National Council on Disability Feature: Youth with Disabilities Have Special Concerns

8/28/2002

From: Mark S. Quigley of the National Council on Disability, 202-272-2004 or 202-272-2074 (TTY)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The National Council on Disability (NCD) released its 2001 annual National Disability Policy: A Progress Report (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/progressreport_07-26-02 .html) on July 26, 2002. The Report highlights a number of issues of special concern to youth, including school to work transition services, leadership networks for youth with disabilities, and expanding employment opportunities.

School to Work Transition Services As documented by NCD research, the secondary school outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities remain dramatically inferior to those achieved by their peers. As with all students, school performance continues to affect a student's prospects for achievement after graduation. Thus slowed at the starting line, continuing disparities in postschool life would not at all be surprising. One of the best strategies for improving the quality of post-school outcomes is effective and coordinated transition services, with the school system and vocational rehabilitation (VR) system sharing responsibility. Unfortunately, institutional barriers, jurisdictional lines, cost-shifting agendas, and lack of accountability often combine to create obstacles to services for youth. NCD recommends that the Administration and Congress develop an overarching focus on the kinds of communication, collaboration, and accountability that exist across all federal agencies and programs that need to be involved in preparing our nation's young people with disabilities for full participation in society.

-- Assistive Technology: The continuing need of some students for assistive technology as they move from school to work often becomes a sticking point in the transition process, as schools are reluctant to give up equipment they purchased, and VR systems hesitate to buy new equipment. The Report suggests that the Federal Government facilitate means for transferring ownership from one system to another. Specifically, the IDEA reauthorization and forthcoming Rehabilitation Act amendments should both contain language requiring states to eliminate from their laws any provisions that would prevent or unreasonably complicate entry into repurchase or other transfer agreements that would allow appropriate technology to follow the student where the school system has no present need for it and where the user does have a continuing need. Similarly, IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act should attest to the appropriateness of such transfers, as well as provide assistance regarding structures for transfer agreements, auditing and monitoring procedures, and model programs.

-- Cost-Shifting: Undoubtedly, one of the chief structural barriers to the delivery of effective transition service is the belief on the part of each service system that the other should pay. NCD recommends that Congress articulate and legislate a clearer answer than currently exists. Standards must be developed that clarify the financial responsibility of each service system in the transition process. The end result should be a set of arrangements, and allocation of financial responsibility, and an order of precedence that, although not increasing the costs of transition, will eliminate the inefficiencies and costs associated with the current belief of each involved service system that it is the payer of last resort.

-- Joint-Accountability Pilot Project: Parallel to the problem of shared costs is the problem of shared responsibility, all too often resulting in an ultimate lack of accountability. The Report suggests an innovative approach that offers incentives for cross-agency transitional efforts and that rewards or sanctions the agencies in tandem, depending on outcome. To accomplish this, Congress should establish a pilot program using competitive grants to VR agency-school district consortia. The amount of funding ultimately forthcoming should depend on the achievement of measurable, objective, and predetermined outcomes relating to evidence of success in the delivery of transition services, and relating to the involvement and satisfaction of youth with disabilities.

Youth Leadership Network for Youth with Disabilities The National Youth Leadership Network (YLN) was designed as a five-year project involving the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, along with SSA and NCD. Amid the new initiatives coming out of the Administration, NCD believes it would be valuable for the Administration to review and comment on the status and results of the YLN and its viability, especially as it relates to the New Freedom Initiative.

Expanding Employment Opportunities for Young People with Disabilities Historically, increases in unemployment have their greatest impact on younger workers. If our nation undertakes measures to mitigate the disproportionate impact of reduced economic growth on young, often low-skilled entrants to the labor market, such measures must proceed with a recognition that among the futures at issue are those of many people with disabilities. NCD recommends that the Administration, through the Office of Disability Employment Policy, or such other entities as may be deemed suitable, systematically review the technical assistance resources available to and needed by the various employment-related agencies and programs in order for them to adequately respond to the needs and aspirations of young people with disabilities.

On October 25, 2000, former President Clinton signed an Executive Order providing for improved access to employment and training of youth with disabilities. This Executive Order sought to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities by addressing, among other things, the education, transition, employment, health, rehabilitation, and independent living issues affecting young people with disabilities. NCD recommends that the Administration indicate its views regarding the efficacy of the measures set forth in the Executive Order and indicate the appropriate structural arrangements for bringing these goals about.

Along related lines, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) created local workforce investment boards to guide the development of programs, foster necessary connections, and set priorities. Recognizing the special problems faced by youth, the WIA also created youth councils. NCD recommends that the Administration report on the status and function of these councils and indicate its views concerning their roles in future youth employment development efforts.

For more information, contact Mark Quigley at 202-272-2004 or Celane McWhorter at 703-683-1166.