WASHINGTON—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and her Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today reminded businesses that they can “do well” and “do good” by taking advantage of tax breaks offered to companies that hire people with disabilities.

“We want businesses to know that there are large numbers of skilled people with disabilities who have the qualifications they seek,” said Chao. “By hiring people with disabilities, businesses can also take advantage of a variety of tax benefits offered by the federal government. So, during this tax season, businesses have a chance to both ‘do well’ and ‘do good.’”

Explanations of the tax benefits can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section on ODEP’s website at www.dol.gov/odep. They include the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which allows employers tax credits of up to $2,400 for hiring people with disabilities; the Small Business Tax Credit: IRS Code Section 44, Disabled Access Credit, which helps small businesses cover the cost of making their businesses accessible, up to a maximum benefit of $5,000; and, the Architectural/ Transportation Tax Deduction: IRS Code Section 190, Barrier Removal, which allows businesses an annual deduction of up to $15,000 for expenses incurred to remove physical, structural, and transportation barriers for persons with disabilities at the workplace.

ODEP Assistant Secretary Roy Grizzard said it was important for businesses to take advantage of tax benefits that are not generally known or utilized in the business community. “According to a recent General Accounting Office report, a very small portion of either corporate taxpayers, or individual taxpayers with a business affiliation, use the tax credits to encourage the hiring, retention, and accommodation of workers with disabilities,” Dr. Grizzard said. “ODEP is beginning an aggressive campaign to make companies more knowledgeable about these tax breaks by publicizing the information on its Web site and including it in meetings and listening sessions ODEP is having with a variety of its stakeholder groups.”

ODEP also offers employers a variety of methods to help find and hire people with disabilities. These include the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations for people with disabilities located at 1-800-526-7234 or at www.jan.wvu.edu, and the Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN), a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service designed to assist employers in locating and recruiting qualified workers with disabilities. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its Website (www.earnworks.com).

ODEP also encourages employers and employees to access www.DisabilityInfo.gov, a cross-government portal on disability easily accessible to all Americans.

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

WASHINGTON - U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced $14.4 million in federal grants that will support the President's New Freedom Initiative goal to integrate Americans with disabilities into the workforce. Thirty-eight grants, ranging from $83,000 to $1 million, have been awarded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

“The President and I are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment opportunities in the 21st Century workforce,” said Chao. “These grants will help to develop model programs and innovative approaches to promote increased employment of people with disabilities.”

Among the first-time awards are grants to support state efforts to implement the Supreme Court's Olmstead vs L.C. decision, which calls for community-based alternatives for people with disabilities; grants to grassroots community organizations, and a demonstration grant on telework/telecommuting.

Grants are also being awarded in the following categories: customized employment for adults with disabilities, innovative demonstration grants for youth with disabilities, high school/high tech program implementation for youth with disabilities, and technical assistance for community rehabilitation providers utilizing Special Minimum Wage Certificates for people with disabilities.

The grants will be administered by the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

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Grants Awarded by U.S. Department of LaborOffice of Disability Employment PolicyOctober 2002

Customized Employment Grant Awardees

More than $5.4 million in U.S. Department of Labor grants has been awarded to eight Workforce Investment Boards across the United States. These grants provide for strategic planning and implementation activities designed to improved the employment and career advancement of people with disabilities. The key goal of each grants is to build the capacity in local One-Stop Career Centers to develop and implement customized employment services to persons with disabilities. The grants provide a vehicle for the local boards to systemically review their policies and practices in service to persons with disabilities and to incorporate new and innovative practices, as appropriate. Each grant is awarded for a one-year period, with four option years, subject to the availability of funds.

Grant Recipient & Amount

Town of Hempstead Workforce Investment Board ($714,742)50 Clinton Street, Suite 400Hempstead, NY 11550

Training & Development Corporation ($749,800)118 School StreetBucksport, ME 04416

Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council ($750,000)815 North Kellogg Street, Suite CKennewick, WA 99336

Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs ($747,032)401 Adams AvenueP.O. Box 5690Montgomery, AL 36103

City of Detroit Employment & Training Department ($750,000)707 West MilwaukeeDetroit, MI 48202

Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board, Inc. ($494,893)221 N. Kansas, Suite 1000El Paso, TX 79901

Indianapolis Private Industry Council, Inc. ($638,792)Market Square Center, Suite 1600151 North Delaware StreetIndianapolis, IN 46204

Alaska Workforce Investment Board ($600,000)1016 West 6th Avenue, Suite 105Anchorage, AK 99501

Innovative Demonstration Grants for Youth with Disabilities Awardees

Eight organizations have been awarded almost $4 million to develop model demonstration programs that would enhance the capacity of the Department of Labor's various youth programs to serve youth with disabilities. The grants require that youth with disabilities and relevant experts work jointly to develop and implement innovative programs. Each grant is awarded for a two-year performance period.

Grant Recipient & Amount

New York City Department of Employment ($500,000)220 Church Street, 5th FloorNew York, NY 10013

Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition ($301,084)Work-Stream1207 Chester StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19107

Interlocal Association ($500,000)P.O. Box 69836 S. State StreetGreenfield, IN 46140

Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council ($500,000)2003 Western Avenue, #250Seattle, WA 98121

City of Detroit Employment & Training Dept. ($500,000)707 West MilwaukeeDetroit, MI 48202

Napa County Workforce Investment Board ($500,000)1700 Second Street, Suite 378Napa, CA 94559

Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board ($500,000)6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 315Falls Church, VA 22044

Able-Disabled Advocacy ($500,000)2850 Sixth Avenue, Suite 311San Diego, CA 92103

WorkFORCE Grant Awardees

A total of $3.5 million dollars has been awarded under this grant program. WorkFORCE grants are designed to support the coordination and delivery of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities who are interested in moving from institutional settings to independent living and competitive employment. Two types of grant awards have been made under this program: one to assist states to coordinate the delivery of necessary employment related services (Coordinating Grants), and the second to demonstrate how these services can be delivered (Action Grants). The Coordinating Grants are awarded for a one-year period. The Action Grants are awarded for a one-year period, with four option years, subject to the availability of funds.

Grant Recipient & Amount (Coordinating Grants)

HIRE, Inc. ($105,391)5919 H StreetLittle Rock, AR 72205

Virginia Department of Rehabilitation Services ($149,512)8004 Franklin Farms DriveP.O. Box K 300Richmond, VA 23288

Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services ($150,000)2129 East South Blvd.Montgomery, AL 36116

Ability Resources ($116,009)823 S. Detroit, Suite 110Tulsa, OK 74120

The Arc of Tennessee ($145,873)44 Vantage Way, Suite 550Nashville, TN 37228

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development ($103,300)201 E. Washington AvenueP.O. Box 7946Madison, WI 53707

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission ($149,508)27 Wormwood DriveBoston, MA 02210

Inclusion Research Institute ($146,600)1436 Independence Avenue, SEWashington, DC 20003

Maine Department of Labor ($83,759)54 State House StationAugusta, ME 04333

Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education ($150,000)P.O. Box 240249Anchorage, AK 99524

Big Bend Jobs & Education Council ($150,000)325 John Knox Road, Suite F-140Tallahassee, FL 32303

Granite State Independent Living ($149,958)P.O. Box 7268Concord, NH 03302

Grant Recipient & Amount (Action Grants)

Institute for Community Inclusion ($484,476)University of Massachusetts- Boston100 Morrissey Blvd.Boston, MA 02123

Human Services Center ($748,593)600 Fayette StreetP.O. Box 1346Peoria, IL 61654

Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, Inc. ($749,998)1431 C. Mclendon DriveDecatur, DeKalb, GA 30033

Telework/Telecommuting

One award for $1 million has been made to operate a national demonstration project offering people with disabilities telework/telecommuting employment opportunities at three pilot demonstrations sites. The grant award is for a two-year performance period.

Grant Recipient & Amount

National Telecommuting Institute ($1,000,000)1505 Commonwealth AvenueBoston, MA 02135

Technical Assistance for Providers Awardees

In an effort to increase the capabilities of community rehabilitation providers to develop training and employment situations for people with disabilities that pay at or above the minimum wage and offer career advancement possibilities in non-stereotypical occupations, the Department has funded a technical assistance service to advance these outcomes. The grant is for one-year period, with four option years, subject to availability of funds.

Grant Recipient & Amount

Virginia Commonwealth University ($600,000)Sponsored Programs AdministrationP.O. Box 980568Richmond, VA 23298

High School/High Tech Grant Awardees

A total of $500,000 has been awarded to two state agencies to coordinate and promote statewide the implementation of local High School/High Tech programs for youth with disabilities. These locally directed and support programs serve either out-of-school or in-school youth with disabilities in a year-long program of corporate site visits, mentoring, job shadowing, guest speakers, after school activities and paid summer internships - all leading to post-secondary education or employment in high tech related occupations. Each grant is award for a two-year period.

Grant Recipient & Amount

Georgia Department of Labor ($250,000)148 Andrew Young International Blvd., N.E.Atlanta, GA 30303

Connecticut Department of Administrative Services ($250,000)165 Capital AvenueHartford, CT 06106

Grassroots Community Action Grant Awardees

A total of $300,000 has been awarded to three organizations to demonstrate how local community action organizations can assist people with disabilities with their employment goals. These demonstration grants are required to coordinate their efforts with their local One-Stop Career Center. Awards are for a one-year period.

Grant Recipient & Amount

Sea of Dreams Foundation, Inc. ($99,520)Suite BG1, Building A1Makaha MarketplaceWaianae, HI 96792

New England Business Associates ($93,699)380 Union Street, Suite 22West Springfield, MA 01089

Community Rehabilitation Industries ($100,000)1500 E. Anaheim StreetLong Beach, CA 90813

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

WASHINGTON – A new chapter in Department of Labor history was opened today when Secretary Elaine L. Chao administered the oath of office to W. Roy Grizzard. Grizzard is the first person in the department to hold the position of Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy. The Office of Disability Employment Policy was authorized by Congress in the fiscal 2001 Labor Department appropriation.

Confirmed by the Senate on July 26, the 12th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Grizzard was officially sworn-in today, the first day of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

“We are truly blessed to have such an accomplished leader as the department’s first Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy,” said Chao. “Roy was chosen because of his talent, his character and his record of serving his country and the community he so ably represents. He brings to this job a powerful combination of achievement and commitment.”

Grizzard is responsible for advising the Secretary of Labor on issues related to the employment of people with disabilities. He works with all agencies within the U.S. Department of Labor to provide leadership in the department's efforts to increase employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities.

Prior to joining the Labor Department, Grizzard served for six years as commissioner for the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Before his career in public service, he was a teacher and administrator in the Henrico County (Va.) school system.

Grizzard serves on the Board of Directors for Prevent Blindness of Virginia. He is a former board member of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, where he was chairman of the Research Committee. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University, and his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. Grizzard and his wife Nancy have three sons and three grandchildren.

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

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor is celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month throughout October. The Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) previously announced the month-long theme is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.”

“This October, we celebrate the contributions and achievements of Americans with disabilities as part of the American workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “As the Trump Administration drives job creation, we are reminded that the role of Americans with disabilities is not defined by what they cannot do, but rather, by what they can do. Each day, millions of Americans with disabilities go to work and know firsthand, the independence, pride, and sense of community that comes with a job. Their daily contributions are proof that inclusion helps drive American innovation.”

In 1945, Congress declared the first week of October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In 1962, the word “physically” was dropped to acknowledge individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to NDEAM. In 2001, ODEP was established and formally began selecting the NDEAM theme.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy announced today that “Inclusion Drives Innovation” will be the theme of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October 2017.

“Americans of all abilities must have access to good, safe jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “Smart employers know that including different perspectives in problem-solving situations leads to better solutions. Hiring employees with diverse abilities strengthens their business, increases competition, and drives innovation.”

Every October, NDEAM celebrates individuals with disabilities and their contributions and achievements to the American workforce.

ODEP created this year’s theme with input from a wide variety of its partner organizations, including those representing employers, people with disabilities and their families, and federal, state, and local agencies.

In 1945, Congress declared the first week of October as ‘National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.’ In 1962, the word “physically” was dropped to acknowledge individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to NDEAM. In 2001, ODEP was established and formally began selecting the NDEAM theme.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a funding opportunity of approximately $15 million in grants to state workforce agencies to develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in federally funded employment and training programs.

The grants available are the eighth round of funding in the Disability Employment Initiative, a joint program of the department’s Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy. The DEI intends to assist state workforce agencies with strengthening their customer service to adults and youth with disabilities through improved coordination with employers and workforce system partners.

The funds are intended to enhance grantees’ ability to strategically use a career pathways framework to improve training and employment opportunities and outcomes for individuals with disabilities in employment and training services funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, in partnership with vocational rehabilitation, community colleges and other education entities, human service agencies and business partners.  The projects will improve coordination between the public workforce system and industry to help businesses meet their workforce needs by recruiting, hiring and training individuals with disabilities.

Grantees will incorporate the following six career pathway elements into their projects:

• Building cross-agency partnerships and clarifying roles.
• Identifying industry sectors and engaging employers.
• Designing education and training programs.
• Identifying funding needs and sources.
• Aligning policies and programs.
• Measuring systems change and performance.

The department anticipates awarding approximately eight grants ranging from $1.5 to $2.5 million to be spent over a 36-month period.  Funding will be provided to at least one project for each of the following two target populations: adults with disabilities (ages 18 and older) and youth with disabilities (ages 14-24).

State workforce agencies interested in applying for this funding should visit http://www.grants.gov.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today unveiled a new online tool to help employees and employers understand the medical and disability leave to which employees may be entitled to manage medical conditions and disabilities. 

The launch of the Medical-and Disability-Related Leave Advisor culminates National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a national campaign held in October to mark the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and to educate employers about how to effectively recruit and retain these workers. Effective stay-at-work and return-to-work initiatives for employees who experience unexpected illness or disability are among the options for employers.  

The new tool asks users a few questions, such as type of business or organization, workforce size and if the entity receives federal financial assistance; with that information, the advisor quickly directs users to federal employment laws that apply and provides additional information. 

These laws include the Family and Medical Leave Act which provides eligible employees of covered employers up to 12 work weeks of leave in a 12-month period for certain reasons, among them the employee’s own serious health condition; and the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability nondiscrimination laws, under which leave may be considered a reasonable accommodation.   

“We know that employers want to support their employees, especially when unexpected illness or injury occurs,” said Jennifer Sheehy, deputy assistant secretary of labor for Disability Employment Policy. “The new Medical-and Disability-Related Leave Advisor helps employers understand the intersection between different laws – including the FMLA and ADA – that may impact a worker’s right to leave.”

The leave advisor is one of a series of Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses Advisors the department provides to help employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities under federal employment laws. Together, the department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, Wage and Hour Division and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy developed the new tool.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $9,286,909 in continued funding for organizations that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

“Our economy’s strength relies on a workforce that is diverse and accessible to people with disabilities. We must provide every opportunity to fully integrate the labor force with individuals with disabilities so they can contribute to our nation’s prosperity,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “These grants will help better connect people with disabilities with employers that can greatly benefit from their skills and experience.”

The recipients and the amount of funding they are receiving are:

• The West Virginia University Research Corporation in Morgantown, West Virginia, is receiving $2,499,901 to operate the Job Accommodation Network. JAN is a free, confidential consulting service that provides individualized worksite accommodation solutions and technical assistance spanning the complete range of disabilities and job functions to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related legislation. It also provides information about self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• The Institute for Educational Leadership in the District of Columbia is receiving $1,088,028 for the National Technical Assistance and Demonstration Center on Preparing Youth with Disabilities for Employment. These funds will be used to continue the center's work building capacity within and across youth service delivery systems to improve employment and postsecondary education outcomes for youth with disabilities. The center will focus on three areas: career exploration, management and planning; youth development and leadership;  and professional development.
• The National Disability Institute, also in the District of Columbia, is receiving $1,098,573 to operate the National Center on Leadership for Employment and Advancement of Citizens with Disabilities. These funds will support the LEAD Center’s ongoing efforts to conduct policy and research initiatives focused on improving employment outcomes and economic advancement for individuals with disabilities. In addition, these resources will enable the LEAD Center to continue developing policies and guidance on best practices in retention and return-to-work, customizing employment and conducting policy analysis to ensure that American Job Centers nationwide are able to serve job seekers with disabilities effectively.
• The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America in Arlington, Virginia, is receiving $950,000 to operate ODEP's Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology Center. PEAT is a multifaceted initiative working to advance the employment, retention and career advancement of people with disabilities through the development, adoption and promotion of accessible technology.
• The Pathways to Careers: Community Colleges for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Demonstration Project is receiving a total of $1,802,057. The two recipients participating in this initiative – Onondaga Community College and Pellissippi State Community College – are conducting pilot projects to research, develop, test and evaluate innovative strategies for providing inclusive education and career development services to youth with disabilities. The goal of these projects is to determine what works to help young people with disabilities acquire the skills, degrees and credentials needed for high-wage, high-skill employment so that these effective practices can be shared and replicated throughout the community college system.

The ODEP is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/.

WASHINGTON – Despite their ability to occupy a variety of jobs, people with disabilities only account for 19.8 percent of the workforce, have more than double the unemployment rate compared to the general population and continue to face barriers finding work. To improve employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $14.9 million as part of the Disability Employment Initiative to six states.

“America works best when we field a full team, and that means making sure that everyone has access to opportunity in our dynamic economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “The grants we are awarding today will help to strengthen partnerships that ensure employers know that it is what people with disabilities CAN do that matters most.”

This is the seventh round of DEI funding. Since 2010, the department has awarded grants of more than $123 million through the initiative to 49 projects in 28 states to improve education, training, and employment outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities. More information on the DEI is available here.

DEI funds help refine and expand workforce strategies proven to be successful, and enhance inclusive service delivery through the public workforce system. Improvements include increasing the accessibility of American Job Centers, training front-line AJC and partner staff, and increasing partnerships and collaboration across numerous systems critical for assisting youth and adults with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.

Grantees of this year’s awards will use the funds to:

• Improve employment outcomes and increase the number of individuals with disabilities who earn credentials.
• Provide more and diversified job-driven training opportunities.
• Facilitate academic and employment transition among youth.
• Incorporate flexible approaches to designing and providing training and supportive services, including customized employment strategies to help jobseekers with significant disabilities.
• Build effective community partnerships and collaborations across multiple service delivery systems and the effective blending and braiding of resources.
• Promote more active engagement with the business sector.

The grants align closely with the Obama administration’s job-driven training principles by requiring multiple workforce and disability service providers, educational institutions and businesses in each state to collaborate extensively to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in career pathways.

WASHINGTON – To promote inclusive workplaces that embrace the skills and talents of workers with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy signed an alliance agreement today with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

The association is a non-profit membership organization that brings together university-based interdisciplinary programs and community resources to achieve meaningful change for people with disabilities in all aspects of society, including the workplace.

“Expanding the availability of resources and information on fostering an inclusive workforce is critical to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities,” said ODEP’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Sheehy. “Our partnership with AUCD will play an integral role in improving support for jobseekers and workers with disabilities nationwide.”

Since the inception of ODEP’s alliance initiative in 2006, the agency has engaged organizations to collaborate in developing and implementing model policies and initiatives that increase the recruitment, hiring, retention and career advancement of employees with disabilities. The new alliance will provide AUCD members with information, technical assistance and access to ODEP resources that will help them create workplaces that fully use the talents of employees with disabilities. 

“Collaborating with the U.S. Department of Labor will allow us to forge additional innovative strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting job candidates and employees with disabilities, throughout the country and within our network,” said AUCD Executive Director Andrew J. Imparato, JD. “This partnership is clearly in line with our mission to serve as a national leader on key issues that affect the disability community.”

In addition to AUCD, ODEP has alliances with the Society for Human Resource Management, U.S. Business Leadership Network, Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society and Families and Work Institute.

ODEP’s mission is to develop and influence policies and practices to increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For more information, please visit the ODEP website at www.dol.gov/odep/.