1. Disability Program Navigator Training A Joint Initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration Identifying and Working with Individuals with Disabilities Judith Emery, Director, Colorado WIN Partners Patrick Loeber, Consumer Navigator, Pikes Peak Workforce Center Miranda Thompson, Consumer Navigator, Broomfield Workforce Center

2. Module Objectives To better understand the various definitions of the term "disability" To build awareness of hidden disabilities To better understand the impact a disability may have on employment and the process of becoming employed To better understand the role of the One-Stop in serving Persons with Disabilities To communicate ways to determine if an individual may have a disability To communicate effective strategies for assisting a person with a specific type of disability (e.g. mental illness vs. learning disability) To better understand the role of Person Centered Planning in serving a person with a disability

3. What do we mean by the term “Disability”? Wide range of conditions Impacts lives in a variety of ways Not always apparent Natural part of human existence Definitions vary considerably

4. What does it mean under the ADA? A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; A record of such an impairment; or, Being regarded as having such an impairment

5. Why serve individuals with disabilities through One-Stops? Need assistance that One-Stops provide Meet employer needs Employers eager to hire people with disabilities National priority Workforce Investment Act requirements

6. Hidden Disabilities Learning Disabilities Mental Illness Traumatic Brain Injury

7. Learning Disabilities A disorder in one or more of the basic processes involved in understanding or using spoken or written language, that impacts an individual’s ability in one of the following areas: listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, and doing mathematical calculations.

8. Mental Illness Disorders of the brain that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others. An illness that affects or is manifested in a person’s brain that often results in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. It may affect the way a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people.

9. Traumatic Brain Injury People with Traumatic Brain Injury have had damage to the brain usually as the result of trauma, such as an accident or stroke.

10. Hidden Disabilities – clues for you Requests information written down Reaction to cleaning or perfume odors Requests material be read Does not complete application packet Others?

11. Suggestions Minimize distractions Use notes Write down action steps Communicate clear expectations Ask them to repeat Minimize stress

12. Disclosure The bottom line on disclosure: The job seekers preference must be respected.

13. “Letting the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.” --Will Rogers

14. Person Centered Planning Person: a human being Centered: to be focused on Planning: a method of action

15. Person Centered Actions & Roles of the Navigators: Actively listen Adhere to person centered concepts Adhere to person centeredness in your planning Navigator supports and roles