Affiliations: UMDNJ-SHRP, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation,
Scotch Plains, NJ, USA | New Jersey Council of Development Disabilities
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Robert Gervey, Psy. D., Associate
Professor, UMDNJ-SHRP, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 1776 Raritan
Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076, USA. Tel.: +1 908 889 2545; Fax: +1 908 889
2432; E-mail:gerveyro@umdnj.edu
Abstract: The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 mandated the
establishment of a One-Stop System to integrate a fragmented Federal, State,
and County employment and employment-related system. Despite the promise of the
One-Stop system to provide efficient and effective services to all persons, the
disability community is concerned that the employment and training needs of
persons with severe disabilities will not be served well by the One-Stop
System. A three-month study was conducted within the Gloucester County One-Stop
Center in New Jersey to determine the extent to which persons with disabilities
access the One-Stop system. The results indicate that a relatively high
percentage (21%) of One-Stop customers identify themselves as having a
disability. Access within the One-Stop System therefore, does not appear to be
a problem. However, persons with disabilities report significantly greater
dissatisfaction with services and fare significantly worse in terms of
employment and training outcomes compared to individuals without disabilities
within the One-Stop system. Suggestions for improving services to persons with
disabilities within the One-Stop system are discussed.
Keywords: Workforce Investment Act (WIA), One-Stop Center, employment and training, workforce development services for persons with disabilities
