Equal Opportunity

A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment Adaptive Environments.

The Workforce Solutions Capital Area Boards, as a recipient of Federal financial assistance, must provide the following notice that it does not discriminate on any prohibited ground.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW

It is against the law for this recipient of federal financial assistance to discriminate on the following bases: against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sex stereotyping, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, or political affiliation or belief, or, against any beneficiary of, applicant to, or participant in programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, on the basis of the individual’s citizenship status or participation in any WIOA Title I–financially assisted program or activity.

The recipient must not discriminate in any of the following areas:

deciding who will be admitted, or have access, to any WIOA Title I–financially assisted program or activity;
providing opportunities in, or treating any person with regard to, such a program or activity; or
making employment decisions in the administration of, or in connection with, such a program or activity.

What To Do If You Believe You Have Experienced Discrimination

If you think that you have been subjected to discrimination under a WIOA Title I–financially assisted program or activity, you may file a complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with either:

the recipient’s Equal Opportunity Officer (or the person whom the recipient has designated for this purpose); or
the Director, Civil Rights Center (CRC), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-4123, Washington, DC 20210 or electronically as directed on the CRC website at www.dol.gov/crc.

If you file your complaint with the recipient, you must wait either until the recipient issues a written Notice of Final Action, or until 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner), before filing with the CRC (see address above).

If the recipient does not give you a written Notice of Final Action within 90 days of the day on which you filed your complaint, you may file a complaint with CRC before receiving that notice. However, you must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the 90-day deadline (in other words, within 120 days after the day on which you filed your complaint with the recipient).

If the recipient does give you a written Notice of Final Action on your complaint, but you are dissatisfied with the decision or resolution, you may file a complaint with CRC. You must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the date on which you received the Notice of Final Action.

Procedures On How To File A Claim

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) / TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE (TAA) and TRADE READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES (TRA):

If you think you have been subjected to equal opportunity discrimination under a WIOA Title I or a TAA/TRA financially assisted program or activity, you may file a discrimination complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with either the Board/Contractor Equal Opportunity Officer (or designee) or Director, Civil Rights Center (CRC), U.S. Dept. of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-4123 Washington, DC 20210. If you file your complaint with the Board or Contractor, you must wait until you receive a written Notice of Final Action or 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner) before you can file with the CRC. If the written Notice of Final Action is not issued within 90 days of the day you filed your complaint, you have 30 days following the 90-day deadline to file a complaint with CRC (that is, within 120 days of the day you first filed your complaint). If you receive a written Notice of Final Action on your complaint but are dissatisfied with the decision, you may file a complaint with CRC. However, you must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of receiving the Notice of Final Action.

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) / CHOICES and/or CHILD CARE SERVICES (CC):

If you think you have been subjected to equal opportunity discrimination under a TANF/Choices and/or Child Care (CC) program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with either the Board/Contractor Equal Opportunity Officer (or designee) or U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office for Civil Rights, 1301 Young Street, Suite 1169, Dallas, TX 75202, (800) 368-1019. Those filing complaints against child care program services receiving USDA federal financial assistance may choose to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410. If you file your complaint with the Board or Contractor, you must wait until a written Notice of Final Action is issued or until 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner) before you can file with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING (SNAP E&T):

If you think you have been subjected to discrimination under a SNAP E&T financially assisted program or activity, you may file a complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with either the Board/Contractor Equal Opportunity Officer (or designee) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, (202) 260-1026. If you file your complaint with the Board or Contractor, you must wait either until a written Notice of Final Action is issued or until 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner) before filing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If you wish to file a complaint, please ask for the Workforce Solutions Office Manager, or you may contact:

Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Janee’ White, EO Officer
9001 N IH 35, Ste 110E
Austin, Texas 78753
Phone: (512) 597-7107 / Fax: (512) 381-5123
Relay Texas: 711 or 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) / 1-800-735-2988 (Voice)

Jon Pokorney, TWC EO Officer
101 E 15th St, Rm 556
Austin, TX 78778
Email: EO.complaint@twc.texas.gov / Phone: 512-463-2400
Relay Texas: 711 or 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) / 1-800-735-2988 (Voice)

Voluntary Disclosure for Specialized Services for People with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Texas Commission on Human Rights Act place limits on inquiries regarding whether or not an individual has a disability and to the nature and extent of such a disability. Despite said inquiry limitations, various federal and state programs are specifically tailored to grant benefits and services to individuals based on their disability status, both veteran and non-veteran. Should you wish to have your eligibility for such services considered, please inform a Workforce Solutions Capital Area representative regarding any relevant disability information. This information will only be considered in relation to program qualification determinations as described above.

Although any of Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s staff can assist you, the agency has staff specifically trained to serve veterans and clients with disabilities should you wish to receive these specialized services.

Equal Opportunity