Falls Church, Va. — The Department of Defense (DoD) Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) has won The Presidential Award for Management Excellence-the President's Quality Award for 2008. The award was presented to Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Dr. David S. C. Chu, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. this week, recognizing Federal agencies that best achieve the objectives of the President's Management Agenda. 
  
CAP is a TRICARE Management Activity program that provides assistive technology to allow federal employees and military service members with disabilities to access electronic and information technology.  The President’s Quality Award is the highest award given to Executive Branch agencies for management excellence.  The award honors those agencies for innovative and exemplary practices falling under one of the five Government-wide Management Initiatives; Strategic Management of Human Capital, Competitive Sourcing, Improved Financial Performance, Expanded Electronic Government, and Budget and Performance Integration. CAP was a winner in the category of Expanded Electronic Government for its program to accommodate federal employees with disabilities and wounded service members with the use of the web/eGovernment.
 
CAP is a centrally-funded assistive technology program that buys and delivers the hardware, software, and services that people with disabilities need to function in the workplace.  “The technology makes the electronic environment accessible to and usable by individuals with hearing, visual, dexterity, cognitive, and communications disabilities. By using the web and promoting e-Government, CAP customers can visit and see the different assistive technologies and request their accommodations –anywhere, anytime,” says CAP Director, Dinah F. B. Cohen.
Since its inception in 1990, CAP has filled over 71, 000 requests for accommodations for Federal employees and wounded Service members with visual, hearing, manual dexterity, communication, and cognitive disabilities, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).  In addition to serving military departments and defense agencies, CAP partners with 65 other federal agencies, including the EEOC. CAP actively supports wounded Service members during their recovery and rehabilitation.  In FY 2008, CAP provided over 4,500 accommodations to Service members and military treatment facilities (MTFs) throughout the Nation, including Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Centers. CAP also partnered with several organizations to support disabled veteran reemployment efforts and participated in Hiring Heroes Career Fairs.
CAP also trains organizations to promote understanding of CAP’s mission and services in support of federal goals to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.  This training provides instruction on how to integrate disability issues into the President’s Management Agenda and how to create and manage essential elements of disability employment programs, including recruitment, placement, promotion and retention of people with disabilities.