How can a TANF agency ensure equal access to people with disabilities?
A TANF agency ensures equal access to TANF applicants and beneficiaries with disabilities by delivering services that are: (a) appropriate in view of their particular physical or mental impairment; and (b) provide an equal opportunity to benefit from the agency’s job placement, education, skills training, employment, and other TANF activities. In ensuring equal access to people with disabilities, TANF agencies should have comprehensive and effective screening and assessment tools in place. TANF agencies should offer to conduct an initial screening of each applicant and beneficiary to identify those individuals with possible disabilities, and inform applicants and beneficiaries that their participation in screening and disclosure of disability is voluntary. This screening should be conducted by trained staff, using validated screening tools. If there is an initial indication that an individual has a disability that may impact his/her ability to successfully complete or benefit from a cu
