What is the difference between an adult and a dislocated worker in the WIA program?
 
What is the Disability Program Navigator (DPN)?
 
What services do DPN provide?
 
Where do I find a DPN?
 

Q: What is the difference between an adult and a dislocated worker in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program?

A: An adult is an individual who is 20.5 years and over and is unemployed or underemployed. A dislocated worker is an individual who has been terminated or laid off from employment.

Q: What is the Disability Program Navigator (DPN)?

A: DPN provides resources to the workforce investment systems and individuals with disabilities throughout the state. The Specialty/Career Opportunity Center’s staff and community organizations are trained on disability-related topics and help people with disabilities access and navigate the complex provisions of programs that impact their ability to gain and retain employment. DPN was implemented to eliminate physical, programmatic and communication barriers in the centers and to promote meaningful and effective participation of jobseekers with disabilities in the workforce investment system. DPN enhances the economic empowerment of individuals with disabilities. It also:

• creates attitudinal change about the abilities of people with disabilities to work in a variety of jobs and industries,
• develops new/ongoing partnerships to achieve comprehensive services to people with disabilities, and
• develops linkages and collaborates on an ongoing basis with employers to facilitate job placements for employment support programs.

Q: What Services do DPN provides?

A: To the Career Opportunity Centers:

• Advice and expertise from the  Career Opportunity Center staff related to services and programs for customers with disabilities (such as advice on meeting the needs of a customer who is deaf)
• Specialized assistance and resources at the Career Opportunity Centers that meet the specific needs of customers with disabilities (such as expertise related to job accommodations)

To the disabled jobseeker:

• Provide information about programs and services
• Help in navigating the challenges of seeking employment
• Provide resources & referral information to ensure job search assistance and support

To Employers:

• Resource for information on assistive technology and accommodations
• Introduction to an underutilized labor pool
• Tax savings Information

To The Community:

• Universal access to services
• Disability awareness and education
• Economic balance

Q: Where do I find a DPN?

A: A complete and current listing of DPNs throughout the State can be found at: http://www.doleta.gov/disability.