A World In Which People With Disabilities Have Unlimited Employment Opportunities

Department of Labor Newsletter Notes ADA Activities and Project Search Success

• Read the Newsletter

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”)

DOL’s Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Signing of the ADA to be Webcast Live

On July 30, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (ET) in the Great Hall of the Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez will lead the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The keynote speaker for the event is former United States Congressman Tony Coelho, an author and sponsor of the ADA and Board Chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities, who will share his thoughts on the impact of the ADA. The event will conclude with remarks from Christine Griffin, Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

The highlight of the event is the induction of Justin Dart, Jr. and Helen Keller into the Department's Labor Hall of Fame.

• View the live webcast live
  

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

• Read the Executive Order

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.

• Read the Summary Report
• View the Listening Session Webcasts and read the individual city reports

Join Secretary Hilda L. Solis and Assistant Secretary Kathleen Martinez at the Department of Labor’s Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act

The event is scheduled for July 30, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Department’s Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C.

• Read more about DOL’s ADA celebration

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

• Read the News Release
• Read the ANPRM or submit a comment in the Federal eRulemaking Portal
• Frequently Asked Questions on this rulemaking process
  

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.

• Learn more about TEN 1-10

June 2010 Disability Employment Statistics Released

In June 2010, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.7. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 70.5.

The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 14.4 percent, compared with 9.4 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

• Read about the June Disability Employment Statistics
• Retrieve Historical Disability Employment Data
• Read Commonly Used Terms in BLS Employment Statistics

Transportation to Work: A Toolkit for the Business Community

Today, a confluence of events is prompting America's individuals and businesses to change the way they think about transportation. Fluctuating gasoline prices, increased environmental awareness and the economic downturn have all triggered an interest in alternatives to cars for daily transportation needs.

• Read more about Transportation to Work

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.

• Read the news release