Recognizing the potential of its workforce, the Department of Defense established the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program to eliminate employment barriers for people with disabilities.
Since 1990, CAP’s mission is to provide assistive technology and accommodations to ensure people with disabilities and wounded servicemembers have equal access to the information environment and opportunities in the DOD and throughout the federal government.
Today, CAP has expanded beyond the DOD to partner with 68 federal agencies making it the largest provider of reasonable accommodations in the world. The program’s vision is to increase the employment of people with disabilities and disabled veterans by ensuring they have access to accommodations throughout the DOD and federal government.
Through CAP’s Wounded Service Member Initiative, CAP provides needs assessments, assistive technology and training to support wounded service members throughout all phases of recovery and transition to employment, directly impacting their rehabilitation process. By implementing DOD Instruction 6025.22, AT for Wounded Service Members, CAP partners with Military Treatment Facilities to integrate AT into the recovery and seamless transition process.
CAP sponsors training via webinars and on-site visits to promote awareness and encourage participation in CAP services for WSMs. In Fiscal Year 2012, CAP’s dedicated WSM team visited a number of sites to conduct training sessions and needs assessments, including Fort Sam Houston, Texas,; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany. CAP has continued to expand its outreach efforts to ensure that servicemembers outside the contiguous United States have equal access to CAP information and services. The WSM team also utilizes the CAP Technology Evaluation Center to conduct video teleconferences, providing real time demonstrations of technology to MTF personnel throughout the United States.
Customers that already know what accommodations they need can go online and request a form at www.cap.mil/wsm. For customers that need solutions identified, there are a number of options. The WSM team visits a number of military installations throughout the year and conducts on-site needs assessments. Customers can send out a notice asking for needs assessments to request a visit. CAPTEC, located at the Pentagon, will also conduct in-person, phone and video teleconference needs assessments. For customers not located in the D.C. Metro Area and need an on-site assessment can be request a form at www.cap.mil/wsm. Once solutions have been identified, all requests can be made through the same online request form.
The CAP office is available to answer any disability or accommodation related questions. CAP is committed to giving servicemembers the tools to prepare them for employment opportunities in the public or private sectors by allowing them to maximize their abilities. For further information, please contact CAP at (702) 681-8813; or videophone at (571) 384-5629. Email is cap@tma.osd.mil.
