Considering the Effect of Policies
on People with Disabilities in
National Service
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Presenters
• Brian Lock - Disability Coordinator, Washington
Commission for National and Community Service
• Bob Shogren - Director, Arizona Governor's
Commission on Service and Volunteerism
• Amy Borgstrom - Associate Director for Policy,
AmeriCorps State/National, CNCS
• Lanny Taulbee – Disability Coordinator, Kentucky
• Eddie Aguero - Facilitator
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Introduction
A discussion highlighting examples of CNCS
policies negatively affecting actual or potential
members with disabilities.
Session Goals
• To identify and recommend a process for “fieldtesting” new policies as they are being developed
and;
• To recommend a companion process for providing
continuous feedback on the unintended
consequences of current policies.
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Introduction (Con’t)
• Who is in the room?
– Presenters?
– Representatives from AmeriCorps, Learn
& Serve, Senior Corps, Disability
Organizations?
– CNCS Staff?
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Framing AmeriCorps Policy 101
Amy Borgstrom
Director of AmeriCorps Policy
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Presenters Sampling of
Policies/Rules/Regulations
•
•
•
•
•
H.S. Diploma/GED Requirement
The Education Award – requirements for
receipt of…
Slot Conversion Rule (s)
Compelling Personal Circumstances
Enrollment/Retention
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Sampling of Other Policies/Rules/Regulations
with Potential Implications
•
•
•
Flexibility around start/end times
Penmanship or data entry (if computer
based) possible issues
Computation skills; time calculating skills
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Sampling of Other Policies/Rules/Regulations
with Potential Implications (Con’t)
•
•
•
•
AmeriCorps Grant Guidance and
Template Instructions
Strategic Initiatives
Tracking Time Logs
Authoring Great Stories
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Questions?
• How can we mitigate the unintended
consequences of AC policies for people
with disabilities as we move forward?
• What mechanisms do we need or can we
put in place, now?
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Recommendations - Part I
1: Permanent CNCS focus group to review
policies as they are being developed…
2: Establish on-going channel of
communication to report impacts on
members with disabilities…
3: Provide for Disability Inclusion representation
on CNCS policy committee…
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Recommendations - Part II
General recommendations:
1: Review AC applications, guidelines, provisions
and all public CNCS documents and websites
to ensure accessibility/Universal Design
language.
2: Include “inclusion of people with disabilities” as
an emphasis area or strategic priority area in
AC application instructions
3: Develop/update FAQ
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future
Next Steps & Close
• CNCS Response
• Field Response
National Conference on Disability
Inclusion & National Service:
Acting Today to Shape the Future