Disability Navigator Program

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BURLINGTON, IOWA - Iowa Workforce Development, on behalf of a collaborative partnership with other state agencies, received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration to create new positions for Iowa’s Workforce Development Centers.

Known as a disability program navigator, one of these positions has been housed at Burlington’s Workforce Development Center, 1000 N. Roosevelt, and facilitates access to employment and services for Southeast Iowa job seekers who have disabilities.

Iowans with disabilities have an unemployment rate that exceeds 50%, but most would prefer to be pursuing a career. Disability program navigators will not duplicate services offered by agencies supporting local workforce services, but support job seekers with information and connection with service programs that will provide career enhancement.

“The creation of these positions should not be seen as a new service program,” stated Barbara Bobb, Iowa Workforce Development’s chief of the Targeted Services Bureau. “They serve a role within the system designed to enhance the capacity of all of our partners in services designed to fully include Iowans with disabilities in the workforce.”

Iowa Workforce Development currently works with other state agencies to support sixteen comprehensive Workforce Center Centers statewide, and these positions will be developed in those Centers, including Burlington. The current Burlington Navigator, Kim Richardson, is moving out of state so IWD will be re-filling her position.

Persons interested in applying for the Burlington disability navigator position should be registered with Iowa Workforce Development and submit a resume, cover letter and three references to Navigator position, Iowa Workforce Development, 1000 N. Roosevelt Avenue, Burlington, IA. The deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m. Thursday, August 11, 2005.

Iowa Workforce Development works with State agency partners, including the Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind, Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities, the Iowa Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Department of Human Services and others to plan and support the implementation of the Navigator program.