforcealliance.org/
TWA is a diverse coalition that advises Washington policymakers on "what
works" in preparing people for local jobs, and advocate for more
effective federal education and training policies. |
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