ATLANTA, GA—Georgia’s Disability Employment Initiative received national recognition this week by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy for demonstrating best practices and delivering superior service.
“We are extremely proud of Rossany Rios and her team for their work in delivering superior services to Georgians with disabilities and barriers to employment,” said Joe Dan Banker, Assistant Commissioner for the Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Workforce Development. “This federal grant provides opportunities for Georgians who otherwise would find challenges in marketing themselves to leading employers.”
Georgia’s Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) was launched in 2015 and is funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant designed to promote physical and programmatic access to job seekers with disabilities into Georgia’s Workforce System. The grant utilizes six strategies to promote this access: Integrated Resource Teams, Social Security Administration Ticket to Work Program (EN), Customized Employment, Customized Training, Career Pathways, and Partnership & Collaboration.
“We’re honored to be recognized by the national Disability Employment Initiative office and look forward to implementing more best practices in Georgia,” said Rossany Rios, Disability Employment Initiative Lead, Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Workforce Development. “This has truly been a team effort. We’re excited about the progress that has been made and look forward to the work ahead.”
Georgia’s DEI works with WorkSource Northeast Georgia and WorkSource Central Savannah River Area to bolster employment opportunities for Georgians with disabilities that reside in those regions.
Georgia’s DEI was nationally recognized for funding a full-time Certified Rehabilitation Counselor whose entire caseload consists of shared co-enrolled WIOA title I and WIOA title IV customers to maximize positive outcomes for both job seekers with disabilities and workforce programs.
Click Here to view the official U.S. Department of Labor press release, recognizing the efforts of Georgia’s Disability Employment Initiative.
About the Technical College System of Georgia
The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in more than 600 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its individual colleges, who work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit TCSG.edu
About the Office of Workforce Development
The Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Workforce Development is the administrator of WorkSource Georgia, the state’s federally-funded employment and training system, working to connect talent with opportunity. At a local level, the Office of Workforce Development provides Workforce Innovation of Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds and technical assistance to the 19 Local Workforce Development Areas across the state. WIOA funds are allotted to dislocated workers, low-income adults and youth and administered specifically through services geared toward helping disadvantaged citizens obtain meaningful employment. For more information visit TCSG.edu/Workforce.
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Contact: Shemeeka Johnson
404.316.5509
