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/.

WASHINGTON – To reflect the important role disability plays in workforce diversity, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced that the theme of 2016’s official National Disability Employment Awareness Month is “#InclusionWorks.”

“By fostering a culture that embraces individual differences, including disabilities, businesses profit by having a wider variety of tools to confront challenges,” said Jennifer Sheehy, deputy assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. “Our nation’s most successful companies proudly make inclusion a core value. They know that inclusion works. It works for workers, it works for employers, it works for opportunity, and it works for innovation.”

Observed in October, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign celebrating the skills and talents workers with disabilities bring to our workplaces. Led nationally by ODEP, NDEAM’s true spirit lies in the many grassroots observances held nationwide every year. Each spring, the theme for each year’s celebration is announced to help organizations and groups plan their events. 

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. The hope is that the hashtag theme spurs both individuals and groups to post images and stimulate discussion on social media about the many ways “inclusion works.” 

NDEAM’s history dates back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October each year as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was dropped to acknowledge individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, the federal legislature expanded the week to a month and changed the name to NDEAM. When the department established ODEP in 2001, the agency assumed responsibility for NDEAM.

For more information about NDEAM, including specific ideas for how different types of organizations can participate, visit www.dol.gov/ndeam.

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/.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the launch of “TalentWorks” – a free online tool that helps employers and human resources professionals ensure accessibility in their web-based job applications and other recruiting technologies for job seekers with disabilities.

Created by ODEP’s Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology, TalentWorks provides general background on accessibility and e-Recruiting, as well as practical tip sheets for making online job applications, digital interviews, pre-employment tests and resume upload programs accessible. PEAT created the tool after its national survey of people with disabilities found 46 percent of respondents rated their last experience applying for a job online as “difficult to impossible.”   

“Inaccessible technology prevents people with disabilities from applying and interviewing for jobs, and limits the talent pool for employers,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu. “The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to helping employers improve their recruitment and hiring processes. With resources like TalentWorks, employers can build a diverse, more inclusive workforce by ensuring their organization’s virtual door is open to everyone.”

Lu formally unveiled the new tool during his keynote address on March 22, 2016, in San Diego at the 2016 International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference hosted by California State University, Northridge. 

TalentWorks synthesizes ideas and solutions that PEAT has gathered from employers, advocacy organizations, job applicants and technology providers. It is the latest enhancement to a suite of tools and resources PEAT offers to improve the employment, retention, and career advancement of people with disabilities through the promotion of accessible technology.

PEAT is managed through an ODEP-funded grant to the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. For more information, visit PEATworks.org.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to promote inclusive workplaces that welcome 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 Families and Work Institute, a New York-based non-profit that conducts research to inform innovative solutions to the challenges facing today's workplaces, families and communities.

"For millions of Americans with complex life situations — including individuals with disabilities and their caregivers — workplace flexibility is essential to managing personal and family needs while also delivering on the job," said ODEP's Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Sheehy. "We look forward to working with the Families and Work Institute in the coming years to advance key strategies that foster the workplace success of people with disabilities, strategies that incidentally benefit many workers without disabilities as well."

Since its inception in 2006, ODEP's alliance initiative has been engaging organizations to work with the agency to develop and implement model policies and initiatives that increase the recruitment, hiring, retention and career advancement of employees with disabilities. The new alliance builds on ODEP's past work with FWI, which included informing the development of the 2014 National Study of Employers, a joint effort between FWI and the Society for Human Resource Management as part of their When Work Works initiative. Together, ODEP and FWI worked to add questions to the study about workplace flexibility around job task: a proven strategy for increasing the employment of people with disabilities.

"Partnering with the U.S. Labor Department on this critical issue to promote the recruitment, development and retention of employees with disabilities is a dream come true for the Families and Work Institute. It is consistent with our mission of conducting rigorous research that leads to action," said the institute's President and Co-Founder Ellen Galinsky.

ODEP's mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition to FWI, ODEP has alliances with SHRM, the U.S. Business Leadership Network, the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, National Industry Liaison Group, Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society and Youth Transitions Collaborative/Center for Health Care Transition Improvement.

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living

Partnership description: Building on a partnership that started in 2012, the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Administration for Community Living signed a new memorandum of agreement to continue to jointly expand and promote competitive, integrated employment as the first employment option for individuals with significant disabilities.

Background: Together, the agencies will leverage the knowledge and expertise of a broader network of advocates and service providers. The combined network includes area agencies on aging, centers for independent living, aging and disability resource centers, state developmental disability councils, protection and advocacy agencies and university centers of excellence in developmental disabilities, and a variety of community organizations. In addition, the partnership creates new opportunities for cooperation and sharing of resources between the Administration for Community Living's Centers for Independent Living and the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Investment System.

Quotes: "This agreement solidifies our continued collaboration with the Administration for Community Living to align policy, practice, and funding toward outcomes related to competitive, integrated employment, independent living, and optimal socioeconomic advancement for individuals with disabilities."

— Jennifer Sheehy, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policies

"Integrated, competitive employment is central to community living and full participation in all aspects of our society. We are proud to work with ODEP to improve the opportunities for people with disabilities to contribute their talents and skills to the American workforce."

— Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy Administrator, Administration for Community Living

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy announced today a cooperative agreement award of $1,848,350 to The Viscardi Center in Albertson, New York, to manage and operate the National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

The center will be a resource to assist employers with recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting people with disabilities by:

1. analyzing employer research, policies and practices related to disability employment;
2. researching effective employer engagement strategies; and
3. developing and providing outreach and technical assistance to targeted employers, such as federal agencies, federal contractors, small businesses and state governments.

"At ODEP, we work to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents not only for their benefit, but also for the benefit of society as a whole," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "This center will help employers understand these benefits and get them the information and tools they need to successfully employ people with disabilities."

To contribute to the awardee's success The Viscardi Center has partnerships in place with a number of entities that each bring valuable perspectives and experience to the effort. Partnering organizations include: the United States Business Leadership Network; The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education & Human Development; the World Institute on Disability; the Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy; the National Conference of State Legislatures, in coordination with the National Governors Association; and the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Advanced Communications Policy and Scheller College of Business.

ODEP works to increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities by developing and influencing policies and practices. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced the 17 public members who will serve on the new Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, a key provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Signed by President Obama in July 2014, WIOA helps job seekers, including those with disabilities, access services to succeed in employment and matches employers with skilled workers. Reflecting this, the committee will advise the U.S. Secretary of Labor on ways to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities. This includes recommendations on the use and oversight of the certificate program under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Integrated employment refers to jobs held by people with disabilities in workplace settings where the majority of employees do not have disabilities. In these jobs, individuals with disabilities earn wages consistent with those paid workers without disabilities performing the same or similar work, make at least minimum wage and are paid directly by their employer.

"It has been demonstrated, time and time again, that when people with disabilities have access to meaningful employment opportunities, they become some of the most productive workers and contribute in a substantial way to their workplaces and the economy. Employing people with disabilities is a win-win for workers, employers and the entire community," said Secretary Perez. "This is sound public policy, and the advisory committee will help us expand opportunities for more people with disabilities."

Selected from more than 280 nominations, the 17 members represent six groups, as described in the law:

• Self-advocates for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities:
• Patrick Hendry, Mental Health America
• Karen McCulloh, McCulloh and Associates
• Santa Perez, People First of Nevada
• Providers of employment services, including those who employ individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in competitive integrated employment:
• Brian Itzkowitz, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas Inc.
• Christine McMahon, Fedcap
• Representatives of national disability advocacy organizations for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities:
• Alison Barkoff, Bazelon Center
• Ruby Moore, National Disability Rights Network
• Mark Perriello, American Association of People with Disabilities
• Experts with a background in academia or research and expertise in employment and wage policy issues for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities:
• Valerie Brooke, Virginia Commonwealth University
• David Mank, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
• Representatives from the employer community or national employer organizations:
• Oswald Mondejar, Partners Continuing Care
• Steve Pemberton, Walgreens
• Other individuals or representatives of organizations with expertise on increasing opportunities for competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities:
• Cesilee Coulson, Washington Initiative for Supported Employment
• Sharyn Hancock, Workforce Essentials, Inc.
• Rita Landgraf, Delaware State Department of Health and Social Services
• Lisa Pugh, Disability Rights Wisconsin
• Fredric Schroeder, Interwork Institute at San Diego State University

Seven federal officials will also serve on the committee:

• Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor;
• Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor;
• Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor;
• Commissioner of the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, or the commissioner's designee;
• Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or the director's designee;
• Commissioner of Social Security, or the commissioner's designee; and
• Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, or the commissioner's designee.

The first meeting of the committee will take place Jan. 22 and 23, 2015 at the U.S. Access Board in Washington, D.C. More information about the committee, upcoming meetings and members can be found at http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/WIOA.htm.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the launch of http://www.PEATworks.org — a comprehensive Web portal spearheaded by ODEP's Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology. From educational articles to interactive tools, the website's content aims to help employers and the technology industry adopt accessible technology as part of everyday business practice so that all workers can benefit.
 

PEATworks.org will be the central hub of PEAT, a multifaceted initiative to improve the employment, retention and career advancement of people with disabilities through the promotion of accessible technology. PEAT conducts outreach, facilitates collaboration and provides a mix of resources to serve as a catalyst for policy development and innovation related to accessible technology in the workplace.

"PEAT is the only entity of its kind bringing together employers, technology providers, thought leaders and technology users around the topic of accessible technology and employment," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez. "Given the critical role that accessible technology plays in the employment of people with disabilities, ODEP is delighted to announce the launch of PEATworks.org, with its rich array of tools and resources.

Features of PEATworks.org include an action guide for employers and informational articles, and it will serve as a platform for collaboration and dialogue around accessible technology in the workplace. Also featured is "TechCheck," an interactive tool to help employers assess their technology accessibility practices and find resources to help develop them further.

ODEP is announcing the launch of PEATworks.org during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual series of events in October that raise awareness and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

PEAT is managed through an ODEP-funded grant to the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. For more information, visit http://www.PEATworks.org.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy announced today a cooperative agreement award of $1,848,350 to The Viscardi Center in Albertson, New York, to manage and operate the National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

The center will be a resource to assist employers with recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting people with disabilities by:

1. analyzing employer research, policies and practices related to disability employment;
2. researching effective employer engagement strategies; and
3. developing and providing outreach and technical assistance to targeted employers, such as federal agencies, federal contractors, small businesses and state governments.

"At ODEP, we work to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents not only for their benefit, but also for the benefit of society as a whole," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "This center will help employers understand these benefits and get them the information and tools they need to successfully employ people with disabilities."

To contribute to the awardee's success The Viscardi Center has partnerships in place with a number of entities that each bring valuable perspectives and experience to the effort. Partnering organizations include: the United States Business Leadership Network; The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education & Human Development; the World Institute on Disability; the Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy; the National Conference of State Legislatures, in coordination with the National Governors Association; and the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Advanced Communications Policy and Scheller College of Business.

ODEP works to increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities by developing and influencing policies and practices. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the establishment of a National Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities. The purpose of the committee is to study and provide recommendations to the secretary of labor on ways to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, the use of the certificate program carried out under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)) and ways to improve oversight of the use of such certificates. "Individuals with disabilities can make significant contributions to our workplaces," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This advisory committee will help American Job Centers, Workforce Development Boards and vocational rehabilitation agencies nationwide work collaboratively to promote employment opportunities for this pool of talented workers."

The creation of the committee is mandated by the recent passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, signed July 22. WIOA strengthens the public workforce system and the partnerships that sustain it by unifying and streamlining services to better serve job seekers. It will improve accountability and transparency within the system. WIOA also builds closer ties among key workforce partners: business leaders, workforce boards, labor unions, community colleges, nonprofits, and state and local officials. And it addresses the needs of veterans, the long-term unemployed, individuals with disabilities and of other populations facing unique economic challenges.

The advisory committee will consist of leaders from the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services and the Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Social Security Administration. In addition, any interested person or organization may nominate one or more qualified individuals for membership.

Anyone interested in submitting nominations for individuals can do so by emailing a cover letter, copy of each nominee's resume and contact information for each nominee to IntegratedCompetitiveEmployment@dol.gov, or the information can be mailed or hand delivered to U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Advisory Commission on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment, Room S-1303, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210. Electronic or hand delivered nominations must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Nominations submitted by mail must be postmarked by Oct. 14.

More information is available at https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21834.