WASHINGTON — The federal government's one-stop Web site for disability-related information and resources — DisabilityInfo.gov — today unveiled a new feature, a state and local resources map, designed to assist visitors in finding disability-related information in their own states and localities.

While DisabilityInfo.gov is now well-known as a comprehensive source for government information at the federal level, this new feature enables users to search for disability service organizations at the state and local government levels, as well as federal offices close to home, in every state and U.S. territory.

"DisabilityInfo.gov provides Americans with disabilities a direct connection to information and resources they need to fully participate in the workforce and in their communities," said Karen M. Czarnecki, acting assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "The U.S. Department of Labor and its partners in federal, state and local government are deeply committed to continue improving this award-winning tool in order to make disability-related information easily accessible to all Americans, especially in the communities where they live and work."

To use the new state and local resources map, simply select one of the nine subject tabs — benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, health, housing, technology or transportation — at the top of any DisabilityInfo.gov page. Then click the map on the right sidebar to find links in that subject area related to your state. You will be directed to easy-to-navigate information and numerous organizations and contacts.

DisabilityInfo.gov also offers a free subscription service to DisabilityInfo Connection, the site's quarterly electronic newsletter, as well as e-mail alerts on new information in a specified state. Additionally, the site features an online press room that contains news releases, links to research and statistics, and ready-to-publish news briefs and articles.

The award-winning DisabilityInfo.gov site connects visitors to information on a wide range of disability-related topics. Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, the site is a collaborative effort among 22 federal government agencies dedicated to making it the leading, one-stop federal resource for disability-related information. The site aims to provide nearly 50 million Americans with disabilities and others the national, state and local tools they need to pursue personal and professional goals.

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Has served as assistant secretary for ODEP since agencys inception in 2002

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that Dr. W. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), will leave his post at the end of June. Grizzard has led the office since its inception in 2002.

"Roy Grizzard will go down in history as the first assistant secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy. He established the first ODEP office. He has worked to advance the agency's mission to enhance employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. He has been a tireless advocate for helping Americans with disabilities succeed in the workplace. His colleagues at the U.S. Department of Labor wish him, his wife Nancy and their family well in this new chapter of their life," said Secretary Chao.

ODEP was authorized by Congress in the Department of Labor's FY 2001 appropriation. Recognizing the need for a national policy to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into the 21st century workforce, Secretary Chao delegated authority and assigned responsibility to the assistant secretary for disability employment policy.

"After nearly five years, it is with very mixed emotions that I leave the Department of Labor and ODEP," said Assistant Secretary Grizzard. "I will miss the day-to-day relationships working to create enhanced opportunities for people with disabilities, but I look forward to spending more time with my family as I explore other opportunities to contribute to our nation's progress on this front."

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that "Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team!" will be the official 2007 theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is observed in October nationwide.

"The 2007 'Talent for a Winning Team' theme captures the heart of the president's New Freedom Initiative, which is that Americans with disabilities are an underutilized reservoir of ambition, talent and skill ready to make great contributions in the workplace," said Secretary Chao.

Each October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month by congressional designation. The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) leads the nation's activities and produces materials to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Typically, private sector; federal, state and local government; and advocacy organizations piggyback on the same theme to plan events and programs that showcase the abilities of employees and job candidates with disabilities.

"America's employers benefit when they provide opportunities for Americans with disabilities to work," said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for ODEP. "A winning team will include people with disabilities."

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. Also, collaborating with sister Labor Department agencies — the 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.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability and Employment Policy today made available a brochure to help faith-based and community organizations understand federal requirements for including individuals with disabilities in their programs and activities. The department's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and Civil Rights Center also contributed to this new publication.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires recipients of federal financial assistance, including faith-based and community organizations, to take certain positive actions to make their facilities and services accessible and available to people with disabilities.

"Opening doors to people with disabilities need not be difficult or burdensome," said W. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "This brochure responds to questions my agency has received from faith-based and community organizations. It attempts to debunk unfounded fears and provide useful resources for integrating people with disabilities into programs and activities."

"Today, more faith-based and community organizations are partnering with the federal government," said Jedd Medefind, director of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. "As a result, they are serving more people with disabilities. This brochure addresses common questions relating to Section 504 requirements in plain, conversational language."

"As the Labor Department's agency responsible for implementing and enforcing Section 504, the Civil Rights Center has been pleased to collaborate with our sister agencies in developing this brochure," said Annabelle T. Lockhart, the center's director. "We look forward to continuing this partnership in answering any additional questions from faith-based and community organizations about the process of integrating people with disabilities into their programs and activities."

The brochure, Demystifying Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, is available free of charge at www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/faith.htm. For more information about the department's Office of Disability Employment Policy, visit www.dol.gov/odep; the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, visit www.dol.gov/cfbnp/; and the Civil Rights Center, visit www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/crc/aboutcrc.htm.

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WASHINGTON — DisabilityInfo.gov, a one-stop federal Web site for disability-related information and resources, has received the e-gov Institute's Knowledge Management Award for "delivering high value to citizens in a knowledge management solution." The DisabilityInfo.gov team was honored at the Eighth Annual Knowledge Management Conference and Exhibition on April 4 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

"With more than six million visitors to date and now averaging more than 5,000 each day, DisabilityInfo.gov has become a vital public source for disability-related information," said W. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary for disability employment policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. "This site represents a true success story in interagency partnership, with 21 federal agencies working together to maintain the quality and relevance of this valuable online resource."

Knowledge Management Awards recognize innovative knowledge management best practices in public sector organizations. Nominations are received from federal, state and local government organizations, as well from programs outside the United States. Winners are selected by a committee comprised of leaders from the public and private sectors who are actively engaged in knowledge management programs for government.

DisabilityInfo.gov is managed by the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy. The site is easy to navigate and organized by subject areas that include benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation.

DisabilityInfo.gov offers a free subscription service allowing users to sign up to receive DisabilityInfo.gov Connection, the site's quarterly newsletter, as well as e-mail alerts covering information tailored to individual interests. The site also features an online newsroom that contains news releases, links to research and statistics, and ready-to-publish news briefs and articles.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has made available to employers nationwide a free database of approximately 2,000 new job candidates with disabilities seeking work in a wide variety of fields. For the first time, federal employers now can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online at WRP.gov, and private sector and other government employers can request unlimited searches by calling (866) 327-6669.

"American employers often express that while they want to include people with disabilities in their recruitment efforts, they do not know where to find qualified candidates," said W. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "The Workforce Recruitment Program bridges this divide by bringing pre-screened job seekers — with varied education and experience — directly to employers."

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 more than 250 college campuses to interview eligible undergraduate and post-graduate students. Many of the students are seeking summer internship 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, 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 WRP.gov. Employers in the private sector, and state and local government agencies, 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.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has launched the Alliance Initiative to advance the employment of people with disabilities. The Alliance Initiative is open to businesses, trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, government agencies at all levels and others.

"Alliances promote the national dialogue on the recruitment, hiring, advancement and retention of workers with disabilities," said W. Roy Grizzard Jr., assistant secretary of labor for ODEP. "The Alliance Initiative will enable organizations committed to improving disability workplace practices to work with the Labor Department in developing model policies, programs and strategies."

The Alliance Initiative will open new channels for training, education and outreach. The collaboration of ODEP and Alliance partners will help our nation achieve a workplace that is fully inclusive of people with disabilities.

ODEP's first Alliance Initiative partner is the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. SHRM currently has more than 550 affiliated chapters and members in more than 100 countries.

More information is available at www.dol.gov/odep/alliances/index.htm. Interested organizations are encouraged to contact ODEP's Alliance manager at ODEPAlliance@dol.gov.

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today called upon nonprofits, small businesses, corporations and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities to submit their entries for the 2007 "Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award."

"Improving employment opportunities for workers with disabilities must be a priority for all of us," said Secretary Chao. "The New Freedom Initiative Award celebrates successful programs and efforts that increase employment opportunities for disabled workers."

The 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 or individuals who 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 Feb. 12, 2007 Federal Register or at www.dol.gov/odep. The information is also available by calling the department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Education and Outreach Section, at (202) 693-7880. The deadline for receipt of nominations is April 30, 2007.

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.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy has primary responsibility for implementing the employment-related aspects of the New Freedom Initiative.

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WASHINGTON — The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently established an alliance to encourage and promote the employment of people with disabilities.

The formal alliance, a first for ODEP with a major organization, will ensure that SHRM and ODEP stakeholders collaborate in this national effort by providing information, guidance, and access to resources.

"This alliance formalizes the relationship we have had with SHRM, benefiting SHRM as it serves its membership with the resources ODEP brings to the table and offering ODEP the opportunity for broader contact with human resource professionals," said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

The new relationship between SHRM and ODEP will target areas in training and education, outreach and communication and technical assistance, and it will promote a national dialogue on the employment of persons with disabilities — a human resource that is underutilized. The partnership will also provide recruitment, hiring, and advancement information through educational, access and research activities.

SHRM is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 205,000 individual members, the society's mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing the most essential and comprehensive resources available. Founded in 1948, SHRM currently has more than 550 affiliated chapters and members in more than 100 countries.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was authorized by Congress in the Department of Labor's FY 2001 appropriation. Recognizing the need for a national policy to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into the 21st century workforce, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao delegated authority and assigned responsibility to the assistant secretary for disability employment policy. ODEP is a policy agency in the Department of Labor.

For more information, visit ODEP online at www.dol.gov/odep under Circle of Champions.

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Baseball Great Dave Dravecky Honored for Community Leadership

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao praised the nine winners of the Secretary of Labor's 5th Anniversary New Freedom Initiative Award for their outstanding efforts to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The awards ceremony took place today at the Washington Renaissance Hotel.

"Americans with disabilities are a valuable part of our workforce," said Secretary Chao. "The New Freedom Initiative Award ceremony is a great opportunity to recognize the employers, organizations and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to equal access and opportunity for Americans with disabilities."

Secretary Chao also awarded the SPIRIT (Strength, Perseverance, Integrity, Role-model, Independence, Trailblazer) Award to Dave Dravecky, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Following his battle with cancer, Dravecky and his wife, Jan, established the Outreach of Hope ministry, which offers referral services and resources for those facing significant medical or physical challenges, especially people with cancer or amputation.

The Secretary of Labor's 5th Anniversary New Freedom Initiative Award recognizes exemplary and innovative efforts to recruit, hire and promote people with disabilities and to incorporate into workplaces the principles of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative. Introduced in 2001, the New Freedom Initiative is a comprehensive set of proposals designed to give people with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of community life, including employment.

Profiles of the winners are available at www.dol.gov/odep. A list of winners follows:

INDIVIDUAL: Ilene Morris-Sambur, Marshall, Va.NON-PROFITS: Disabilityworks, Chicago, Ill.

National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester, N.Y.

PRIDE Industries, Roseville, Calif.

The Rave Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham

BUSINESSES: Highmark Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Aetna Inc., Hartford, Conn.

Raytheon Missile Systems, a division of Raytheon, Tucson, Ariz.

CVS/pharmacy Inc., Woonsocket, R.I.

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