Gloucester County One-Stop Project: Baseline level of access and satisfaction of one-stop center customers with disabilities

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.