Funding to Support WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OFFICE Accessibility Standards

DISCUSSION PAPER

Background

In preparation for the September 1, 2016, transition of Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services’ (DARS) Vocational Rehabilitation services to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), TWC formed a workgroup comprisingstaff from Local Workforce DevelopmentBoards (Boards), DARS, and TWC to review minimum accessibility standards that should be in place in all Workforce Solutions Offices.

The workgroup developed a list of required accommodations and provided examples of products/solutions available to address the needed changes (Attachment 1). The workgroup further recommended that Boards ensure that for every twentyworkstations available to the public, oneworkstation is required to meet the minimum standards for, and dedicated for use by,individuals with a disability. Workforce Solutions Offices that have a workstation count exceeding forty may factor in demand before dedicating additional workstations. Workforce Solutions Offices with fewerthan twenty workstations will be required to have one workstation that meets the minimum standards. Additionally, for software solutions the workgroup is recommending that software be no more than two versions prior to the current release version. These standards apply to workstations in resource rooms, as well as workstations in computer labs and classrooms.

Issue

Following the development of these accessibility standards, TWC surveyed all Boards and requested that they determine whether all of their Workforce Solutions Offices met these accessibility standards, and if they did not, to provide TWC with a cost estimate necessary to meet the accessibility standards.

Recommendation

Boards have provided cost estimates, indicating a need for an additional approximately $507,000 to upgrade all Workforce Solutions Offices. Staff recommends that TWC’s three-member Commission approve funding to ensure that Boards acquire necessary products to ensure that all Workforce Solutions Offices meet minimum accessibility standards (Attachment 2).

Notebook: Commission Meeting July 27, 2016

Attachment 1

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS Office Accessibility Minimum Standards

Introduction

The number and types of accommodations in Workforce Solutions Offices are overwhelming. A customer’s need for accommodations is unique to each customer. This presents a huge challenge in determining a mixture of hardware, software, and other resources to address the widest range of customer needs while keeping in mind cost, demand, maintenance, and training.

Table 1 contains the minimum accommodations that the workgroup has agreed to. The second column in the table contains recommended upgrades. For software solutions the workgroup recommends that software be no more than two versions prior to the current release version.

Table 1: Workgroup-Recommend Upgrades to Current Accommodations

Minimum Accommodations / Recommended Upgrades
Screenmagnifier software / MAGic, ZoomText, CDesk, Dolphin Guide, Supernova
Screenreadersoftware / NVDA, JAWS, ZoomText
Headphones andspeakers / Good quality—any brand that supports a 3.5 mm connection on the front so that headphones or personal earbuds can be used
Qualifiedorstaffreaders / Any staff member may accommodate upon request.
Large printcomputerkeyboard / MAGiclarge print keyboard or other quality keyboard with large print keys
Speechamplification systems / Microphones andheadphones,wireless headset microphones, ChatterVoxvoice amplifier, pocket talkers
Telephoneswithvolumecontrol and/oramplificationdevicesto includehandsetamplifiers andlarge button–,andhearing aid–compatible (HAC) / Phone-system specific. At least one phone available to the public should be HAC compatible.
Video text–display phones, video relayinterpretingservices (VRIS), and video relay services(VRS) / P3-Purple, Sorenson Video Relay Service, Cisco ClearCaption. Existing TTY/TTD can serve as a backup to VRS or VRIS services or for areas with limited Internet bandwidth.
Interpreters—signed, oral,orcuedspeechand video remote interpreting services(stafforcontracted) / Staff or contracted by appointment with request made a minimum of five business days in advance LanguageLine Solutions;UbiDuo by sComm
Writtenmaterialsfororientations, workshops, trainings, etc. / Available with request made a minimum of five business days in advance to produce content in formats such as Braille, large print, or accessible digital content based on request
A trackballmouse / Good quality, with one per assistive technology workstation
Adjustable-heightdesks,adjustable keyboard tray, worktables,andchairs / Adjustable-height desk, quality adjustable chair, and keyboard tray at each assistive technology workstation

Based on the accommodations survey results completed at the end of January 2016, the percentage of customers who appeared to require an accommodation was less than 1 percent of all customer traffic. In preparing for the transition of DARS to TWC, the survey results lead us to believe that dedicating 5 percent of the computer resources would be sufficient to meet the needs of customers with disabilities.

For every twentyworkstations available to the public, oneworkstation will be required to meet the minimum standards and dedicated for use by those with a disability. Workforce Solutions Offices that have a workstation count exceeding forty can factor in demand before dedicating additional workstations. Workforce Solutions Offices with fewerthan twenty workstations will need to have one workstation that meets the minimum standards.

Attachment 2

Board Costs to Address Minimum Accessibility Standards

LWDA / Cost
WF Solutions Panhandle / $16,878.93
WF Solutions South Plains / $10,000.00
WF Solutions North Texas / $10,000.00
WF Solutions for North Central Texas / $78,194.00
WF Solutions for Tarrant County / $570.00
WF Solutions Greater Dallas / $43,381.00
WF Solutions Northeast Texas / $10,058.80
WF Solutions East Texas / $4,474.68
WF Solutions of West Central Texas / $18,625.00
WF Solutions Borderplex / $30,535.00
WF Solutions Permian Basin / $16,836.06
WF Solutions Concho Valley / $9,145.00
WF Solutions for the Heart of Texas / $15,000.00
WF Solutions Capital Area / $6,294.39
WF Solutions Rural Capital Area / $33,036.77
WF Solutions Brazos Valley / $13,076.00
WF Solutions Deep East Texas / $16,823.16
WF Solutions Southeast Texas / $1,312.63
WF Solutions Golden Crescent / $13,000.00
WF Solutions Alamo / $69,000.00
WF Solutions for South Texas / $8,000.00
WF Solutions of the Coastal Bend / $9,000.00
WF Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley / $8,924.20
WF Solutions Cameron County / $20,715.00
WF Solutions Texoma / $5,097.00
WF Solutions of Central Texas / $18,245.00
WF Solutions Middle Rio Grande / $5,743.27
WF Solutions Gulf Coast / $14,767.00
Total / $506,732.89

Notebook: Commission Meeting July 27, 2016