DRCs are specialized staff that work to change local workforce systems to better serve individuals with disabilities.

Under NY SCION, DRCs will:

• Increase the capacity of the Career Center and surrounding career pathways programs to serve individuals with disabilities;
• Identify and leverage disability-related resources and partners, including NYS Education Department (NYSED) Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and the Office of Children and Family Services/NYS Commission for the Blind (OCFS/NYSCB), to support collaboration around a job seeker’s employment and/or training goal(s);
• Advise the workforce development system on how to effectively promote the participation of individuals with disabilities in existing career pathways systems and programs;
• Assist and train the LWDB, Career Center staff, businesses, community colleges, and training providers on such topics as rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Ticket to Work (TTW), accommodations, assistive technology, and assessments;
• Coordinate with career pathway programs’ direct service delivery staff, including career coaches;
• Assist in the recruitment of individuals with disabilities, including TTW Ticket Holders, to participate in career pathways programs, including funded career pathways training, and to utilize Career Center services;
• Identify career, training, and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities using assessments;
• Obtain and maintain a credential to provide benefits advisement and work incentive counseling to job seekers in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits (e.g., Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
• Help to expand the workforce development system's participation as an Employment Network (EN) under the TTW Program, including the assignment of appropriate Tickets to the Career Center under the New York Employment Services System (NYESS) Administrative Employment Network (AEN);
• Help ensure that individuals with disabilities access all the different programs and services they need, including career and training services offered through the Career Centers to participate in existing career pathways programs; and
• Facilitate an effective approach to leverage resources needed for individuals with disabilities to fully participate in existing career pathway programs and to achieve their employment and/or training goal(s).