Assistive Technology Centers

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 established a national One-Stop Career Center system to meet the workforce and employment needs of businesses, career seekers, and employed persons wanting to advance their careers. This legislation mandates that customers, including those with disabilities, have easy access to information and services through the One-Stop System. Customers with disabilities must be served alongside customers with no disabilities. Approximately 505,000 people over the age of five in Maricopa County have a disability. This is almost 13% of the county’s residents. Of the County’s One-Stop customers, 3% self-identify as disabled and 16% decline to identify as having a disability or not. To meet and surpass the WIA requirements regarding persons with disabilities, the Maricopa County Workforce Development Division cooperated with the Arizona Department of Economic Security Rehabilitation Services Administration to establish Assistive Technology Centers in both comprehensive County One-Stop Career Centers. These AT Centers mitigate the unique obstacles presented to persons with sight impairments, hearing impairments, and other physical and cognitive disabilities who want to obtain One-Stop services and information.