Universal Design for the Workforce Development System

Abstract

[Excerpt] As public and private workforce development systems strive to meet the diverse needs of their business and career seeking customers, including individuals experiencing barriers to employment, personnel working within these systems need a clear understanding of how to design programs, services, and activities that provide genuine, effective, and meaningful opportunities for all. Universal design is a proactive approach to establishing simple, flexible, and efficient programs and services. With universal design, providers can anticipate diverse career seeker and business needs from the outset of planning, rather than later incurring retrofitting costs.