New Labor Market Information issue brief from the ODEP-funded National Technical Assistance and Research (NTAR) Leadership Center Now Available

Using Labor Market Data to Improve the Job Prospects of People with Disabilities provides an overview of labor market information, outlines its utility to better inform and improve state and local "to-work" activities for individuals with disabilities, and identifies publicly available information sources that produce the data. It showcases a strategic partnership in Maine between the state labor department and disability service providers that assists frontline staff in the disability employment field to understand and integrate labor market information and tools into their practice. This brief can assist workforce professionals, job seekers, employers, workforce program designers and managers, and researchers.

The NTAR Leadership Center is a collaboration of partners with expertise in workforce development, disability employment, economic development, financial education, benefits planning, and leadership development. Established in September 2007 through a grant from ODEP, the Center is housed at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Federal Hiring Event Set for People with Disabilities

On April 26, 2010, ODEP and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are sponsoring an historic day-long, invitation only Federal Hiring Event for People with Disabilities. Unlike a hiring fair, representatives from many agencies will be reviewing resumes prior to the event, and inviting prospective candidates for interviews. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must meet the criteria for the special hiring authority for People with Disabilities, or the appointing authority for 30% or More Disabled Veterans.

To learn more about the Hiring Event go to http://www.usajobs.gov/DisabilityHiringEvent.asp.

February 2010 Disability Employment Statistics Released

In February 2010, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.9. This translates into a total of 21,012,000 who are included in the civilian noninstitutional population (16 years and older) but not in the labor force. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force is 70.1.

The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 13.8 percent, compared with 10.3 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

Read about the February Disability Employment Statistics

Read Commonly Used Terms in BLS Employment Statistics

Expanding Your Customer Base with Telephone Relay Service

Even in the Internet age, few businesses could survive without the telephone. Whether through landlines or cell phones, the ability to communicate by phone is critical to providing quality service to all potential customers, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. But many businesses that regularly rely on the phone to conduct business transactions are unaware of how to serve a customer who is hearing impaired. A telephone relay service can bridge this divide.

Read more about Expanding Your Customer Base with Telephone Relay Service in the February issue of Business Sense…

Campaign for Disability Employment Launches Facebook Fan Page and LinkedIn Group

The Campaign for Disability Employment has officially launched its Facebook Fan Page and LinkedIn Group. Learn how the Campaign is promoting positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace. Become a Facebook fan and join the LinkedIn Group today!

The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort, funded under contract with ODEP. The Campaign promotes positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace. Member organizations are the American Association of People with Disabilities, National Council of La Raza, National Business & Disability Council, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Society for Human Resource Management, Special Olympics, and the United States Business Leadership Network. Visit http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/ and learn more about the Campaign for Disability Employment.

Creative! Easily Accessible! Very Informative! A Home Run Product!! These are just a few of the words our customers use to describe Diversifying Your Workforce, A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring, & Retaining Employees with Disabilities. We designed this one-of-a-kind resource to provide answers to your critical questions about the employment of persons with disabilities: Incentives & ROI Interviewing & Hiring Achieving Workplace Success Retaining Valued Employees The Guide’s compact, 5x8 size belies the wealth of information it contains. With its spiral bound assembly and the accompanying, accessible format mini-CD, you have everything needed to help you start and keep you going. Also, because the Guide is mirrored on the ODEP website, you can be assured that your information is always up-to-date. This is our most popular product and our stock is moving quickly. Be sure to order yours today. Just click here to access our easy to use, online ordering system.

Leading Disability Organizations Collaborate to Launch National Campaign for Disability Employment

Establishing a new standard for collaboration to increase the employment of people with disabilities, The Campaign for Disability Employment offers a range of education and outreach tools. All are designed to engage employers, people with disabilities, family and educators, and the general public. The Campaign is supported by West Virginia University and receives technical assistance from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Funded by the ODEP, it is comprised of the American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Business and Disability Council, Special Olympics, and the U.S. Business Leadership Network.

Read more about the Campaign for Disability Employment. Be sure to visit the Multi-Media Room to experience the new “I CAN” Public Service Announcement and the “What Can YOU Do?” video contest winners.