Work Groups
Assistive Technology/ Job Accommodation Work Group
The Assistive Technology Work Group will coordinate efforts with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), Job Accommodation Network, the West Virginia Assistive Technology Services (WVATS) Program and the Department of Education to promote the use and availability of assistive technology for people with disabilities. The Work Group will promote assistive technology for the purpose of helping people with disabilities to engage in employment and pre-employment activities. It will provide information on assistive technology evaluations and sites where these are available, resources to try-out different kinds of technology through loan programs, and funding sources to purchase the desired technology.
Gateways Strategic Goal: Integrate assistive technology, including job accommodations, in the workforce delivery system, in schools and in the work place.
Employment Supports Work Group
The Employment Supports Work Group will collaborate with other agencies and organizations across the state, such as Community Rehabilitation Programs and personal care providers to review what employment supports are currently available to workers with disabilities, and to create new opportunities, like the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) initiated by the Office of Behavioral Health Services division of DHHR. The Work Group will continue to market programs designed to assist people with disabilities to get or keep jobs or work supports, such as the Medicaid Work Incentive (M-WIN), the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Project, the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program, and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN.) It will provide resources to increase the number of individuals in supported or customized employment, and investigate telecommuting opportunities. The group will be expected to increase participation in the identified projects and explore other initiatives around the state for additional collaboration opportunities.
Gateways Strategic Goal: Enhance the availability and quality of employment supports for people with disabilities.
The Youth Transition Work Group will collaborate with transition coordinators, special educators, regular educators, higher education instructors from colleges and technical schools, and identified personnel from other educational institutions and parent groups to improve the transition process for students with disabilities who exit high school.
Gateways Strategic Goal: Strengthen and improve transition services and the transition process for youth and young adults moving from school to post-secondary education or employment.
The Data Collection Work Group will work collaboratively with major data systems in the state that track people with disabilities to help create a "big picture" of employment and healthcare for people with disabilities in West Virginia. Work Group members will evaluate the effectiveness of the strategic plan implementation utilizing the PDSA Model for Improvement process.
Gateways Strategic Goal: Build and sustain objective benchmarks and data collection processes that provide information for appropriate systems outcomes.
Educate and Engage Employers Work Group
The Employers Work Group will collaborate with WORKFORCE West Virginia, Chambers of Commences, Employment Networks, Job Accommodation Network, Business Leadership Networks, International Personnel Management Association-Human Resources (IPMA-HR), WV Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC), and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The Work Group will promote people with disabilities in the workplace, educate employers, provide outreach and support related to hiring as well as training, supervising, and accommodating employees with disabilities.
Gateways Strategic Goal: Educate and engage employers to market and develop opportunities for the employment of people with disabilities.
The Transportation Work Group will collaborate with the Governor’s Transportation Coordinating Council, the Fair Shake Network Transportation Alliance, WV Department of Public Transportation, Rural and Metropolitan planning organizations, Perdidos, the Good News Garage and the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). The Work Group will promote promising accessible practices and identify current models in existence in West Virginia.
Gateways Strategic Goal: Increase access to transportation and model effective transportation services and supports for people with disabilities.
Jack Stewart, Program Manager
Phone: (304) 293-4692
This publication was funded by the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant To Support the Competitive Employment of People with Disabilities, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - CFDA # 93.768. The lead agency is the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services. This program is managed by the Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED).
