Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Tom Sewell Men with Disabilities Representative Ohio Cara Clark Women with Disabilities Representative Illinois March 2008 National Civil Rights Committee

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities 2002 U.S. Census  50 million Americans or 18% of population have a disability  32 million or 12% - have a severe disability

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities 2002 U.S. Census  56% of people ages 21 to 64 who had a disability were employed  Similarly, 42% with severe disability were employed

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities 2002 U.S. Census  Compared with the employment rate of 88% having no reported disability

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities NRCS Employment  During FY 2005, 947 or 7.16% of NRCS employees reported having a disability.  The number with targeted disabilities totaled 133 or 1.01%, compared to the Federal benchmark of 2.27%.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities What is a disability?  A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits life’s activities.  Life activities- seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, working, learning, breathing, performing manual tasks and caring for oneself.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities What is a disability? The legal definition also includes people who have a history of such impairments or who are regarded as having such impairments.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Ensure full access and equal opportunity  With program delivery  Accessible events  Accessible facilities  With technical services

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities  Identify and remove barriers that limit participation  Be PROACTIVE- Communicate and advertise that events, programs, and services are accessible

HOW? Inform / Advertise  Plan, offer, & arrange for accessible events.  Special accommodations will be made upon request for individuals with disabilities.  Ask to make request by a minimum of 2 full business days prior to the event date.

HOW? Inform / Advertise  Newsletter  Displays  Event Flyers  Radio Service Announcements  News Articles  Web Site  Brochures

Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilities An accessible event includes providing:  Facilities and/or event sites that are physically accessible  Interpreting services  Handouts & materials in alternative formats  Volunteers or employees to assist those with special needs

Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Providing facilities and/or event sites that are physically accessible.  Accessible parking spaces  Entrance 36-inch-wide, easy- opening doors w/ramp  Room setups accessible to ensure wheelchair users can see program  Accessible restrooms

Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Interpreting Services  Contact and schedule with local interpreting services  Determine mode of communication - sign language - sign language - transcriber or Assistive Listening Devices - transcriber or Assistive Listening Devices

Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Presentations  Use of microphones  Videos/DVDs are captioned  Use of easily visible slides with large-print copies for handouts

Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Presentations  Handouts in alternatives format (i.e. Braille, cassette tape, computer disk, large print).  Read all slides out-loud and describe pictures and graphs.  Repeat audience questions with responses.

Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Field Day  Use of portable microphones  Repeat audience questions with responses  Large cue charts on stand  Large print copies as handouts  Cart  Tractor & wagon with ramp

Making Programs and Technical Services Accessible Home Visit  Handouts or forms in alternatives format  Lap top with pertinent forms & information to view  Digital photos  Electronic forms with use of electronic signature

Making Programs and Technical Services Accessible Use of Technology  Computer Communication instant messaging - instant messaging - net meeting - net meeting  Text Telephones -TDDs or TTYs  Telecommunication relay services -”800” toll free phone # services are listed in local phone directories -”800” toll free phone # services are listed in local phone directories

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Use Common Sense  Treat persons with disabilities as any other customer.  Communicate directly with the person.  Speak clearly & specifically.  Offer assistance and how it should be given.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Hearing Impaired  Look directly at the person when speaking.  Speak slowly & clearly.  When asked to repeat, try other words.  Do not shout, hearing aids make sounds louder, not clearer.  Use pen and paper.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Blind or Visually-Impaired  Speak directly to the person using normal tone.  Offer assistance - Be guided by one’s response.  Be specific in giving directions.  Walk alongside, slightly ahead, let the person hold your arm.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Mobility Impaired  Push a wheelchair only after asking if assistance is needed.  Place yourself at eye level, sit in chair or kneeling.  Don’t lean on wheelchair or other assistive device.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Mental Impairments  Speak in a normal voice.  Don’t use complex sentences.  Make instructions clear and concise.

Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities Ask questions if you are not sure about what to do.  State Disability Emphasis Program Manager  TARGET Center  Local Rehabilitation Services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD).