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Bank of AmericaBank of America understands that creating meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities ismore than a value, it means more than just bringing people to the door. The company’s success in providingemployment opportunities for people with disabilities is derived from a long-standing pledge to provide comprehensiveprograms that anticipate and respond to the needs of future and current associates with disabilities. Toensure an integrated approach to meeting the employment needs of people with disabilities, Bank of America hasestablished several programs over the years. A sample of these resources and programs are presented below.PROGRAMS ANDRESOURCESOutreach and Recruitment Activities: The bank’s staffing departmentworks closely with both national agencies and local community basedorganizations to provide people with disabilities equal access to thecompany’s many employment opportunities.Disability Resources Intranet Site: This web-based service is designed toserve as a corporate resource and clearinghouse for associates and/ormangers with disabilities with a web site that is designed to connect associateswith tools, resources, and programs that support employees throughouttheir career at the bank.Abilities Scholarship Program: The bank promotes greater educationalaccess for people with disabilities through this scholarship program by earmarkingup to $200,000 to provide students with disabilities educationalopportunities that will prepare them to become a successful part of theworkforce.Alternative Formats Program: Once a need for an alternative format isidentified, applicants and associates automatically receive communications intheir preferred format to include: braille, large print, or electronic media.Most documents are stored in alternative formates to ensure immediateaccess to information.Disability Accommodation Fund: Despite the fact that many accommodationscost little or nothing this program was designed to ensure that hiringdecisions are solely focused on the competencies of the applicant with allreasonable accommodations provided through the fund.The following section provides detailed information on how Bank of Americautilizes an accommodation case manager to ensure equal access to employmentand career advancement for their associates and managers.REASONABLEACCOMMODATIONSBank of America is more interested in what people can do than what they can’tdo. That’s why they base all of their employment decisions on capabilities ratherthan disabilities. The Bank recognizes that people with disabilities may requirereasonable accommodations to have access to employment opportunities, to besuccessful in performing their jobs, and to be able to fully participate in bankactivities and programs.To assist recruiters and managers to stay focused on the capabilities of individualsand to ensure those who need accommodations receive them, they have establisheda first-class accommodations program. By calling a single telephonenumber an individual can request comprehensive disability case management,including accommodations consultation, identification, and implementation, froman accommodations specialist.4 ©2002, VCU-RRTC on Workplace Supports -- Permission to Reproduce -- Additional Copies: 25/$9.95