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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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A job-training course for TANF participants must extend testing time when a person with a learning disability requests extra time to complete the test because of his/her disability. The course provider may ask the individual who is seeking extra time to provide reasonable documentation of the learning disability and the additional time that is required.

A TANF applicant with a mental disability who is unable to complete the application must be assisted. If an individual with a disability, with or without reasonable accommodation, is unable to perform the essential functions of any available job, a state welfare agency should seek alternatives to the work participation requirement.

DSS must ensure that programs and services are provided in an integrated setting, unless separate or different measures are necessary to ensure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Programs that provide special benefits to people with disabilities are permitted, but people with disabilities cannot be compelled to participate in those programs.

Examples: A county DSS office may offer an alternate site for an eligibility interview at the Community Mental Health Center for those with mental disabilities. However, the office may not require people with mental disabilities to go to an alternate site for an interview.

A county DSS office may not require people with HIV to be served in a separate room from the other participants.

A vocational training program may offer special training opportunities for people with vision impairments. However, it may not require people with impairments to participate in the special program or refuse to permit them to participate in courses open to other program participants.

DSS must ensure effective communication with individuals who have hearing, speech, or vision impairments. Programs must provide auxiliary aids and services when necessary to ensure effective communication. However, they are not required to provide auxiliary aids that will result in undue financial and administrative burdens.

Examples of auxiliary aids are Braille material, sign language interpreters, readers, or text telephones (TTYs).

Examples: A job placement program that makes information about job openings available by telephone must ensure that the information is available to users of TTYs.

Printed information for applicants/participants about welfare eligibility requirements must also be provided on audiotape or in Braille for people who have vision impairments, or materials must be read to them.

Job training programs for TANF participants must provide sign language interpreters for deaf students when it is necessary to ensure effective communication for those students.

DSS may not exclude individuals with disabilities from programs and activities because buildings are inaccessible. However, the providers are not required to take any action that would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the program or activity, or in undue financial and