From Deployment to Employment: Assistive Technology Options for Wounded Service Members Megan DuLane

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From Deployment to EmploymentAssistive
Technology Options for Wounded Service Members
Megan DuLaneyWounded Service Members Team
LeaderComputer/Electronic Accommodations Program
November 13, 2007

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CAP Overview

• CAP was established in 1990 as DoDs centrally
  funded program to provide accommodations
• Expanded by Congress in 2000 to support other
  Federal agencies
• Partnerships with 65 Federal agencies (including
  the VA, HHS, and DHS)
• Over 61,000 accommodations since inception
• CAP Mission To provide assistive technology and
  accommodations to ensure people with disabilities
  have equal access to the information environment
  and opportunities in the Department of Defense
  and throughout the Federal government

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CAP Services

• Provide assistive technology and training
• Conduct needs assessments and technology
  demonstrations
• Provide installation and integration
• Provide training on disability management and on
  creating an accessible environment
• Assist in the recruitment, placement, promotion
  and retention of people with disabilities and
  Wounded Service Members (WSM)

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Wounded Service MembersDemographics

• Average age 21-23
• Many single
• Enlisted E-1(Private) to E-5 (Sergeant)
• Male
• Survival Rate 91
• Common Injuries (from RPGs and IEDs) Shrapnel,
  Blast, Fractures, Ocular Trauma, Burns, TBI,
  Amputations, Gun shot wounds
• Comment
• Pictures of Service members on an airplane and of
  RPGs and IEDs

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From Deployment to Employment

• Phase 1 Recovery and Rehabilitation
• Provide medical recovery and rehabilitation
  support services
• Phase 2 Transition
• Increase awareness of assistive technology for
  future independence and employment
• Phase 3 Employment Education
• Provide assistive technology and accommodations
  for vocational and federal employment
  opportunities
• Comment
• Graphic of From Deployment to Employment

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Phase 1 Recovery and Rehabilitation

• Services throughout the recovery
• and rehabilitation process
• Introduction to assistive technology
• Onsite needs assessments
• Individual accommodations
• Medical departments
• Intensive care
• Amputee care
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Case management
• Comment
• Pictures of a service member using an
  augmentative communication device and another
  picture of a service member using voice
  recognition software

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Phase 1 Recovery and RehabilitationBrooke AMC
Case Study

• 26 year old National Guard soldier sustained
  multiple traumatic injuries due to mortar attack
  in support of OIF on 2 April 2005
• Transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
  and then directly to BAMC
• Comprehensive rehabilitation program
• Orthopedics
• Psychosocial
• Low vision
• Enhancement of occupational performance via OT
  services and CAP- provided assistive technology
• Comment
• Pictures of blind service member holding his baby
  for the first time and another picture of this
  service member doing therapy

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Phase 2 Transition

• Increase awareness to impact future independence
  and employment by working closely with
• Therapists, providers, and case managers
• Military support programs
• Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
• USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment,
• Marine for Life Injured Support
• Navy Safe Harbor Program
• Palace HART (Helping Airmen Recover Together)
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
• Provide services to housing, training centers and
  employment or career fairs
• Comment
• Pictures of a service member using a one handed
  keyboard

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Phase 3 Employment and Education

• Provide assistive technology to WSMs to use in
  future employment and vocational settings
• Provide services and resources
• Employment internships
• Public and private sector initiatives
• Assistive technology and services in federal
  employment
• Partnership programs
• Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC)
• www.militaryonesource.com
• VA Seamless Transition
• www.seamlesstransition.va.gov
• DOL REALifelines
• www.dol.gov/vets/programs/Real-life/main.htm
• Comment
• Picture at a career fair showing a service member
  a one handed keyboard

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Assistive Technology for Wounded Service Members

• Dexterity Impairments
• Alternative keyboards, input devices and voice
  recognition software
• Vision Loss
• Screen readers and training, magnification
  software, closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs)
• Hearing Loss
• Assistive listening devices (ALDs) and personal
  amplification devices
• Cognitive Impairments, including traumatic brain
  injuries (TBI)
• Cueing and memory aids (PDAs), literacy software,
  screen readers, ALDs, augmentative communication
  devices
• Comment
• Pictures of assistive technology

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Legislation FY07 NDAA

• Public Law 109364
• 109th Congress
• John Warner National Defense Authorization Act
  for Fiscal Year 2007
• Oct. 17, 2006
• H.R. 5122
• TITLE V--MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY
• SEC. 561. AUTHORITY FOR RETENTION AFTER
  SEPARATION FROM SERVICE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
  AND DEVICES PROVIDED WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY.
• (a) In General- Chapter 58 of title 10, United
  States Code, is amended by inserting after
  section 1150 the following new section
• Sec. 1151. Retention of assistive technology
  and services provided before separation
• (a) Authority- A member of the armed forces who
  is provided an assistive technology or assistive
  technology device for a severe or debilitating
  illness or injury incurred or aggravated by such
  member while on active duty may, under
  regulations prescribed by the Secretary of
  Defense, be authorized to retain such assistive
  technology or assistive technology device upon
  the separation of the member from active service.
• (b) Definitions- In this section, the terms
  assistive technology' and assistive technology
  device' have the meaning given those terms in
  section 3 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998
  (29 U.S.C. 3002).'
• (b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at
  the beginning of such chapter is amended by
  inserting after the item relating to section 1150
  the following new item
• 1151. Retention of assistive technology and
  services provided before separation.'.

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Wounded Service Members Accommodations Profile
for FY04 - FY07
Total number of accommodations 3,959

FY04
Dexterity 65, Hearing 28, Vision 15,
Cognitive 15, Communication - 0FY05
Dexterity 163,
Hearing 109, Vision 36, Cognitive 39,
Communication - 0FY06
Dexterity 300, Hearing 27,
Vision 62, Cognitive 115, Communication
1FY07
Dexterity 969, Hearing 273, Vision 170,
Cognitive 1574, Communication 13
3,959
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Next Steps CAP Referral Process

• Visit the CAP Wounded Service Member Web site
• www.tricare.mil/cap/wsm
• Submit online requests for needs assessments or
  assistive technology
• VTC assessments available through the CAP
  Technology Center (CAPTEC) at the Pentagon (703)
  693-5163

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CAP WSM
Web site www.tricare.mil/cap/wsm
Comment Picture of the CAP WSM Web site
CAP WSM Web site www.tricare.mil/cap/wsm
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CAP is Accessible

• Megan DuLaney 703-681-6425
• WSM Team Lead megan.dulaney_at_tma.osd.mil
• CAP WSM Team wsm_at_tma.osd.mil
• WSM Web site www.tricare.mil/cap/wsm
• CAP Office 703-681-8813 (Voice)
• 703-681-0881 (TTY)

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Hiring and Accommodating Veterans with
Disabilities Empowering Americas
Workforce Presented by Debra Ruh, President
Founder
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Overview

• TecAccess Introduction
• Suite of Solutions
• DVET Training Program
• Benefits to Disabled Veterans/Benefits to
  Employer
• Summary

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TecAccess
Accessibility Workforce Solutions
Comprehensive Accessibility Programs Testing,
Training, Remediation
Results Tap into new
markets Expand consumer base
Avoid litigation Maximize ROI
Workforce Solutions Staff Augmentation, Veteran
Re-Training and Placement, Career Planning
TecAccess
Targeted Market Research Focus Groups, Usability
Studies, Marketing for Targeted Demographics
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Current Climate

• Over 6 million veterans have a disability.
• (2006 American Community Survey)
• Over 700,000 are unemployed in any given month.
• Over 200,000 annually will flood the civilian job
  market as they leave the military in coming years
  (Dept. of Labor).
• Over 14 billion in public funds are invested
  each year in the training and education of
  service members (Dept. of Defense).

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Market Need

• Impact
• 92 of consumers feel more favorable toward
  companies that hire employees with disabilities
• 73 of businesses report no cost for
  accommodations
• Hiring people with disabilities ranks 3rd as an
  indicator of a companys commitment to social
  justice.
• Employees with disabilities retained on average
  50 longer than traditional workers.
• Reduce turnover -- estimated cost of a single
  turnover is 93-200 of annual salary.

• As the workforce ages and as labor and skill
  demands increase, employers are now looking for
  new ways to tap into all potential employees to
  remain competitive.
• At the very same time, disabled veterans are
  drastically unemployed.
• There is a clear dual need.
• Fortune 1000s are realizing that veterans with
  disabilities can fill this void and have thus
  started including People w/Disabilities in their
  Diversity Strategies.

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Filling the Duel Need
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DVET How it Began

• DVET is the first of its kind program and was
  initially launched in Virginia earlier this year.
• The DVET program has grown into a nationwide
  endeavor.
• DVET is designed to ensure that veterans receive
  the support, job training, and recognition they
  have earned through such service and sacrifice. 
• Driven by a dynamic partnership between the Dept
  of Veteran Services, Dept of Rehabilitative
  Services, Virginia Employment Commission, and
  TecAccess.    

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DVET Defined
IMPACT This partnership offers an innovative
approach to increasing employment for Virginia's
disabled veterans, guaranteeing participants
professional training and employment with
TecAccess.  I fully support the DVET program and
encourage more public and private sector
collaboration towards such innovative solutions
for Virginia's veterans." --Governor Tim Kaine

• TecAccess was award a contract to establish a
  program to train and directly employ Virginias
  Disabled Veterans (DVET) to become
• IT Accessibility Consultants
• Accessibility Trainers
• Accessibility Testers
• Project Managers
• IT Professionals
• .

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DVET Details

• DVET program implements a unique training model
  that provides Assistive Technology (AT), such as
  screen readers and voice activated controls, for
  unique learning opportunities.   
• The DVET opportunity, the first of its kind in
  the nation, is unique in that it provides
• Training in assistive technology
• Professional Mentoring
• Specialized Counseling
• Job training in a wide array of IT skills, as
  well as call centers and project management
• The motivation that a competitively paid and
  respected job is guaranteed at the end of the
  program  

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What Makes DVET Work

• Veterans with disabilities face challenges, both
  physical and mental, upon their return home.
• Many current job training programs fail due to
  the chasm between providing the training and a
  definite job offer at the end of the training.
• The DVET model assists these soldiers in their
  efforts to obtain employment in a safe
  environment that is sensitive to the changes they
  are experiencing and helps transition their
  skills and accommodate their special needs in the
  workplace.
• DVET guarantees employment for the graduates of
  the program.

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DVET Unique Aspects

• Customizable for each individual to accommodate
  various disabilities and modalities of
  instruction to train veterans anywhere.
• Training curricula customizable for each
  individual to accommodate his/her disabilities.
• A proven, successful telework model and assistive
  technology equipment that can be used from the
  returning soldiers place of business, home,
  rehab facility or hospital bed.

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DVET Expansion

• The model TecAccess developed for the State of
  Virginia Disabled Veteran (DVET) Training and
  Employment Program can and should be exported for
  all companies nationwide.

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DVET Benefits to All

• DVET can increase our industry workforce with
  qualified employees.
• DVET will --
• Identify appropriate training curricula to meet
  client needs
• Customize training curricula and modalities of
  instruction for each veteran to accommodate
  his/her specific disabilities
• Utilize our proven telework model and assistive
  technology that can be used from the returning
  soldiers place of business, home, rehabilitation
  facility or hospital bed

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Results

• Using this methodology we
• Minimize some of the negative impact of
  disability on their lives
• Allow Industry to play a direct role in
  increasing the quality and diversity of their
  workforce and honoring the veterans for their
  sacrifice
• Engage the newly disabled person early in their
  rehabilitation process
• Support veterans for the sacrifices they have
  made for our country

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DVET a true Win-Win

• Industry directly gives back to Service Disabled
  Veterans
• Industry gets highly trained employees
• Service Disabled Veterans rapidly become
  integrated back into Americas workforce

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Supply and Demand

• DVET ultimately benefits both the disabled
  veteran and the hiring organization.
• Measured by the successful employment for the
  disabled veteran in a job with a competitive
  salary/growth opportunity.
• This collaboration is a classic opportunity to
  match a supplydisabled veterans looking for an
  exciting career, with a demandthe ever
  increasing need for skilled IT professionals.

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Employers Benefit from DVET

• Businesses and government agencies working with
  DVET are receiving a highly skilled employee
  base. 
• Organizations who hire newly trained veterans are
  finding that disabled veterans are
• loyal employees
• self-motivated
• intelligent
• hardworking

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Disabled Vets Findings

• This pool of potential employees have already
  demonstrated their willingness to persevere under
  difficult circumstances
• Disabled Vets are well prepared to excel in the
  workplace.
• Vets are more loyal and productive employees, and
  they highly value their jobs and the opportunity
  they have been given to make a difference.

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Questions

• Debra Ruh
• President and Founder
• Rockville Commerce Center
• 2410 Granite Ridge Road
• Rockville, VA 23146
• [phone] - office
• [phone] mobile
• DRuh_at_TecAccess.Net

The DVET program provides disabled veterans with
meaningful training and employment.  These
training and employment opportunities are far
superior to many other programs designed to help
persons with disabilities.  We look forward to
partnering with TecAccess and the DVET program,
and we fully expect that this program will serve
as a model for future programs that will address
training and employment for disabled veterans. 
--Vincent M. Burgess, Commissioner of
Department of Veterans Services for the
Commonwealth of Virginia