Introduction & Overview
The Department of Labor (DOL) and Social Security Administration partnered to create the Disability Program Navigator within DOL’s One-Stop Career Centers (job centers in Wisconsin).
Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) help people with disabilities “navigate” through the challenges of seeking employment.
Navigators better inform job seekers and employers about work support programs at the job centers. These centers provide information, training, and other employment related services at a single customer-friendly location.
The Navigators develop new and ongoing partnerships to achieve seamless, comprehensive, and integrated access to services.
DPN Initiative Goals
- Facilitate integrated, seamless, and comprehensive services to persons with disabilities in One-Stop Career Centers (Wisconsin Job Centers).
- Improve access to programs and services.
- Facilitate linkages to the employer community and develop demand responsive strategies to meet their recruitment/retention needs.
- Increase employment and self-sufficiency for Social Security beneficiaries and other people with disabilities.
- Develop new and ongoing partnerships to leverage resources.
- Inform SSA beneficiaries and other people with disabilities about work support programs available at job centers.
- Create systemic change.
Challenges unique to the Navigator are:
- Ability to create awareness of the presence of the Navigator Initiative in local Job Centers / One-Stops
- Ability to promote meaningful and productive work for disabled individuals in an effective and efficient manner
- Ability to overcome stigma in the workplace
- Ability to make a seamless transition from benefits to employment
- Ability to apply SSA work incentives in a knowledgeable manner
- Ability to conduct continual outreach activities to consumers
- Ability to overcome accessibility issues in the workplace
- Ability to conduct necessary training for staff at the Job Center / One-Stop
- Ability to increase employer contacts on behalf of persons with disabilities
- Working with Job Center / One-Stop Management teams to get the recommended changes to increase accessibility implemented
Opportunities are met as we face our challenges
Navigator Opportunities are continually:
- Developing stronger ties and linkages with Job Center / One-Stop partners
- Conducting outreach efforts to consumers through assertive engagement activities
- Developing marketing efforts and communication strategies to promote the hiring of persons with disabilities
- Reinforcing and emphasizing the strengths and abilities of individuals with disabilities
- Utilizing and teaching SSA work incentives to TTW beneficiaries
- Conducting accessibility reviews of all Job Centers / One-Stops to promote and increase the physical and programmatic access of people with disabilities
- Making Job Center / One-Stop staff aware of disability principles and issues
- Talking to employers about the excellent work ethic of working people with disabilities
- Receiving thorough and intense training in order to become a well-rounded Navigator
- Defining and implementing the role of the Navigator among Job Center / One-Stop staff
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