WASHINGTON — On March 19, the U.S. Department of Labor will make available to employers nationwide a free database of 1,769 new job candidates with disabilities seeking work in a wide variety of fields. Federal employers can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online, and private sector, other government and nonprofit employers can request unlimited searches by calling a toll-free telephone number.

"Finding and retaining qualified workers is vital to all employers," said Karen M. Czarnecki, acting assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "The Workforce Recruitment Program serves as a pipeline for organizations to hire workers in summer jobs, train and evaluate them, and then transition them into permanent positions when they graduate from college."

The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities, co-sponsored by the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, compiled the database by sending recruiters to nearly 200 college campuses across the country to interview eligible undergraduate and post-graduate students. Many of the students are seeking summer job opportunities, while others have graduated and are looking for permanent employment.

In using the database, an employer sets the criteria for each candidate search by specifying location, college/university, degree program, position type and length of appointment. Job seekers represent many high-demand fields of study, including accounting, administration, business, communications, computers, criminal justice, education, engineering, human resources/equal employment opportunity, health care, law, the social sciences and the sciences.

Hiring officials at federal agencies can access the Workforce Recruitment Program database and conduct independent searches on the Internet by obtaining a password at https://wrp.gov. Employers in the private sector, state and local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations should contact the Labor Department's Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network at 866-327-6669 to access the database.

The Workforce Recruitment Program has assisted employers in identifying job candidates with disabilities who meet their recruitment needs since 1995.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology. For more information about the agency, visit www.dol.gov/odep.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has called upon nonprofit organizations, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities to submit entries for the 2008 Secretary of Labors New Freedom Initiative Award.

The New Freedom Initiative Award celebrates innovative efforts to advance accessibility to the workplace for Americans with disabilities, said Secretary Chao. The New Freedom Initiative Awards ceremony is an opportunity to showcase worthy organizations that are welcoming Americans with disabilities into the workplace.

The annual award recognizes public-private partnerships and programs that have had a positive impact on the employment of people with disabilities through access to assistive technologies, the use of innovative training, and hiring and retention techniques. It also recognizes organizations, businesses and individuals that develop comprehensive strategies to enhance the ability of Americans with disabilities to enter and advance within the workforce of the 21st century.

Additional information on the award and specific nomination criteria are available in the Jan. 29, 2008, edition of the Federal Register and at www.dol.gov/odep. Questions may be addressed to the Labor Departments Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Division of Policy Communication and Outreach, at 202-693-7880. The deadline for receipt of nominations is May 30, 2008.

President Bush introduced the New Freedom Initiative on Feb. 1, 2001. The initiative contains a comprehensive set of proposals designed to ensure that Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives, participate fully in their communities and realize their full potential as citizens.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEPs work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and CVS Caremark today established an alliance to encourage and promote the employment of people with disabilities through training and education, outreach and communication, technical assistance and other efforts.

"This alliance will mutually benefit CVS Caremark, the company's workforce and customers, the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the general public," said Karen M. Czarnecki, acting assistant secretary of labor for ODEP. "Hiring, retaining and advancing employees with disabilities is just good business. ODEP and CVS Caremark will share information, guidance and resources that will help to develop model programs for other employers, particularly in the retail and pharmacy services industries."

CVS Caremark, headquartered in Woonsocket, R.I., employs about 190,000 people and has 6,200 retail and specialty pharmacies, 11 mail service pharmacies and 14 call center locations nationwide.

Through the two-year alliance, ODEP and CVS Caremark jointly will distribute training and education materials to, as well as share effective disability employment practices with, the company's human resources leaders. They will collaborate to identify technical assistance resources in providing workplace accommodations. The two organizations also will disseminate information in a variety of ways to promote a national dialogue on disability employment issues.

The alliance agreement was signed this afternoon by Czarnecki and Steve Wing, director of government programs for CVS Caremark, at the Labor Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. A photo is available upon request. An implementation team representing both organizations will develop a plan of action.

CVS Caremark was a 2006 recipient of the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award for exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities. As such, the company is a member of ODEP's Circle of Champions, a distinguished group of U.S. employers that works with the agency to help inform disability employment policy by sharing proven business strategies.

ODEP's Alliance Initiative is open to both public and private sector organizations that would like to work with the agency to enhance the recruitment, hiring, employment and advancement of people with disabilities. An Alliance Directive available at www.dol.gov/odep provides guidelines and criteria for Alliance partnerships.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

New video with overview of Web sites resources to be displayed

WASHINGTON — On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the DisabilityInfo.gov Web site, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao will pay tribute to the organizations and individuals that continue to make this federal interagency portal a tremendous success. An event will be held on Friday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon EDT, at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, in Washington, D.C.

"From its inception, our vision for the Web site DisabilityInfo.gov has been to make it an effective and widely available means of helping people with disabilities tap information they can use to make a better life for themselves and their families," said Secretary Chao. "Five years later, DisabilityInfo.gov is an award-winning collaboration among 22 federal agencies that has reached more than seven million visitors from 180 countries."

The event will premiere a DisabilityInfo.gov video providing an overview of information and resources available at the Web site. During the afternoon of Oct. 26, streaming video will become available online.

Additionally, Secretary Chao will be joined by Maj. Daniel Gade, the White House's associate director for domestic policy, and representatives from many federal agencies that contribute content to and support the Web site. The program will feature remarks by David Eisner, chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is DisabilityInfo.gov's newest federal agency partner.

Three awards, one for "outstanding commitment and support by an individual" and two for "outstanding commitment and support by a federal agency," will be presented.

Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, DisabilityInfo.gov is a collaborative effort among 22 federal government agencies dedicated to making it the leading, one-stop federal source for disability-related information. The site aims to provide nearly 50 million Americans with disabilities and others with national, state and local tools on numerous subjects, including benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, housing, health, technology and transportation.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Miami Project to Cure Paralysis Ambassador Marc A. Buoniconti to receive 'SPIRIT' Award

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao will present seven awardees with national awards for their contributions toward enhancing the employment of Americans with disabilities during a ceremony today, beginning at 11:45 a.m. EDT, at the JW Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, in Washington, D.C.

"The New Freedom Initiative Awards recognize exceptional commitment to helping Americans with disabilities succeed in the workplace and build careers," said Secretary Chao.

The Secretary of Labor's sixth annual New Freedom Initiative Award for exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities will be presented to:

BUSINESSES

• The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.
• Gap Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
• Northrop Grumman Corp., Los Angeles, Calif.

ORGANIZATIONS

• The Laurie Mitchell Employment Center, Alexandria, Va.
• Positive Vibe Café, Richmond, Va.

INDIVIDUAL

• John D. Kemp Esq., Powers, Pyles Sutter & Verville P.C., Washington, D.C.

Marc A. Buoniconti, ambassador to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, located in Fla., will receive the second annual Secretary of Labor's SPIRIT Award for demonstrating qualities that inspire and enhance the ability of Americans with disabilities to enter and participate fully in the 21st century workforce. Those qualities — with letters forming the acronym "spirit" — are strength in leadership, perseverance in unyielding commitment to achieving success, integrity, serving as a role model, independence and acting as a trailblazer.

The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) coordinates the annual New Freedom Initiative Awards program. Introduced by President George W. Bush in 2001, the New Freedom Initiative is a government-wide effort to accelerate the full inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream American life. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology. For more information about this agency, please visit www.dol.gov/odep.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — Throughout October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) will profile on its Web site individuals who have personally benefited from agency-sponsored programs aimed at eliminating the chronic underemployment of people with disabilities, as well as employers and organizations that have successfully implemented strategies to hire, support, empower and otherwise value employees with disabilities.

This year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme is "Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team." The special Web feature — to be posted at www.dol.gov/odep — is intended to dispel misconceptions about workers with disabilities by showcasing real faces and success stories. Each installment will include the story and photograph of a person whose life has been changed, or an employer or organization that has influenced positive change. The entire montage will include people and efforts from across the nation.

"Behind the banner of this awareness month are real people with talent, and others looking for talented employees, who are making a difference in their workplaces year-round," said Karen M. Czarnecki, acting assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "Our hope is that additional employers, job seekers and service organizations that view these few examples will be inspired to replicate best practices in their communities."

News media are encouraged to use the profiles as a springboard to develop their own coverage about disability employment-related issues. The roots of National Disability Employment Awareness Month go back decades, along with the nationwide crisis of underemployment facing Americans with disabilities. In 1945, Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1964, the word "physically" was omitted to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of people with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and adopted the current name.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Rutgers center to lead research, information, technical assistance and training efforts

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has awarded a two-year grant of $2,306,066 to a consortium of organizations that will establish a center aimed at increasing the employment and economic self-sufficiency of adults with disabilities. The center will build leadership and strategic partnerships across workforce development, economic development, and relevant partner agencies and systems.

"The talents of Americans with disabilities are not fully tapped in our economy. This $2.3 million grant will help advance employment opportunities for workers with disabilities and help them build better lives for themselves and their families," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The consortium, led by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, N.J., will conduct research, develop and disseminate information, and provide technical assistance and training in the following five targeted, critical leadership areas identified by ODEP's research over the past six years. Specific objectives are to increase:

• Partnership and collaboration leveraging resources and funding among and across generic and disability-specific systems that provide employment or employment-support services.
• Self-direction in service and integration of funding among and across generic and disability-specific systems, including the blending and braiding of resources and funding across systems and programs, and the use of self-directed accounts providing choice and control to job seekers.
• Economic self-sufficiency through leveraging relevant generic and disability-specific tax incentives, financial education, social security work incentives, benefits planning and other strategies for enhancing profitable employment, resulting in the ability of people with disabilities to accrue assets and resources.
• Use of universal design as a framework for employment policy and the implementation of employment services.
• Use of customized and other flexible work options for individuals with complex barriers to employment.

In addition to the Rutgers center, consortium members 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. The consortium was selected from applications submitted in response to a solicitation by the Labor Department.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, the agency facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today awarded a 24-month cooperative agreement for $1,850,000 to the Institute for Educational Leadership's Center for Workforce Development in Washington, D.C., to establish a National Technical Assistance Center on Transition and Employment for Youth with Disabilities.

"It is essential that youth with disabilities receive the support they need to stay in school and succeed in the workplace, so that they can realize their dreams and ambitions for the future," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This nearly $1.9 million grant is to help ensure that youth with disabilities graduate from high school and get the assistance they need to continue their studies or enter the workforce."

The purpose of the National Technical Assistance Center will be to build the capacity of workforce development, economic development and educational service delivery systems to ensure that youth with disabilities graduate from high school and either enter employment or continue their education. A consortium led by the Center for Workforce Development will develop and promote quality collaborations and service coordination among agencies, programs and service providers at the national, state and local levels.

Through the new national center, the consortium will provide technical assistance to a minimum of three competitively selected states currently implementing individual learning and graduation planning strategies to ensure that policies and practices respond to the needs of youth with disabilities. It will conduct research, disseminate information and serve a wide range of stakeholders on topics relevant to improving postsecondary outcomes for youth with disabilities. Additionally, the consortium will advance youth-centered planning, development and leadership opportunities.

The other members of the consortium include the National Youth Employment Coalition, Washington, D.C.; the PACER Center, Minneapolis, Minn.; the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin — Madison; and the University of Minnesota's Institute for Community Integration in Minneapolis.

The Center for Workforce Development was selected as the lead entity of the consortium from grant applications submitted in response to a solicitation by the Labor Department.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy will convene Blazing the Trail: a National Youth Development and Leadership Summit on August 16 and 17 in Washington, D.C., to develop strategies that will increase the quality and availability of the nation's youth leadership programs and ensure the participation of youth with disabilities. The importance of youth participation in the development of policies that impact this population will be another area of exploration.

This invitation-only policy conference will be attended by more than 200 people representing federal, state and local government agencies; other policymakers; academicians; service practitioners; youth and leadership organizations; foundations; and youth and their family members.

"We must do everything we can to ensure that youth entering the labor market have access to the type of skills training and education needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy," said Karen Czarnecki, acting assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "Knowing how to communicate, to solve problems and to work effectively in a team is fundamental to employment success today."

The summit is a collaborative effort to improve policy and practice in the youth development and leadership field so that youth can gain the leadership skills needed in an evolving 21st century workplace. A recent employer survey conducted jointly by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Society for Human Resource Management noted that new job seekers often lack leadership skills related to communication, critical thinking and teamwork.

A white paper summarizing the summit's outcomes will be made available to the public.

The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — Marking the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) will make available a new video on how small businesses can save time and money, and increase productivity, by recruiting, hiring and advancing employees with disabilities. The presentation features a recent roundtable of small business owners discussing how their leadership, commitment, proactive efforts and innovative practices have yielded returns on their human capital investments. The video is available on the agency's Web site at www.dol.gov/odep.

"This year, we are celebrating the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. While much progress has been made in the last 17 years, still more needs to be done to help workers with disabilities be fully recognized as integral members of our workforce," said Secretary Chao. "To help Americans with disabilities access greater opportunities in our workplaces, this video promotes the fact that recruiting workers with disabilities is a smart business strategy."

ODEP is the nation's first assistant secretary-led office that specifically addresses policies that impact the employment of people with disabilities. For example, ODEP has developed methods for the 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide to serve people with barriers to employment, including individuals with disabilities. In collaboration with the Department's Employment and Training Administration and the Civil Rights Center, ODEP developed a disability checklist to assist with implementation of Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act at the local level.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.