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North Carolina

15 To ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to employment programs, the Work First staff must screen and assess all applicants and participants to determine the participant’s specific abilities and limitations. Screenings and assessments will occur periodically to address potential program participation barriers. Individuals may be referred to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for determination of their eligibility for such services, or to other qualified professional for a comprehensive assessment.

Any applicant or recipient that meets the ADA definition of disabled and those individuals caring for family members who are disabled should be provided reasonable accommodations, if needed. Reasonable accommodations may include but are not limited to:

1. Part-time work activities 2. Reasonable accommodations for work activities

The MRA/Outcome Plan may reflect medical appointments, vocational evaluations, functional assessments etc. These appointments are necessary to establish evidentiary support for limited work activities. This should be carefully monitored to ensure the participant is fully benefiting from the Work First program.

3. Job restructuring, includes part-time or modified work schedules, modification of equipment and examinations, provision of qualified readers, interpreters, or job coaches 4. Additional assistance or increased supervision in work activities 5. Assistance with application for benefits, including a notification process for those with learning disabilities 6. Specialized child care for a child with a disability

Accommodations will be considered even when scheduling appointments and requesting that the individual obtain and provide documents for verification purposes.

An individual, who has requested an accommodation and believes that they have not been adequately accommodated, is informed to notify the Work First case manager verbally or in writing. Within 7 workdays of the receipt of notification, the county should have a meeting to include the individual and/or his/her representative and appropriate staff. The county has 14 workdays from the date of the meeting to respond to the request. The county must notify the individual of the decision in writing within the 14 workdays from date of the meeting. The county department of social services is required to inform the applicant or recipient that disclosure of a disability is voluntary. This includes screening for a disability, including learning disabilities and mental health disorders. Nonetheless, counties must inquire about an individual’s health related limitations to determine the appropriate work assignments. The participant does not have to provide the information.

There are times when identification and treatment of a disability are necessary for program administration. Under these circumstances, a participant may be required to participate in efforts to evaluate a suspected disability and participate in necessary treatment. Those circumstances may include:

a. If a participant reports they are unable to work or to have limited work capacity, the individual may be required to substantiate their statements by being required to provide medical documentation, participate in screenings and evaluations as agreed on the