ODEP News Brief. Driving Change - Creating Opportunity

November 20, 2020

Accessible Meeting Platforms

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology released "4 Elements of an Accessible Meeting Platform." This resource helps employers evaluate the accessibility of the platforms they use to host virtual meetings and events. It includes information on assessing a platform's usability with assistive technology, the quality of captioning, and how to be an inclusive meeting host and presenter.

State COVID-19 Response: Youth with Disabilities

The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth published "State COVID-19 Response: Youth with Disabilities." This resource compiles information on steps states are taking to provide education and transition services to youth and young adults with disabilities during the pandemic. Topics include assistive technology, distance learning, family engagement, Individualized Education Programs, mental health, telehealth, and transition.

Youth Networking Blog

The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth posted a blog on "Let's Work! California: Our Stories, Our Voices." This blog presents the experiences of five young leaders with disabilities who worked together on a video project for Let's Work! California. They helped created a guide and video series about networking to educate young adults with disabilities during the transition from school to work.

Bridging the Disability Employment Gap

As part of its collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED), the Western Governors' Association (WGA) released a podcast featuring state strategies for improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Titled "Bridging the Disability Employment Gap," the episode explores SEED's "Work Matters" framework and highlights innovative ways states are using it to create workforce inclusivity. The podcast features SEED team member Bobby Silverstein and state leaders from the Alaska Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education, the Washington Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, and the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The podcast is the first in a series of three episodes WGA is producing as part of the SEED initiative to examine disability employment challenges and opportunities in the western United States.

Accommodations for Teleworkers

The Job Accommodation Network will host a webinar on accommodations for teleworkers on December 8 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will discuss the principles of universal design and practical strategies to make work areas more productive and safer. Topics include environmental aspects, controls and tools, workstations, and computers.