Disability

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides guidance and support to state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies that are charged with providing job training and placement, as well as on-the-job supports to aid individuals with disabilities find and retain employment. State VR agencies can be most successful when they understand labor force trends and can look ahead at the projected soft and hard skills employers need to train and prepare candidates for the jobs of the future.

The vast majority of the approximately 10,000 individuals returning to the community from prison each week lack the education and skills required for even entry-level employment. Research from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicates a link between academic failure and delinquency, violence and crime. Those reentering the community after incarceration face a system of silos between corrections, education and the workforce system. This contract sought to support reentry education models based on the best available evidence and theory and build on Department work in this area.

New Editions developed functional requirements and built the Disability Equality Index (DEI) (www.disabilityequalityindex.org) survey tool system and website. The DEI is a national, transparent benchmarking survey tool that offers Fortune 1000 businesses an opportunity to measure their disability inclusion policies and practices.

New Editions manages the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s (RSA) National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) - ncrtm.ed.gov - and technical assistance webinars. The NCRTM is RSA’s gateway to technical assistance and training, providing reliable, up-to-date training materials. It is a venue for information sharing, learning and professional growth for vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals, service providers, researchers, trainers, educators, individuals with disabilities and their support networks.

New Editions supported the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Office of Accessible Systems & Technology’s (OAST’s) Trusted Tester Certification program. The purpose of this program is to increase the capability and capacity of the DHS workforce and other federal agencies to support the Federal government’s mission to comply with Section 508.

New Editions provided logistics and management support to assist the Office on Disability (OD) in implementing the Call to Action Strategic Plan. We planned and conducted important events, including a conference with major healthcare provider organizations to identify best practices in disability awareness training for physicians and nurses, as well as a forum with employers to identify best practices in providing access to healthcare services for employees with disabilities.

Through a subcontract with Vets, Inc., New Editions provided technical support to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Section 508 Program Office. We tested proposed electronic and information technology (EIT) products for Section 508 conformance within VA's Enterprise Architecture Framework. We also tested IT Tracker products, OMB Exhibit 300's project/programs, E-Government (E-Gov) initiative programs, web-based and software applications, and learning management systems (LMS) courseware for Section 508 compliance.