WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the official theme for October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month: "Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities." The theme honors the contributions of workers with disabilities and serves to inform the public that they represent a highly skilled talent pool that can help employers compete in today's global economy.

"Return on investment means hiring the right talent," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "Workers with disabilities represent all skill sets and are ready to get the job done. This year's theme focuses on improving employment opportunities that lead to good jobs and a secure economic future for people with disabilities and the nation as a whole."

Early announcement of the theme helps communities nationwide plan a series of announcements, events and meetings to begin in October, some of which will continue throughout the year. Such activities include proclamations, public awareness programs and job fairs that showcase the assets of workers with disabilities.

As background, Public Law 176, enacted by Congress in 1945, designated the first week in October each year as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." President Harry S. Truman designated the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities to carry out the observance. In 1962, the word "physically" was removed from the week's name to acknowledge the employment needs of all Americans with disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed its name to "National Disability Awareness Month," which eventually evolved to its current name. The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy took over responsibility for National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 2001.

Members of the public with questions related to the 2011 theme should contact Carol Dunlap in ODEP at 202-693-7902. Members of the media should contact the individuals named above.

ODEP's mission is to provide national leadership by developing and influencing disability-related policies and practices to increase and enhance the employment of people with disabilities.

WASHINGTON — Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, andMax Stier, president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for Public Service, today signed an alliance agreement to advance President Obama's executive order to increase federal hiring of people with disabilities.

By offering federal agencies and related employer/employee organizations technical assistance and research-based model programs, ODEP and the PPS jointly will promote effective disability employment strategies, policies and practices government-wide.

"By working together, ODEP and the PPS will be able to identify what federal agencies need to fulfill the requirements of the executive order, as well as offer valuable support and resources toward accomplishing those goals," said Martinez.

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to revitalize the federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and to transform the way government works.

ODEP's mission is to provide national leadership by developing and influencing disability employment-related policies and practices affecting an increase in the employment of people with disabilities. In addition to the Partnership for Public Service, the agency has alliances with several organizations — the Society of Human Resource Management, the U.S. Business Leadership Network and the National Association of Governors' Committees on People with Disabilities — aimed at enhancing the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today posted an online toolkit comprised of resources to assist federal agencies in recruiting, employing and retaining individuals with disabilities. The kit is available at http://www.dol.gov/odep/federal-hire.

ODEP, in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, designed a five-step process that agencies can readily follow to ensure an inclusive workplace for employees with disabilities. The steps are: employer training, creating a welcoming environment, recruitment, hiring and retention. Topics include "do's and don'ts" for interviewing, accessibility and accommodations, how to find technical assistance and creating a pipeline of candidates.

"This online toolkit is designed to make it easy for federal employers to find and hire excellent workers who happen to have disabilities," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for the department's Office of Disability Employment Policy. "Federal agencies — and all employers — are strengthened when they include people with disabilities among their ranks."

President Obama issued Executive Order 13548 to establish the federal government, the nation's largest employer, as a model for the employment of individuals with disabilities. The order directs agencies to improve their efforts through increased recruitment, hiring and retention.

Resource made available by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, today made available the 2011 Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities database. This resource is intended to assist federal and private-sector employers in identifying workers with disabilities.

The more than 2,200 candidates in this year's database represent all academic backgrounds and are working toward, or recently earned, associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees. Students have been interviewed by recruiters from various federal agencies. Some seek summer employment, while others are looking for regular, full-time positions.

"This database is filled with talented students who are highly motivated to prove their skills in the workplace," said ODEP Assistant Secretary Kathy Martinez.

To take advantage of the new database, federal officials can visit http://www.wrp.gov to register and search independently for candidates who meet their hiring needs. They also can track the status of candidates they are interested in interviewing, including whether they already have been hired.

Private-sector employers can search the program's database through ODEP's National Employer Assistance and Resource Network by making a toll-free telephone call to 866-327-6669 or filling out a request form at http://www.earnworks.com.

More than 20 federal agencies regularly utilize the Workforce Recruitment Program as a recruiting tool, and it has provided employment opportunities for more than 5,500 students since 1995. The program supports President Obama's executive order titled "Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a series of new products through the Campaign for Disability Employment that are designed to promote the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities, and dispel negative stereotypes about disability and employment.

The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative of leading disability and business organizations funded by ODEP. It recently unveiled seven educational posters and two discussion guides to accompany the campaign's flagship "I Can" public service announcement.

The two PSA discussion guides are a "Workplace Discussion Guide" to help employers and human resource professionals facilitate staff conversations on flexible and inclusive workplaces, and a "Youth Discussion Guide" to help start a conversation among youth, with and without disabilities. The youth guide emphasizes the importance of focusing on ability and talent, not making assumptions about what people can and cannot do, and setting goals for employment. Each guide includes a DVD of the PSA.

The seven "What can YOU do?" posters can be ordered individually. Each addresses a different audience and features a compelling image and message about disability and employment. Organizations may display the posters on workplace bulletin boards or in schools, training centers, places of worship and other community centers.

The discussion guides and posters, as well as other campaign outreach tools, can be downloaded or ordered free of charge through the outreach toolkit on the campaign's website at http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org.

Since its release in March 2010, "I Can" has aired more than 45,000 times in media markets nationwide, during donated television and radio airtime valued at more than $11 million dollars. In addition, the PSA was shown before feature films in more than 4,700 AMC Entertainment movie theaters during October.

The Campaign for Disability Employment seeks to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent these employees bring to the workplace. Campaign partners include the American Association of People with Disabilities; the National Business and Disability Council; the National Council of La Raza; the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; the Society for Human Resource Management; Special Olympics; and the U.S. Business Leadership Network.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the president's proclamation of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2010. The theme for this year is "Talent Has No Boundaries: Workforce Diversity Includes People with Disabilities."

"Across America, there are 54 million people with disabilities, and their talents enrich our communities every single day. Yet opening the door to opportunity for many of these workers remains a challenge. President Obama and I believe this reality undermines the true strength of our economy and our nation, and we are taking decisive steps to address the situation.

"The president signed a landmark executive order on July 26, 2010, that calls on all federal agencies to set goals for increasing the numbers of people with disabilities who are hired. The order also looks to improve the retention and return-to-work rate of federal employees with disabilities.

"Furthermore, with the president's support, my department is soliciting input from the public on how we can strengthen the affirmative action requirements of the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Proposed changes to this provision of the law would hold federal contractors, which create 25 percent of available jobs in America, to benchmarks for hiring qualified workers with disabilities.

"Meanwhile, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics and its Office of Disability Employment Policy have gathered data on the workforce participation and unemployment rates of people with disabilities. These numbers will give policymakers, business leaders, advocates — and every other American — a more accurate picture of the workforce situation facing job seekers with disabilities.

"We recognize that expanding work opportunities is just part of the solution. As for all other workers, training is often the key to securing a good job for those with disabilities. That is especially true for young people. Our support of the National Youth Technical Assistance Center helps state and local workforce development systems better serve youth with disabilities. And ODEP just released the department's first 'Return-to-Work Toolkit,' which is designed to help employees who have not been working due to significant illness, injury or disability return to work.

"People with disabilities are an integral part of our diverse workforce, and access to fair employment for everyone must remain a priority for our nation. To that end, the Labor Department will continue building a long-term infrastructure that helps bring together employers and job seekers, including those who have disabilities. That commitment will endure not just through National Disability Employment Awareness Month, but every single day."

WASHINGTON — As part of its "Add Us In" initiative, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy awarded four two-year cooperative agreements totaling more than $2.4 million to consortia led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo.; Community Partners-Integrated Recovery Network in Los Angeles, Calif.; The Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn.; and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.

The consortia will create replicable models and strategies that can be used nationwide by businesses and employers to reach out to people with disabilities in their communities, build a national and local network of experts skilled in serving a diversity of individuals with disabilities, and improve employment opportunities and outcomes for diverse people with disabilities. According to recent data from the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of August 2010, the percentage of individuals with disabilities participating in the labor force was 22.0 percent compared with 70.2 percent for individuals with no disability. About one in five people with disabilities is in the labor force, and the unemployment rate for those with disabilities remains much higher than the national average.

"This administration is committed to expanding job opportunities for all Americans, including individuals with disabilities," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Add Us In will expand opportunities for workers with disabilities and help ensure that everyone who wants to work can find a good job."

More than 10 million Americans who are members of ethnic and racial minority groups have long-lasting disabling conditions or impairments. When looking at the relationship between disability and employment, researchers have found that individuals with disabilities from these groups are often at increased risk for unemployment. Add Us In is an important step toward integrating disability and diversity into employers' workforce planning and addressing employment disparities for people with disabilities.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez noted, "It is quite appropriate for the Add Us In grants to be awarded on the eve of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We look forward to the Add Us In consortia improving the ability of businesses to employ individuals with disabilities and serving as examples of success during NDEAM for many years to come."

The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships, and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities.

To learn more about the Add Us In initiative, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep.

Editor's Note: A complete listing of the consortia and their members follows this release.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the continuation of funding for a National Technical Assistance, Policy and Research Center for Employers on Employment of People with Disabilities at Cornell University. Continued funding in the amount of $1.6 million was awarded by exercising the first option year of a cooperative agreement between ODEP and Cornell University that provides for the center's operation. The center is also referred to as the National Employer Technical Assistance Center.

"Employers need talented, highly skilled workers to compete in today's global economy," said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for ODEP. "This technical assistance center provides the tools and resources employers need to find workers with disabilities and promote their full inclusion in the workplace."

This funding will continue the center's efforts to develop policy options and provide technical assistance to employers and employer organizations for the recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities.

In September 2009, the Labor Department competitively awarded Cornell University a 12-month cooperative agreement for an initial $1.6 million with four option years to manage a consortium charged with conducting research, assisting the Labor Department in developing and promoting employer-focused policy, disseminating information, and providing technical assistance to employers and employer organizations.

The consortium also includes the AFL-CIO Center for Green Jobs, the Altarum Institute, the Conference Board, the Institute of Educational Leadership, the National Business and Disability Council, Rutgers University's John J. Heldrich Center and the U.S. Business Leadership Network.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced that it will exercise the second option year of its cooperative agreement with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and award an additional $1,150,000 to continue funding the National Technical Assistance and Research Center for Increasing the Employment and Economic Independence of Adults with Disabilities.

"We must continue to find innovative ways to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities," said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy. "This center focuses on strategies such as customized employment and universal design that can dramatically improve the prospects of employment success for adults with disabilities. This work is vital to ODEP's mission."

The National Technical Assistance and Research Center's goal is to build capacity and leadership at the federal, state and local levels to enable change across workforce development and disability specific systems that will increase employment and economic self-sufficiency for adults with disabilities.

The Current Population Survey conducted by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the July 2010 employment rate for adults with disabilities at 21.5 percent compared to 70.6 percent for adults without disabilities.

In September 2007, the Labor Department competitively awarded the National Technical Assistance and Research Center a 24-month cooperative agreement for $2,350,000 with three option years to manage a consortium to develop effective practices and policies to enhance employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.

The other members of the consortium include the American Public Human Services Administration, Washington, D.C.; the National Leadership Consortium for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del.; the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Brunswick, N.J.; and the Community Solutions Group LLC in Arlington, Va.

To find out more about the National Technical Assistance and Research Center visit its website at http://www.ntarcenter.org.

WASHINGTON — 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. Armed with this new data, researchers, disability advocates, and policy makers can better project labor force participation for working-aged persons with disabilities.

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."

In 2009, the employment-population ratio — the proportion of the population that is employed — was 19.2 percent for persons with a disability. Among those with no disability, the ratio was much higher (64.5 percent). For all age groups, persons with a disability were much less likely to be employed than those with no disability. The latest unemployment rate of persons with a disability is 14.5 percent. These statistics were obtained from the Current Population Survey, a monthly survey that provides statistics on employment and unemployment in the United States.

To read the BLS report issued today and the current CPS go to http://www.bls.gov.