THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA)To Highlight the Application of and Analysis of a Policy

WESLEY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Mission: “To develop, own, operate, preserve, and

maintain affordable housing and sustain quality communities for low- and moderate-income families and individuals in Northern Virginia.”

25 Properties; 4 community resource centers; 5 resident services centers

Coppermine Place I and II Coppermine I –people with disabilities that are very-low income Coppermine II - low-income seniors age 55 and older

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) Signed into law on July 22, 2014 Provides people with the access and resources

necessary to obtain employment, as well as necessary education or training in order to do so

Matches employers to job seekers with the skills they are looking for

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsIjfm1HmMs&spfreload=10

WHAT DOES WIOA DO FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? The outcome focus of WIOA for people with disabilities is

“competitive integrated employment” This means: part- or full-time work that is paid at least minimum wage,

where an individual has opportunity to interacts with people who do not have disabilities and has an opportunity for advancement that is similar to their non-disabled peers in similar positions

WIOA also emphasizes transition services for youth with disabilities The transition refers to high school to post-secondary education or

employment or adult services (i.e. employment or non-work supports and services)

Coordination between vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other agencies, including school systems.

WHAT DO TRANSITION SERVICES LOOK LIKE? WIOA designates that 15% of public vocational rehabilitation

funds have to be used to support transition services, including those for people with disabilities

Includes: Job exploration counseling Work-based learning experiences Counseling on post-secondary opportunities Workplace readiness training Training on self-advocacy

These services will be provided to students either during school hours or as after school activities

EXAMPLE OF A TRANSITION PROGRAM Shelby County Schools in Tennessee: https://youtu.be/-

70Gr7wA3RY The Mason LIFE (Learning Into Future Environments)

program here at George Mason University! This is a college level transition program. A four year college experience for students with intellectual and

developmental disabilities Focuses on:

Academics Employment Independent Living Skills Community Integration

OTHER POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES WIOA allows support (such as tuition when appropriate)

to eligible individuals with disabilities for advanced training in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (including computer science) field, medicine, law, or business.

WIOA allows funding for assistive technology for post-secondary education: This allows better access for individuals with intellectual disabilities

and other individuals with disabilities to participate in postsecondary educational experiences and to obtain and retain competitive integrated employment.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION WIOA makes vocational rehabiliation (VR) mandatory for

One-Stop Career Centers (American Job Centers) One-Stop Centers were created in 1998, and there are now more

than 1,700 of them Vocational rehabilitation: a process which enables

persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other useful occupation

MORE ABOUT WIOA Limits use of sub-minimum wage:

Requires a series of steps before someone under age 24 can be paid below minimum wage (such as in a sheltered workshop).

Schools cannot contract with anyone who pays sub-minimum wage

CLASS DISCUSSION What do you think are some of the most

important parts of WIOA?

What do you think will be some of the biggest challenges with implementing this policy?

How do you think policymakers should measure the outcomes of WIOA?

CLASS DISCUSSION (CONT.) How do you think WIOA will impact social

workers direct work with clients with disabilities?

REFERENCES http://

www.thewholebraingroup.com/wbcntnt/wp-content/uploads/Celebrating-ADAs-22nd-Anniversary-Infographic-2.jpg

www.arcnc.org http://www.thearc.org/document.doc?id=5183 http://www.wesleyhousing.org/coppermine-place-ii.html https://www.communityinclusion.org/pdf/IB31_F.pdf https://

www2.illinoisworknet.com/WIOA/Documents/Region%205Final%20WIOA%20Town%20Hall%20Presentation.pdf

QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK ON PRESENTATION