Current

Technical Assistance on Universal Design

Since its inception in 2007, the NTAR Leadership Center has facilitated information exchange, continuous learning, and the sharing of promising practices and strategies to state and local policymakers interested in putting these practices to work. The Center has offered a range of technical assistance services such as topical teleconferences and webinars that are available free of charge.

In 2010, the NTAR Leadership Center began targeting its technical assistance services on supporting and initiating stronger and more robust universal design strategies for the public workforce development system, specifically the public One-Stop Career Center system. Through its partner, the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, the NTAR Leadership Center is working with a select group of states to create models of physical and programmatic universal design and access within the workforce system and then look to develop and disseminate technical assistance materials and activities nationally.

The NTAR Leadership Center selected the District of Columbia and Hawaii for a special 10-month program in which nationally recognized experts will offer intensive customized technical assistance in universal design. The two governments, whose applications were selected through a competitive nationwide search, will participate in ongoing efforts that are currently taking place in Maryland that apply universal design solutions to existing employment services and facilities.

The Institute for Community Inclusion will provide each team with intensive customized technical assistance. Universal design principles will be used in an effort to create state and local workforce systems that are welcoming and accessible to a broad range of job seekers and business customers. The technical assistance services will focus on local priorities and needs, but may also include such things as: orientation approach, intake process, service/customer flow, integrated business services, and trainings and workshops.