EconSys provides consulting and IT support in the policy area of employment of people with disabilities (PWD). Our capabilities include labor economics, program evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, information system evaluation and design, and technical assistance. Targeted policy efforts include improving the accessibility of jobs, making the hiring process more accessible to people with disabilities, and improving the reasonable accommodation process.

Particular areas of expertise include labor market trends, data sources and analysis, veterans with service-connected disabilities, equal employment opportunity, assistive technology, quality of life for PWD, vocational and community rehabilitation, and web accessibility standards.

Key clients of EconSys include the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the Department of Veterans Affairs. EconSys has a Blanket Purchase Agreement with ODEP to provide coordination, leadership, and support in all aspects of surveying, analyzing, assessing, and producing reports, projects outcomes and deliverables that promote ODEP’s strategic goal to increase employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

Experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs has included several major program evaluations of the outcomes of a wide range of disability and health care programs for veterans with disabilities including disability compensation and pension, compensation for survivors, home loans, and specially adapted housing.

Areas of Expertise

Labor Market Trends and Analysis

EconSys conducted a systematic review of research on disability and employment trends, extracting and extending data and results from numerous studies and evaluations to assemble and complete larger datasets that span numerous studies over a 20 year period. EconSys also conducted its own analysis of labor trends and demographics of people with disabilities. Our reports for the Changing Demographics and Trends That Affect the Workplace Project are listed below:

Changing Demographics Executive Summary
Changing Demographics Volume I: Literature Review and Gap Analysis
Changing Demographics Volume II: Quantitative Analysis

Affirmative Action

EconSys and its team of researchers, civil rights analysts, and disability policy analysts, assessed affirmative action policies applicable to people with disabilities and disabled veterans and made recommendations for changes to the respective regulations. The policies pertain to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 503) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). Volume I: Data Sources and Models, provides quantitative analysis of disability statistics using the Census American Community Survey and reviews different affirmative action programs (link: www.etc.). Volume II: Modernizing the Affirmative Action Provisions, identifies certain provisions in the Section 503 and VEVRRA regulations that should be modernized.

Affirmative Action for People with Disabilities: Quantitative Analysis and Goals (PDF and Word)
Description and Analysis of Policies and Practices Related to Section 503 (PDF, Word, and Word RTF)
Examples of Practices: Federal Affirmative Action Programs for Qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Qualified Disabled Veterans (PDF, Word, and Word RTF)
On line Application Systems - Technical Assistance Guide (PDF, Word, and Word RTF)

Accessible Technology (AT)

Economic Systems Inc. (EconSys) supports the DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy with coordination, leadership and support in developing and disseminating technical assistance materials on accessibility and usability of information technology with assistive technology that reinforces the business case or value proposition of “return on investment” to enhance and/or improve employment and community living for people with disabilities.

EconSys reviewed the literature on AT and the impact of AT on quality of life, employability and earnings, and the rehabilitation process. We surveyed the types of AT devices available for workplace integration. We also assessed available tools for measuring functional independence.

Effective Accessibility Practices
Accessible Workplace Technologies Curriculum
Thought Leadership Report
Roundtable Dialogue on the Future of Accessible Workplace Technology(PDF and Word)

Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities

EconSys conducted a major evaluation study of VA’s disability compensation program as a follow on to recommendations of the Dole-Shalala Commission and the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission. The study addressed the impact of disability on employment, earnings, and quality of life. Dr. George Kettner, President of EconSys, testified before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, US Senate, on the results of this study. EconSys also analyzed participation in VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program and identified options for a new transition benefit. The transcript of Dr. Kettner’s testimony can be found below.

Dr. Kettner – VA Disability Compensation Testimony

Web Accessibility Standards

Accessibility is the measure of how well web-delivered content is processed by assistive technology and how easy it is to access the web-delivered content by people with disabilities. EconSys evaluated several hiring websites on their accessibility based on Section 508 standards for web-based applications.

Customized Employment

In a task order for ODEP to provide assistance in expanding customized employment the EconSys team conducted research to validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) of personnel who conduct customized employment development and implementation, including job development, negotiation with employers concerning employment, and systems leadership for customized employment activities.

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