Literacy Links

Success Stories

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