Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 8. Addressing the Accessibility of the One-Stop Delivery System for Individuals with Disabilities
Describe how the one-stop delivery system (including one-stop center operators and the one-stop delivery system partners), will comply with section 188 of WIOA (if applicable) and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) with regard to the physical and programmatic accessibility of facilities, programs, services, technology, and materials for individuals with disabilities. This also must include a description of compliance through providing staff training and support for addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities. Describe the State’s one-stop center certification policy, particularly the accessibility criteria.
Current Narrative:
Missouri has a committee specifically focused on one-stop certification criteria. The committee has established the criteria for certification, including accessibility. This committee includes representatives from Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and the Centers for Independent Living that will assist with training and technical assistance to ensure accessibility of facilities, programs, services, technology and materials for individuals with disabilities. Accessibility criteria for certification includes the requirements contained with Section 188, which includes policy review, adaptive technology equipment availability and emergency procedures.
In order to better serve Missouri Job Centers’ (MJCs) customers, the workforce partners are working with the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Great Plains ADA Center, the Center for Independent Living and the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Training is coordinated by the state and local level Equal Opportunity Office for job center staff. Through this collaboration, partners developed a statewide survey to gather information from jobseekers on the social, environmental and physical accessibility of the MJCs. Local areas used this feedback as a guide to improve training and technical assistance for serving individuals with disabilities.
The State Equal Opportunity Officer coordinates training for Local Equal Opportunity Officers and other partner staff, which includes Vocational Rehabilitation staff to bring awareness to WIOA Section 188 requirements. The Missouri’s Nondiscrimination Plan describes how the state will conduct annual monitoring for each local workforce development area/region to ensure compliance with WIOA Section 188.
Office of Workforce Development (OWD) policy for assistive technology, OWD Issuance 12-2017 “Minimum Standards for Assistive Technologies in Missouri Job Centers” provides guidance for basic assistive technology at each job center. In 2018, a survey of all job centers was completed that provided additional information on the strides made to make every job center accessible for individuals with disabilities. In 2019, OWD rolled out installation of Windows 10, which has many built-in accessibility features. Training for all staff on utilizing assistive technology will include both online and classroom classes.
Policy guidelines for one-stop certification were updated and issued in 2019. Included in the issuance are criteria for programmatic and physical accessibility. Onsite reviewers were provided an extensive checklist to confirm that every one-stop job center meets WIOA standards of programmatic and physical accessibility.