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A World In Which People With Disabilities Have Unlimited Employment Opportunities


ODEP Announces Nearly $1 Million in Continued Funding for Youth Center

ODEP announced that it will exercise the second option year of its cooperative agreement with the Institute for Educational Leadership and award an additional $999,926 to continue funding the Youth Technical Assistance Center through the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.



Advancing Disability Employment: A Labor Day Call-to-Action

For many, Labor Day signals the beginning of autumn and the end of summer. And those of us in the disability arena can look back on the summer of 2010 as an especially momentous one.



Highlights of a Forum: Actions That Could Increase Work Participation for Adults with Disabilities

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) convened a forum on March 16, 2010, to explore policy options and actions that could be taken to help adults with a current or past work history improve their participation in the workforce. Participants included experts and officials representing a variety of views. Prior to the forum, GAO surveyed a larger group of experts to help inform the discussion.

The Report is available in PDF format as the Highlights Page and as the Full Report. It is also available in Accessible Text.



US Labor Secretary comments on data on labor force participation for persons with disabilities: ‘We will make sure that people who want to work can work’

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released, for the first time, a detailed comprehensive overview on the employment of Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics, 2009.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis stated, "I am pleased that the data released today will help better tailor policies and workforce development strategies, leveraging the talents and skills of this important segment of our population. According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, just one in five people with disabilities were in the labor force and the unemployment rate for those with disabilities remains much higher than the national average. We will use this new information to help increase service capacity and accessibility to workforce development systems including the one-stop-career centers and ensure that people with disabilities have access to employment support, transportation, housing, and other support services. We will make sure that people who want to work can work."



ODEP Logo - Business Sense

America's Heroes at Work: Supporting Those Who Have Served Others

Military personnel transitioning to the civilian workforce offer America's businesses a ready source of committed job candidates with transferable skills and real-world experience. The ability to adapt, learn quickly and get the job done exemplify the military experience — and are also the hallmarks of a model employee.



America's Heroes at Work: Supporting Those Who Have Served Others

A Memorandum of Agreement to expand and promote the use of flexible workplace strategies was signed by Women's Bureau (WB) Director Sara Manzano-Diaz and Assistant Secretary for the Office of the Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Kathy Martinez.



Now Available: CART Transcript of Add Us In Initiative — Prospective Applicant Conference

On August 11, ODEP conducted a webcast for persons interested in the Add Us In; Solicitation for Cooperative Agreements [SGA 10-05]. The Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) transcript is now available.



US Department of Labor announces $22 million in grant funds for Disability Employment initiative

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), in coordination with DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), announces the availability of approximately $22 million for cooperative agreements to state Workforce Investment Act (WIA) administering entities. This funding is being used to implement the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI), under which the Department intends to make 6 to 10 grant awards that are designed to: 1) improve educational, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits; and 2) help these individuals with disabilities find a path into the middle class through exemplary and model service delivery by the public workforce system.



July 2010 Disability Employment Statistics Released

In July 2010, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.5. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 70.6.

The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 16.4 percent, compared with 9.5 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.



ODEP Alliance Partner launches a new Disability Employment Resource Page

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which signed a new Alliance Agreement with ODEP in late 2009, has launched a new Disability Employment Resource Page. SHRM created this resource page with employers in mind to offer a wealth of resources, articles and links to help source, recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities.



Solicitation for Grant Applications — Add Us In Initiative

The Office of Disability Employment Policy announced the availability of approximately $2.3 million to fund up to four cooperative agreements ranging from $500,000 to $625,000 in support of the Add Us In initiative. Add Us In is designed to increase the ability of businesses owned, operated and controlled by African Americans; Asian Americans; Latino or Hispanic Americans; members of federally recognized Tribes and Native Americans; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals; and women to employ adults and youth with disabilities. Grant recipients will develop and evaluate replicable models, strategies and policies to ensure that youth and adults with disabilities from diverse communities have access to a broader range of employment and mentoring opportunities. In addition, grantees will form and strengthen connections among targeted businesses, diversity-serving, youth-serving and disability-serving organizations thereby building a national and local network of experts skilled in serving individuals with disabilities from diverse communities. There will be an initial 24-month period of performance, with an additional three option years of funding available at the discretion of the Department depending on the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

In order to meet eligibility requirements, consortia applying for the cooperative agreement must have representation from each of the following four organization types: 1) An association of targeted businesses, a business association located in a target population community, targeted business entities, association of targeted businesses, association of targeted business owners or other similar entity; 2) A disability-serving organization; 3) A Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) or other organization with demonstrated experience in providing employment and training services and employment-related support services (e.g., One-Stop center); 4) and Youth-serving organization.

Applications must be received by September 01, 2010, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.



Department of Labor Newsletter Notes ADA Activities and Project Search Success



Now Available — Reports on Affirmative Action for People with Disabilities and Disabled Veterans in the Federal Contractor Sector

As part of its mission, ODEP contracted with Economic Systems Inc. to assess existing affirmative action policies applicable to people with disabilities and disabled veterans.  Specifically, the policies set out in the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 503) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) were evaluated to determine whether and how Federal contractor affirmative action programs might be modernized as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce barriers to employment and eliminate earnings gaps.

The researchers produced two reports:

  • Volume I: Data Sources and Models
  • Volume II: Modernizing Affirmative Action

Review the researcher’s findings and conclusions (under “Affirmative Action”)



ODEP Releases Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

Through its Youth Technical Assistance Center, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability-Youth, ODEP is releasing Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood. Whether moving from school or a home setting to work, college, or living on their own, transition-age youth with significant disabilities and their families or friends will benefit from the information and guidance offered by the toolkit as they navigate the complex world of PAS.

Accessing and maintaining long-term supports such as PAS has often been a significant barrier to employment youth and adults with disabilities. This new toolkit assists youth in strengthening some of the most fundamental skills essential for successfully managing their own PAS: effective communication, time-management, working with others, and establishing professional relationships. Such skills are key to not only enhancing independence, but also thriving in the workplace and growing professionally.

The toolkit offers sample worksheets, questions, and charts that provide readers clear, helpful examples of things to consider along the path to greater independence. Stories from real youth and their families give practical insight and guidance for youth with disabilities who want to manage their own PAS.

For more information or to download a Word or PDF version of the toolkit, visit the ODEP's Youth Technical Assistance Center, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability-Youth.



President Barack Obama Issues Executive Order — Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities



Now Available – Summary Report for A New Day: We're Listening Sessions

In January 2010, the Office of Disability Employment Policy initiated "A New Day: We're Listening," a series of six Listening Sessions to engage stakeholders across the nation. The purpose of these sessions was to collect information and comments about best practices and key issues to be addressed by Federal workforce systems regarding the employability, employment, workforce participation, retention, and promotion of people with disabilities.

The Summary Report summarizes the key issues raised during the Listening Sessions and recommendations provided by stakeholders for addressing them. It also provides descriptions of the various programs, initiatives, and organizations singled out by stakeholders as making a positive difference in the disability employment arena across the nation.



US Labor Department seeks public input to strengthen disability regulations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is seeking input from the public on ways to strengthen its regulations requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. In an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to be published in the Federal Register July 23, the agency invites the public to help revise the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Topics on which comment is requested include:

  • What employment practices have been effective in recruiting, hiring, advancing and retaining qualified individuals with disabilities.
  • What data are available that could be used to establish hiring goals and conduct utilization analyses of individuals with disabilities.
  • How linkage agreements between federal contractors and organizations that focus on the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities can be strengthened to increase effectiveness.

The deadline for receiving comments is Sept. 21, 2010



Training and Employment Notice (TEN) 1-10 related to Disability Program Navigators

Release and availability of Employment and Training Administration (ETA) quantitative evaluation report: Use of One-Stops by Social Security Disability Beneficiaries in Four States Implementing Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Initiatives has been posted to the ETA Advisory Web site and disseminated to the workforce development system.



ODEP Alliance Partner USBLN to Hold Annual Conference & Expo in Chicago

Chicago's Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel will host the United States Business Leadership Network's (USBLN®) Annual Conference and Expo. The USBLN® and ODEP became Alliance partners in September 2008. The conference brings corporate, government, disability-owned businesses, and BLN affiliates together to create workplaces, marketplaces, and supply chains where people with disabilities are fully included as professionals, customers, and entrepreneurs. The conference dates are September 19-22, 2010. To learn more about the conference, please visit www.usblnannualconference.org. Information about the USBLN® is available at www.usbln.org.


National Disability Employment Awareness Month Theme Announced

Talent Has No Boundaries: Workforce Diversity INCLUDES Workers With Disabilities

This theme epitomizes Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis' commitment to "good jobs for everyone" and serves to inform the public that workers with disabilities represent a diverse and vibrant talent pool for hire. "The solutions and innovations applicable to the successful employment of workers with disabilities impact the entire workforce, including aging workers, injured workers, at-risk youth, women, people of color, and unemployed and underemployed workers," said Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy.