New Texas Learning Disability Initiative
by Anson Green
Texas Workforce
Commission
The Texas Workforce Commission funded four Local Workforce Development
Boards (Boards) to address the employment and training needs of individuals
with learning disabilities (LD). Approximately $270,000 will be spent
on projects providing system capacity building and diagnostic assessment
services for individuals with LD.
Some Boards requested funding to begin the process of system development
for serving customers with learning disabilities (capacity building).
Others requested funding for both capacity building and diagnostic assessment
services. One board that has been providing services to individuals with
learning disabilities for several years requested funding only for diagnostic
assessment services and continued staff development.
The four Boards are:
North Texas Local Workforce Development Board (capacity building and
diagnostic assessment)
South Plains Local Workforce Development Board (capacity building)
Concho Valley Local Workforce Development Board (diagnostic assessment
and staff development)
East Texas Local Workforce Development Board (capacity building and diagnostic
assessment)
Capacity building activities include:
Developing policies and procedures for outreaching, identifying and serving
individuals with LD within the workforce centers, including procedures
for ensuring the confidentiality and security of disability-related client
data.
Developing or purchasing LD staff development services for Board and
one-stop contractor staff,
as well as training providers and referral agencies.
Conducting outreach to employers with the goal of targeting the employment
needs of individuals
with LD.
Brokering relationships with agencies and/or organizations that serve
individuals with disabilities, including LD.
Developing a learning needs screening model that may include the procurement
of learning needs screening instruments.
Developing a referral protocol for diagnostic assessment services that
may include contracts
with qualified diagnosticians for the purpose of determining a diagnosis
of a LD.
Conducting client outreach activities and direct services through one-stop
centers to customers.
Contracts for these services began February 1, 2006 and will end June
30, 2007
|
