Able Access is a fee for service program offered by Able SC to promote accessible and inclusive environments within businesses and government agencies. Staff provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) trainings and consultations. These services include but are not limited to policy and procedure review, onsite accessibility survey, testing on online property for screen reader/magnifier accessibility, and tailored staff trainings in a wide variety of disability topics (Page 41) Title I
Most workforce, economic development, and education programs are managed locally, and the quality of service delivery may vary by area. A number of measures are underway to improve the consistency of service delivery, including: the implementation of SC Works Center Standards and WIOA Eligible Training Provider provisions. The SC Works Center Standards address service delivery to job seekers and employers and center management, and are used by LWDBs to evaluate effectiveness, programmatic and physical accessibility, and continuous improvement of the SC Works delivery system. Along the same lines, training providers are now required to submit program data and meet certain requirements to be eligible to receive WIOA training funds. This will help ensure that participants receive high-quality training in high-demand, high-wage occupations. (Page 49) Title I
Monitoring performed at both the state and local level ensures that all SC Works Centers are in compliance with Section 188 of WIOA, the ADA, and other applicable regulations. Individuals who seek to utilize South Carolina’s workforce system can expect facilities, whether physical or virtual (e.g. SC Works Online Services) to meet federally-mandated accessibility standards. Complaints of discrimination are directed to the State Equal Opportunity Officer. (Page 108) Title I
As part of the SC Works center certification process, LWDBs are required to evaluate accessibility of the SC Works delivery system. SC Works centers were evaluated in 2017 and will be re-evaluated every three (3) years thereafter as required by WIOA. In order to be certified according to the SC Works certification standards, each center must meet the following accessibility baseline measures:
150.The Center is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Every workforce area will work with Vocational Rehabilitation partners and SCDEW Office of Equal Opportunity, as needed, to ensure ADA compliance.
151.The Center provides assistive technology for customers to use when accessing computers and other services. This includes customers with visual impairments, physical disabilities, and hearing impairments.
152. Staff should be identified to assist people with disabilities at the first point of contact and in case of emergency.
153.There are linkages to services for people with special needs, including veterans and others, related to disability. (Page 109-110) Title I
158.SCCB is working with the SC Works system to ensure one-stop center accessibility to persons with visual impairments. SCCB Assistive Technology Staff are current evaluating centers in several areas of the state to propose and provide hardware and/or software that will enable persons who are blind or low vision to access one stop center programs. (Page 110) Title I
Innovation and expansion activities have been identified within these strategies and include: Maintaining a staff interpreter for clients who are deaf to provide video remote interpreting, on- site services to mutual clients of SCVRD and DHHS, extend consistent access to interpreter services in rural areas, and enhance the accessibility of VR productions and client and staff training materials (Page 259) Title IV
Gaps included:
• America’s Job Centers (AJCs) in South Carolina (SC Works) have not effectively served individuals with blindness and vision impairments. There have been no documented instances of SCCB cases that are jointly served by other workforce entities.
• Historically, the relationship between SCCB and the AJCs, although cordial, is primarily one of referral with no evidence of substantial services after referral;
• Although the AJCs are accessible, the technology is frequently out of date and the AJC staff lack the skills to effectively operate/demonstrate the technology; Under WIOA there are legal requirements around the development of partnerships between SCCB and entities in the greater workforce development system.
While these gaps are the focus on continuing efforts both by the AJC's (SC Works) and SCCB, much has been accomplished since the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment. SCCB has improved co-location of SCCB staff in the AJC's for specific periods of time each month where space allows. SCCB has signed MOU's and Infrastructure Cost Sharing Agreements with all SC Works service areas, and has been providing technical assistance to the AJC's in regards to programmatic and physical accessibility. (Page 287) Title IV
SCCB has been an active partner in the WIOA Unified State Plan Implementation Team. South Carolina’s plans are to continue convening this group of core WIOA partners to continue to develop meaningful and effective partnerships, share expertise and knowledge, skills, and abilities, and to expand the ability of the system to serve all individuals including those with disabilities. In addition, SCCB is working to ensure that there is agency presence in the local one stop American Job Centers on a consistent basis to provide support and expertise to consumers who are blind or visually impaired. SCCB entered into MOU's and Infrastructure Cost Agreements with all SC Works service deliver areas. SCCB is currently working with SC Works to provide assessment and technical assistance to ensure programmatic and physical accessibility. (Page 320) Title IV