Accessible Online Application Systems and Tools for Achieving Them

By Shana Larrucea

The OFCCP directive from July 2008 regarding the online recruitment of disabled individuals spurred three organizations to help employers understand and adapt to the new directive.

A. ODEP – The Office of Disability and Employment Policy was created 6-7 years ago and is a division of the Department of Labor. http://www.dol.gov/odep/
B. JAN – The Job Accommodation Network provides works with individuals and employers on accessibility and accommodation issues. They have 25 years of experience, are national, and are FREE. http://www.jan.wvu.edu/
C. EARN – The Employment Assistance Recruitment Network provides a job matching service for disabled individuals and is also a consulting service that assists employers with accessibility issues. http://www.earnworks.com/.

The OFCCP directive is about the accessibility and usability of applicant tracking systems in the employment process and how an online system might be prohibitive to people with disabilities. Through sheer necessity, companies are implementing applicant tracking systems and in turn, requiring applicants to apply for open positions online. The requirements of applying online might be difficult for individuals with disabilities to access and use the various functions of an online application. The bottom line is that employers need to provide equal employment opportunity to disabled individuals in the hiring process.

The partnership of ODEP, JAN, and EARN led to the following:

1. Research on the cost and benefit of accommodation.
2. They provide free training and webinars for employers on all things related to accommodation and accessibility. These organizations are confidential, so employers can feel comfortable asking sensitive questions.
3. These organizations are for technical assistance only – they are not related to enforcement at all.
4. MOST IMPORTANT – they created documents that will gauge the accessibility of an employer’s website. It’s referred to as Accessible Systems Racing League: http://www.earnworks.com/508Racing.asp