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Employment & Training Programs and Services

Published Date: July 08, 2022
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Career & Employment Information Services

Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES)

Workplace Supports

AUTHORITY


Government Organization Act
Workforce Development Agreement
Income and Employment Supports Act, Part 2 Section 12,
Disability-Related Employment Supports and Services Regulation

INTENT


To provide funding for initial short-term supports/services to assist a person with a disability transition into the workplace and/or maintain employment.
Note: All policy, eligibility and responsibilities stated in the DRES Overview Policy and the DRES Eligibility policy must be met and/or agreed to prior to issuance of DRES supports and/or services.


There are four categories of Workplace Supports:

  1. On the Job Supports
  2. Worksite Modifications
  3. Vehicle Modifications and 
  4. Assistive Technology


POLICY

Workplace Supports are employee specific and are provided as supports and/or services to the person with a disability to address the employment related barrier created by the disability. An Authorized Official will work in partnership with the individual (employee) and the employer to determine what disability related supports and/or services address the barrier(s). An Authorized Official may consult with appropriate specialists or vendors to assist with determining the most appropriate supports and services.

  • Maximum funding expenditures have been determined for each of the four categories.  In exceptional circumstances, vehicle modifications (employee owned), on the job supports and assistive technology maximums can be exceeded with Director’s Approval.
  • Employees with disabilities can access workplace supports in each of the four areas while employed by the same employer.  
  • Eligible employers must provide the basic equipment and technology required by all employees for the job. DRES may assist in providing the employee with a disability the supports and/or services needed to address the barrier(s) created by the disability.
    • For example, all employees require a computer to perform work duties but an employee with a disability may need disability related software to do the job. The employer is responsible to provide the computer and DRES may assist with the cost of the disability related software.
  • Employers who are requesting worksite modifications and employer owned vehicle modifications must contribute the regulated amount for the cost of the accommodations for the employee(s) with a disability.
  • DRES will not cover business expenses such as start-up, operating, capital or renovation costs 
  • An Authorized Official and the employee must develop a service plan to outline:
    • the supports/services needed by the employee,
    •  the period of time that DRES workplace supports will be provided,
    • the employer’s contribution, and
    • the DRES funding cost.

Workplace Support Categories

1.  On-the-Job Supports

On-the-job supports provide funding for initial short-term supports/services to assist an employee with a disability to transition into a new workplace, maintain employment and/or enable their participation in the workplace.

Exceptional circumstances may be considered if there is a change in the person’s disability or job duties which require additional DRES supports/services.

On-the-job supports may include funding supports/services to an employee with a disability taking short-term training directly connected to performing their current job duties.

Note: Education leading to certification offered by an eligible post-secondary institution would fall within DRES Education Supports.
 

 Funding Consideration

Policy

 Maximum Amount

 $35,000/employee with a disability while employed with the same employer

 Cost Share

 Expected

 Duration

 Initial short-term supports and/or services

 

2.  Worksite Modifications

Worksite Modifications provide funding for physical modification of a specific worksite to enable an employee with a disability to have access to their place of employment and/or to perform their work as any other employee. Worksite modifications can be made to privately owned or operated buildings.

In situations where a person with a disability changes employers, worksite modifications may be considered with the new employer.

Funding Consideration

Policy

Maximum Amount

Maximum Government of Alberta contribution of $10,000/employee with a disability and up to $40,000/worksite that employs 4 or more persons with disabilities.

This amount cannot exceed the amount outlined in the DRES Regulations Section 5 (3).

Cost Share

50% cost-shared with the employer

Duration

Initial short-term supports and/or services

Exclusions

Not provided to publicly owned or operated or publicly subsidized buildings.

Additional Requirements

  • Modification assessments must be completed by a recognized specialist.
  • A minimum of two quotes are required from certified Alberta vendors.
  • All modifications funded by DRES must have prior authorization from an Authorized Official.

 
Note: DRES does not provide funding to cover the costs of repairs, warranties or operating expenses.

 

3. Vehicle Modifications

Funding for vehicle modifications assists with the cost(s) of modifying a vehicle owned by a person with a disability or an employer. DRES will only fund the vehicle modifications that are directly related to addressing the barrier(s) created by the person’s disability.

Vehicle modifications assist a person with a disability:

  • get to and from employment, by modifying their vehicle when no other method of transportation such as public transportation or making alternate transportation arrangements is available, and/or
  • when the vehicle is necessary to perform their work duties. Vehicle modifications can be done on the eligible employer’s vehicle if the employee with a disability is required to operate the vehicle to perform their work duties.

The following vehicle types can be modified:

  • Personal vehicle owned by the person (employee) with a disability
  • The vehicle is owned by the employer

 

Funding Consideration

Employee with a disability’s personal vehicle

Employer owned vehicle

Maximum Amount

  • First vehicle modification: DRES may contribute up to 100% of the cost to a maximum of $50,000,
  • Second vehicle modification, DRES may contribute up to 50% of the actual cost to a maximum of $25,000  and
  • Third (last) modification, DRES may contribute up to 25% of the actual cost to a maximum of $12,500.
  • Maximum Government of Alberta contribution of $40,000/employee while employed with the same employer
  • Subsequent vehicle modifications for the same employee with a disability are the responsibility of the employer.
  • Funding for vehicle modifications cannot exceed the amount outlined in the DRES Regulations Section 5 (4).

Cost Share

n/a

Modifications are 50% cost-shared with the employer

Duration

No new modifications within 5 years (unless need is verified and recommended through an assessment by a recognized specialist)

Exclusions

  • If the person with a disability is the passenger in the vehicle being modified, then a vehicle modification assessment is not required as the vendor can make the recommendations. In this situation, the only vehicle modifications that DRES will support are those done to accommodate the passenger with the disability.

Additional Criteria

  • The individual must hold a valid Alberta Driver’s License (minimum Class 5) stating the appropriate condition codes prior to vehicle modifications approval.
  • The individual’s license must allow them to legally drive without the requirement of having an accompanying driver with them (individuals with a Class 7 learner’s license are not eligible for vehicle modifications). 
  

 Modification Requirements

  • Vehicle modification assessment must be completed by a recognized specialist if the person with a disability is the vehicle operator.
  • For subsequent vehicle modifications, an assessment is only required if there is a significant change in the person’s with a disability functional ability.
  • Vehicle modifications must be completed by an Alberta vendor. If the person with a disability plans to have the vehicle modification completed outside of Alberta or is purchasing a vehicle that has been modified outside of Alberta, proof must be provided that an Alberta vendor will maintain and repair it after the modifications have been completed.
  • A minimum of two quotes are required from certified Alberta vendors who perform vehicle modifications.
  • The owner of the modified vehicle must purchase vehicle insurance that includes coverage of the modifications. Documentation must be provided to confirm this coverage.
  • All vehicle modifications funded by DRES must have prior authorization from an Authorized Official.
  • DRES does not cover the cost of driver training or driver training specific to the modification(s) made to a vehicle, licensing, and insurance coverage.
  • DRES does not provide funding to purchase a vehicle and/or cover the costs of repairs, warranties or operating expenses of the modified vehicle or the vehicle modifications.

4. Assistive Technology

Assistive technology provides employees with disabilities funding for specialized disability related technology which will enable them to perform their duties as any other employee in the workplace. The employer’s responsibility will be the ongoing costs such as upgrades and maintenance of that assistive technology.

The assistive technology funded by DRES is provided to assist the employee with a disability and considered to be employee specific. If the employee leaves the job, the assistive technology belongs to the employee and will leave with the employee to another job. If the employer has cost-shared the purchase of the assistive technology, ownership will be discussed at the time of purchase and agreed upon between all parties. The cost sharing agreement is reflected in the individual’s letter of approval for DRES funding.

Funding for assistive technology may include: the technology purchase, installation, set-up, and training. DRES does not provide funding to cover the costs of repairs, warranties or operating expenses. All modifications funded by DRES must have prior authorization from an Authorized Official.

 

Funding Consideration

Policy

Maximum Amount

$35,000/employee with a disability while employed by the same employer

Cost Share

The employer and the Authorized Official will negotiate cost-sharing prior to purchasing the technology

 

Exceeding Policy Maximums

When a request to exceed the maximum amount outlined in policy is receive and all other eligibility criteria have been met a request can be made to the Zone Executive Director, Employment Services. The DRES Review of Decision policy outlines the requirements.

 

PROCESS

Mobius Users

Compass Users

  • DRES Tooltips in Compass

APPEALS

Individuals requesting a review of a decision regarding DRES supports and/or services or to exceed maximum funding amounts must follow the DRES Review of Decision process outlined in policy.

RELATED POLICIES

CEIS Overview

DRES General Policy Overview

DRES Eligibility Policy

DRES Supports and Services Policy

DRES Education Supports

DRES Job Search Supports

Assessments

Workforce Development