Title: Identifying and Serving Job Seekers with Hidden Disabilities in our Workforce Centers
1Identifying and Serving Job Seekers with Hidden
Disabilities in our Workforce Centers
- Presented by Richard Kriner , Disability
Resource Specialist
2Hidden disabilitiesA hidden disability is a
disability that is not recognizable from the
outside. Hidden disabilities may include
- heart disease
- diabetes,
- asthma,
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, psychological
disorders, - epilepsy,
- Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI), HIV and AIDS,
- specific learning disabilities (LD)
- Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD)
- depression.
3Hidden Disabilities Awareness
- Not all disabilities are apparent.
- A person may make a request or act in a way that
seems strange to you. That request or behavior
may be disability-related.
4Some of the more common hidden disabilities that
you may encounter in your One-Stop Centers
include Cognitive disorders ( i.e.
borderline MR and Brain Injury),
Learning Disabilities, and Mental Illness.
5 Basic Etiquette People With Mental
Retardation/Cognitive Disabilities Adapted from
NCWD etiquette fact sheets
- People with mental retardation are not "eternal
children." - Adults with mental retardation should be treated
and spoken to in the same fashion as other
adults.
6Do not "talk down" to a person with mental
retardation. Avoid stereotypes, such as the
assumption that all people with mental
retardation enjoy doing jobs that are repetitive,
or want to work in fast food restaurants.
Don't assume that a person with mental
retardation lacks academic skills, such as
reading, writing, and the ability to do
mathematics.
7People with Mental Retardation/Cognitive
Disabilities
- Provide opportunities for people with limited
academic skills to contribute verbally take what
they have to say seriously. - Use clear language that is concise and to the
point. - Speak directly to the person with a cognitive
disability.
8- Avoid the term" mental retardation."
- If you need to speak about a person's disability,
people with mental retardation prefer the term
"developmental disability" rather than "mental
retardation." (Mental retardation is one type of
developmental disability.)
9Hidden Disabilities Learning Disabilities
- A disorder in one or more of the basic processes
involved in understanding or using spoken or
written language, that impacts an individuals
ability of in one of the following areas
- listening
- thinking
- speaking
- reading
- writing
- spelling
- doing mathematical calculations
- social interaction
10Learning disabilities include such conditions
as
- perceptual disabilities
- brain injury
- minimal brain dysfunction
- dyslexia
- developmental aphasia
11Learning disabilities do not include learning
problems that are primarily the result of
- visual, hearing, or motor disabilities
- mental retardation
- environmental or cultural factors
- economic disadvantage
12Learning Disabilities Characteristics
- People with learning disabilities are usually of
average or even above average intelligence. - Learning disabilities are characterized by a
significant difference between the individuals
achievement in different areas, as compared to
his or her overall intelligence.
13Learning disabilities may occur in the following
areas
- Spoken language Delays, disorders, or
discrepancies in listening and speaking - Written language Difficulties with reading,
writing, and spelling - Arithmetic Difficulty performing arithmetic
functions or in comprehending basic concepts
14Learning disabilities (cont.)
- Reasoning Difficulty organizing and integrating
thoughts - Organization skills Difficulty organizing all
facets of learning - Individuals with learning disabilities may
exhibit a combination of characteristics.
15The following may also be associated with
learning disabilities
- motor disorders
- Impulsiveness
- low tolerance for frustration
- problems in handling day-to-day social
interactions and situations
- Hyperactivity
- inattention
- perceptual coordination problems
- perceptual impairments
16Guidelines For Working With Individuals With
Learning DisabilitiesAdapted from NCWD etiquette
fact sheets
- Capitalize on the individuals strengths
- Provide high structure and clear expectations
- Provide opportunities for success in a supportive
atmosphere to help build self-esteem - Allow flexibility in procedures
- Ask the individual how they handle other similar
situations
17MENTAL ILLNESS
- Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that
disrupt a persons thinking, feeling, moods, and
ability to relate to others. - It may affect the way a person thinks, behaves,
and interacts with other people.
18The term mental illness encompasses numerous
psychiatric disorders, and can vary in
severity.Behaviors may include, but are not
limited to
- depression
- feelings of hopelessness
- Sadness
- apathy
- inattention
- poor concentration
19Basic Etiquette Do not assumeAdapted from
NCWD etiquette fact sheets
- that people with psychiatric disabilities are
more likely to be violent than people without
psychiatric disabilities - that people with mental illness have mental
retardation - that people with psychiatric disabilities also
have cognitive disabilities or are less
intelligent than the general population. - that all people with psychiatric disabilities
take or should take medication.
20Basic Etiquette (continued)
- Do not assume
- that people with psychiatric disabilities do not
know what is best for them, or have poor judgment
- that a person with a psychiatric disability is
unable to cope with stress. - that people with psychiatric disabilities
necessarily need any extra assistance or
different treatment. - If someone with a psychiatric disability gets
upset, ask - calmly if there is anything you can do to help
and then - respect their wishes.
21Tips For InterviewingCustomers
- Interviewers should
- Interview customers without
- preconceptions
- Respect customers
- Believe in customers abilities
- Always be positive
- Involve customer in job search
- process
22Screening for Disabilities
- Identifying clients with hidden disabilities
23PURPOSE OF SCREENING
- Timely identification of hidden disabilities that
are barriers to program participation, employment
and job retention. - Hidden disabilities may include
24THE SCREENING PROCESS
- Screening is the starting point of barrier
identification. It is followed by obtaining
timely diagnostic work, and the provision of
needed treatment services and interventions. - If the screening process indicates the possible
presence of the barrier, a referral is made for a
diagnosis.
25DIAGNOSTIC REFERRALS
- Referrals can be made directly to the Disability
Resource Specialist, DRS, or back to the clients
TANF case manager to obtain the appropriate
diagnostic exam. - If you have any questions as to what to do with a
client that screens positive refer to the
Disability Resource Specialist.
26When to Screen
- Client Screening needs to be a regular part of
client application/registration process and done
on all clients at intake for intensive or
training services. - Screening may also be conducted on clients at the
core service level with their consent.
27Screening Clients in Core Services
- Clients that you might screen at the core service
level may exhibit one or more of the following
traits - Odd or eccentric behavior.
- Difficulty with spelling or reading,
- Inappropriate social behaviors (e.g. poor
physical or social boundaries). - Client appears lethargic, depressed, and or
unkempt. - Other examples are available in your handout on
hidden disabilities.
28Evaluating Screen Results
- It is important to note screens have limited
reliability and results may be skewed by factors
such as client anxiety, dishonesty, confusion or
poor screen administration practices. - If a client appears to have more going on than
the screen indicates based on behavioral
observation, work profile, educational profile,
legal history, or domestic history than it is
best practice to consult with your Disability
Resources Specialist.
29What Disabilities are we Screening for?
- You will be administering
- The Washington State LD Screen Which is designed
to screen for learning disabilities, but may also
screen in low intellectual functioning, ADD, and
mental illness. - The MFIP Self-Screen Which is designed to screen
for SA and MH problems.
30Any questions?