American Counseling Association WIA ReauthorizationTestimony
U.S. Department
of Labor
WIA Reauthorization Forum: One-Stop Services to
Persons with Disabilities
Submitted June 21, 2002
by
American
Counseling Association
Joan Wodiska, Assistant Director of
Public Policy and Legislation
5999 Stevenson Avenue,
Alexandria VA 22304
703-823-9800 x241 or
jwodiska@counseling.org
On behalf of the American Counseling Association (ACA), thank you for hosting this forum on the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and One-Stop services to persons with disabilities.
Founded in1952, ACA represents over 55,000 professional counselors across the country and is the world's largest private, non-profit organization representing professional counselors. ACA has 18 divisions, including the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), the National Employment Counseling Association (NECA), and the National Career Development Association (NCDA). All three divisions are dedicated to helping individuals overcome barriers to employment.
In the discussion guide for today, you asked, "How can we increase access to qualified training providers with expertise related to provision of training and services to job seekers with disabilities?" That is an important question. Today some training providers remain unfamiliar with the requirements of Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Trainers are not or do not know to modify their curriculum, materials or presentations to accommodate persons with disabilities. ACA recommends additional professional development, trainer screening, and an evaluation of skills.
But training providers are not the only service providers working with persons with disabilities. The bulk of WIA services vital to job seekers, such as counseling, case management and assessments are provided by others. For this reason, a more critical and appropriate question is "How can we improve persons with disabilities’ access to qualified service providers?" If we are to have a meaningful discussion about the "provision of quality services" for persons with disabilities, we must address the qualifications of service providers.
ACA strongly encourages the adoption of qualifications for service providers, including case managers, under WIA similar to that in the Rehabilitation Act. In the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system, professional master's or doctoral level rehabilitation counselors are the professionals responsible for the delivery of services to persons with disabilities and the primary fiscal agent responsible for expenditure of funds. The Rehabilitation Act requires that persons hired as rehabilitation counselors possess the appropriate expertise and academic preparation necessary to provide services to persons with disabilities. Typically this is a Master's degree in counseling or a closely related field. Research has proven a clear relationship between the educational levels of vocational rehabilitation counselors and improved employment outcomes for persons with disabilities. Further research has also proven that qualified rehabilitation counselor’ services are more efficient and cost effective. Despite this research, WIA did not set minimum qualifications of service providers and case managers.
A former President of the National Employment Counseling Association analogized the lack of qualified service providers in the One-Stops in this manner. She said, "it is like being treated for a medical problem, examined and assessed, given a prescription and treatment plan only to find out the provider never went to medical school and is not licensed to practice". This would be criminal. And yet substandard services, incorrect assessments, and ill-prepared staff are tolerated in America's One-Stops. At a minimum, ACA recommends that WIA reauthorization address the qualifications of professional counselors and case managers to ensure accountability and protect consumers.
One-Stops continue to struggle to provide basic core services to persons with disabilities. Under the ADA, the core services available to the general public through a One-Stop must be available to persons with disabilities under the same terms and conditions that are available to anyone else. This includes initial assessment of skills, abilities and service needs, job search and placement assistance, labor market information to support informed choice, career and employment counseling, and follow-up services.
One solution is to remedy the problems associated with the initial assessment of skills, abilities and service needs. ACA recommends that language regarding employment and career-counseling practices, including testing requirements, are included in the WIA reauthorization. Inappropriate or inaccurate testing methods can adversely impact persons with disabilities access to necessary services and further thwart informed choice. Protecting a client's rights during informal and formal assessment, the writing of the employment plans, and the provision of case management is critical.
This having been said, it is difficult to have a meaningful discussion about the reauthorization of WIA when Congress and the Administration have not provided the level of funding necessary to fully implement the program. If WIA is to be successful, the continued guidance and increased financial support of the federal government is required. Although an appropriations issue, WIA funding must addressed during the reauthorization process.
In closing, if ACA could change one thing about WIA, it would be to ensure that all persons served by the program have access to the services of a properly trained and qualified provider to meet their individuals needs. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. ACA members look forward to working with the Department to further improve and refine the Workforce Investment Act.
