TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NOTICE No. 02-98
Guidance on Making America s Job Bank Available to and Usable by Individuals with Disabilities
To transmit Equal Opportunity Guidance Letter (EOGL) No. 4, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor Civil Rights Center on May 18, 1998.
Questions should be addressed to your Regional Administrator.
References: Training and Employment Information Notice No. 28-96 (May 1, 1997): Study On Certification/Chartering Criteria For One-Stop Career Centers Background: On May 18, 1998, ETA released Version 3.0 of America's Job Bank (AJB). Jobseekers and employers now have access to an enriched set of services and improved search engines. Jobseekers can enter resumes, create and save cover letters, and save job searches for future use. Employers are able to search resumes nationwide, and to save these searches for future use. America s Talent Bank and America's Career InfoNet have been integrated into this version of AJB. The web address remains the same: http://www.ajb.dni.us. ETA Activities: ETA will continue to treat the issue of accessibility and accommodation to AJB as a high priority. The new AJB provides a text-based alternative to its heavily frames-formatted presentation. This allows visually- impaired customers (and others who find frames navigation difficult) to use their reader software with its computer-generated voice technology. Other steps are being taken to ensure universal access to electronic services through the promotion and development of assistive technologies. For example, ETA has been working with the National Federation for the Blind to develop a telephone-based voice response system as a means of accessing AJB. Congress has earmarked funds for this effort, and the States are beginning to implement this talking AJB system. Also, ETA has shared information with the workforce development system about two different computer workstation configurations developed by the Wisconsin Job Service for people with disabilities, and has promoted their use in other states. ETA is promoting knowledge development in assistive technologies that increase accessibility to services through a variety of means. At JETT*CON 97, assistive technology was one of six major thematic tracks, and the provision of universal access to workforce development services was addressed in workshops and seminars and showcased in exhibit hall displays. The July 1998 National One-Stop conference included an exhibit on assistive technology for making the One-Stop system accessible to all applicant groups. An article on assistive technologies for One-Stops was included in the most recent issuance of the One-Stop newsletter. Universality is one of the four Federal principles for the design of State and local One-Stop service delivery. As noted in the attached EOGL, ETA has established the One-Stop Disability Initiative in recognition of the fact that the One-Stop Career Center System presents unique challenges as well as opportunities to provide improved services to individuals with disabilities. Products and descriptions of assistive technologies are made available to the employment and training system through the One-Stop Disability Initiative Section of the One- Stop Home Page found at www.ttrc.doleta.gov/onestop/ds1stp.htm. Action Required: States are requested to ensure distribution of the Attachment, and to work within their agencies and with local service centers to make effective use of developments in the area of accessibility and accommodation for workforce development services. Inquiries: Questions should be addressed to your Regional Administrator.
All State JTPA Liaisons All State Worker Adjustment Liaisons All State Employment Security Administrators All One-Stop Career Center System Leads
David Henson Director Office of Regional Management
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration