Other New York State Agencies with Employment Programs for People with Disabilities

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL)

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) is the State's primary advocate for job creation and economic growth through workforce development. The Department administers New York's unemployment insurance system, and labor exchange system.  It also oversees and funds programs under the Workforce Investment Act, One Stop Centers, and Disability Navigator Programs.  The Department also oversees State worker protection programs, including enforcement of safety and health regulations in the public sector, State labor laws and Federal statutes related to working conditions, wages and hours and laws related to public work. The Department is also the State's principal source for labor market information and offers a variety of services designed to help businesses find workers and people find jobs. 

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and
Substance Abuse Services (OASAS)

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) believes that the integration of vocational rehabilitation and employment services is an essential element of treatment and recovery.  Programs that emphasize comprehensive vocational services along with addiction treatment achieve greater long term success. 

Persons in addiction treatment face stigma and barriers to employment.  The vocational rehabilitation and employment services offered to OASAS licensed treatment programs take into account the unique needs of persons in treatment and recovery.  These services are provided by specialists and organizations with a background in working with those with a chemical dependence problem.

Current projects and services offered by OASAS are:

      Vocational rehabilitation counselors staff in at least 34% of OASAS licensed treatment programs state-wide.

      Job development and job placement by OASAS contracted vocational agencies.

      Statewide technical assistance and training.

      Rehabilitation counselor work/study internship program (downstate) in collaboration with an academic institution.

      Inter-agency collaboration with other New York State agencies, including  DOL, OTDA, SED/VESID.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)

An increasing portion of the families who receive public assistance face significant barriers to self-sufficiency including learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities and addictions. Many of these families have reached the end of their sixty-month limit on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits. 

To better serve this population, New York State DOL created a Specialized Work Programs Bureau for people with disabilities.  Recently, this Bureau was moved to the  New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.  This bureau implemented several pilot projects to help improve service delivery for TANF recipients currently in need of specialized services, as well as improving the screening and assessment of clients who may have learning disabilities.  These are summarized below.

Learning Disabilities (LD) Pilot Projects

LD Pilots were operated in 7 local districts in New York State from 2001 until 2004 in conjunction with SUNY University Center for Academic and Workforce Development (UCAWD).  Their purpose was to determine the extent of hidden disabilities among Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) clients and the best methods to help overcome them.  The Learning Disabilities (LD) Pilot Overview explains the work of the pilot sites and the lessons learned from them.  The DOL Welfare to Work Division produced a Learning Disabilities Guidebook as a reference for local social services districts and their workforce partners in assessing learning disabilities and providing services for hard-to-employ clients.

Empire State Screening Tool

New York State is supporting the development of a Spanish language learning disabilities screening tool. 

Providing Work Accommodations/Compensations, Accommodations, Modifications, Strategies

PWA/CAMS is an assessment tool based on a comprehensive guide developed by Rehabilitation Services in the State of Alabama.  CAMS may be used to screen for possible learning disabilities and provides workplace strategies for dealing with the effects of learning disabilities in the workplace. The Welfare to Work Division is developing a streamlined version for local social services districts resulting from two CAMS Pilots that were conducted in New York State.

Enhancing Independence

The Welfare to Work Division is producing versions of the Job Readiness and Support Training that was used successfully in the Franklin County learning disabilities Pilot.  This six week teaching program will be available for use by local social services districts and workforce partners to benefit long term recipients with serious barriers to employment.

Local Interagency/VESID Employment Services (LIVES)

LIVES serves Family Assistance recipients and other low-income individuals with disabilities. Funds are used to link these individuals with VESID.