WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today announced funding awards under its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Youth Solutions initiative, which aims to identify and evaluate strategies for improving employment outcomes for young adults from ages 14 to 24 who apply for or receive SSI.

Under this initiative, ODEP solicited proposals from subject matter experts for innovative and evidence-based actions – including legislative, regulatory and policy changes – that can increase labor force participation and economic success among this population. Mathematica, a policy research company based in Princeton, New Jersey, is administering the initiative under contract with ODEP.

ODEP received more than 45 proposals and selected 12 to receive stipends and technical assistance to expand their proposed ideas into detailed white papers. In turn, the agency will use these white papers to inform their work on this issue, and share them with a broad audience of stakeholders, including local, state and federal policymakers.

"We are excited to now be at the point when we can help expand upon initial promising ideas and develop them further to see what's possible," said Office of Disability Employment Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Sheehy. "There is a wide range of ideas to explore, and it's our hope that, once examined closely, they'll help the department and our federal agency partners promote policy that better supports young adults on SSI envision a life of work and self-sufficiency."

The SSI Youth Solutions initiative award recipients include:

The award recipients will draft their policy ideas this spring. They will produce final papers for ODEP and present their recommendations at a conference in Washington, D.C., in early 2021. Following the presentations, Mathematica will produce a synthesis report summarizing the job-creating options.

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. Its mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn more about ODEP.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that CVS Health and PepsiCo have received Gold Awards in the department’s inaugural Excellence in Disability Inclusion (EDI) Awards program, which recognizes federal contractors that demonstrate excellence in making their workforce inclusive for people with disabilities.

Sponsored jointly by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the awards recognize employers that make exemplary efforts in the recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement of individuals with disabilities.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring America’s workforce is driven by the skills and talents of all people, including people with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “During this inaugural year of the Excellence in Disability Inclusion Awards, we celebrate businesses that excel in meeting their responsibilities and exemplify the spirit of inclusion.”

In its review of award nominations, the EDI Awards’ Executive Review Committee recognized CVS Health’s many efforts, including its “Abilities in Abundance” program, which provides training to people with disabilities to compete for a wide range of positions with the organization. Similarly, the committee found “Pepsi Achieving Change Together (PepsiACT),” a formal partnership between Pepsi and Disability Solutions @ Ability Beyond, a U.S. non-profit specializing in corporate disability recruiting programs, to be worthy of top honors.

“America’s employers have the responsibility to treat all qualified job applicants and workers equally and fairly, regardless of disability. Federal contractors are also required to take proactive steps to be disability inclusive,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Craig E. Leen. “The winners of this year’s Excellence in Disability Inclusion Awards make it clear that including people with disabilities is more than a matter of compliance, it is a wise business imperative.”

“CVS Health and PepsiCo have taken proactive and creative steps to optimize the talent in their organizations by addressing common employment barriers people with disabilities face,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy. “These organizations have made inclusion a core part of their brand and business goals, and provide models for others to emulate.”

In the year ahead, CVS Health and PepsiCo will participate in a “Year of Engagement” program to share their best practices and encourage other employers to adopt them. Learn more about the EDI Awards.

OFCCP protects workers, promotes diversity and enforces the law. OFCCP holds contractors and subcontractors those that do business with the federal government responsible for complying with the legal requirement to take affirmative action and not discriminate based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. Learn more about OFCCP.

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. Its mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn more about ODEP.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has selected 12 states and the District of Columbia to participate in its Visionary Opportunities to Increase Competitive Integrated Employment (VOICE) initiative. The chosen participants will receive support to help them develop policy designed to increase employment opportunities for people with mental health disabilities.

Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin will receive intensive policy consulting, technical support and peer mentoring to increase competitive integrated employment for people with mental health disabilities. “Competitive integrated employment” is work in typical community settings, where most employees do not have disabilities and where an employer pays them directly at the greater of the minimum or prevailing wage.

States participating in the VOICE initiative may self-direct their hours of peer mentoring support, with many choosing to help employment services providers transform their service models from segregated settings – where people with disabilities work apart from others – to integrated settings. States may also form communities of practice for service providers or develop trainings on topics such as customized employment. Customized employment involves personalizing the relationship between an employee and their employer to meet both parties’ needs, as well as individual placement and support.   

“Employment helps increase feelings of self-worth for individuals with mental health disabilities and may speed their recoveries,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy. “The states participating in the VOICE initiative will help ensure that more individuals with mental health disabilities receive the quality support they need to recover and succeed in family sustaining jobs.”

Eligibility for the VOICE initiative included states that secured leadership from at least five state agencies responsible for Mental Health, Vocational Rehabilitation, Workforce, Education and Medicaid to assist in its implementation.

ODEP’s mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. To fulfill this mission, the agency promotes the adoption and implementation of ODEP policy strategies and effective practices – meaning those that it has developed and/or validated – that will impact the employment of people with disabilities. ODEP’s approach is to drive systems and practice changes by disseminating agency policy strategies and effective practices, sharing information, and providing technical assistance to government agencies, service providers and non-governmental entities, as well as public and private employers. Through these activities, ODEP supports the ability of all Americans to find good jobs and develops evidence-based policies, practices and tools to foster a more inclusive workforce to increase quality employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today announced a new competitive initiative to identify and evaluate potential solutions to improve employment outcomes for young adults ages 14 to 24 who apply for or receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Through the initiative, ODEP is soliciting proposals from subject matter experts for innovative and evidence-based actions – including legislative, regulatory and policy changes – that can increase labor force participation and economic success among this population. Mathematica Policy Research will administer the initiative through a $1.075 million contract with ODEP.

“Our goal is a workforce that engages all Americans,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy. “This means that young people with disabilities may grow up with the expectation that they can work and have access to opportunities to gain skills and experience. We hope these proposals will increase an overall understanding about what works, and how we can ensure public policy better supports young adults on Supplemental Security Income in their effort to join the workforce and achieve self-sufficiency.”

Applications must briefly describe applicants’ proposed policy solutions, and are due by February 27, 2020. ODEP will announce successful applicants in April 2020, and will then select approximately 10 individuals or teams to receive stipends of up to $20,000 and technical assistance to expand their proposed ideas into detailed white papers. Chosen applicants’ final white papers will be due in January 2021. ODEP will use the papers to inform the department, and share them with a broad audience of stakeholders at an upcoming conference in Washington, D.C., and widely with local, state and federal policymakers.

For more information about the SSI Youth Solutions project, including eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply, visit SSIYouthSolutions.org.

ODEP’s mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. To fulfill this mission, ODEP promotes the adoption and implementation of ODEP policy strategies and effective practices – meaning those that ODEP has developed and/or validated – that will impact the employment of people with disabilities. ODEP’s approach is to drive systems and practice changes by disseminating ODEP policy strategies and effective practices, sharing information, and providing technical assistance to government agencies, service providers and non-governmental entities, as well as public and private employers. Through these activities, ODEP supports the ability of all Americans to find good jobs and develops evidence-based policies, practices and tools to foster a more inclusive workforce to increase quality employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

 The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today announced plans for a yearlong celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Centered around the theme of “Increasing Access and Opportunity,” commemoration activities will include events, speeches and new compliance assistance resources. The ADA’s anniversary will serve as a key component of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) observance in October.

Signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush, the ADA is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that works to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life, including employment.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act broke down barriers to opportunity for millions of American workers,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia said. “On this anniversary, we recognize and celebrate the access to opportunity created by the ADA. Together with our strong economy, the Act has led to historically low unemployment for American workers with disabilities.”

“The ADA ushered in a new era of opportunity for Americans with disabilities,” said Office of Disability Employment Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Sheehy. “Instead of being excluded from opportunities to contribute their skills and talents, Americans with disabilities gained access to places and public services, such as employment and training programs, that were not possible before the ADA. ODEP will continue to work alongside our stakeholders as we pursue the goal of full inclusion in America’s workplaces.”

To learn more about the department’s ADA celebration, visit dol.gov/odep/topics/ADA.htm. To learn more about its disability-related policy work, visit dol.gov/odep.

ODEP’s mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. To fulfill this mission, ODEP promotes the adoption and implementation of ODEP policy strategies and effective practices – meaning those that ODEP has developed and/or validated – that will impact the employment of people with disabilities.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia and Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella joined mental health advocates today at an event marking National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) at the U.S. Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Hosted by the Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the event opened with remarks from Secretary Scalia and Deputy Secretary Pizzella, followed by a panel discussion on the importance of supporting individuals with mental health conditions in the workplace. 

“The U.S. has the lowest unemployment rate on record for Americans with disabilities—6.1 percent,” Secretary Scalia noted. “This robust economy, in which businesses have a pressing need for skilled workers, is a fruitful environment for deepening appreciation of the contributions made in the workplace by Americans with disabilities,” he continued. “And that’s the 2019 NDEAM theme—workers with disabilities can offer American employers the ‘Right Talent, Right now.’”

“It is our goal to foster, promote, and develop the American workforce. That means all individuals in the workforce,” said Deputy Secretary Pizzella. “Part and parcel of this is promoting a mental-health friendly work environment. This is very important to us here at the Department of Labor.”

Following the remarks, a panel discussion moderated by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy addressed the need for awareness, accommodations, assistance, and access in a workplace that welcomes people with mental health conditions.

“Mental health is an often overlooked or misunderstood dimension of disability employment, even as it impacts so many people,” said Assistant Secretary Sheehy in her opening remarks. “We simply can’t fulfill ODEP’s mission—to increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities—without addressing the needs of people with mental health conditions.”

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly one in five American adults – a majority of whom are of working age – experience a mental health condition annually. A study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association found that more than 80 percent of employees treated for mental health conditions report improved levels of efficiency and satisfaction at work, demonstrating the power of ensuring access.

Earlier this year, ODEP collaborated with its Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) to publish a Mental Health Toolkit. 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) honors the contributions workers with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy. The theme for 2019 is “The Right Talent, Right Now.” To learn more about NDEAM, visit dol.gov/ndeam. 

The Department’s mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the U.S.; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald J. Trump today issued a proclamation recognizing October 2019 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), initiating a series of coast-to-coast events and activities to honor the contributions workers with disabilities make to America's workplaces and economy. The theme for 2019 is "The Right Talent, Right Now."

"National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of Americans with disabilities to our country's workforce and economic strength," declared President Donald J. Trump in his NDEAM proclamation. "By supporting the aspirations of all Americans who want to work, we will strengthen our workplaces, economy, and communities."

Sponsored at the national level by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), NDEAM allows grassroots organizations to recognize workers with disabilities each October across the nation. In 2019, NDEAM will honor the thirtieth anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a celebration that will run through 2020.

"Today more than ever, there is a race for talent. Historically low unemployment and global competition are converging to create a high demand for workers," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. "Smart businesses are navigating this by tapping into more talent pools, including people with disabilities, who offer not just needed skills, but also creative ways of thinking about how to solve problems and achieve business success."

"People with disabilities are indeed 'The Right Talent, Right Now,'" said Deputy Assistant Secretary of ODEP Jennifer Sheehy. "We are business owners, employees, educators, and community leaders. We produce goods and deliver services. We serve our nation. We also invent and innovate, often drawing upon our experiences to devise new technologies and products that enhance life for all of us."

NDEAM traces its history to 1945, when Congress declared the first week of October as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was deleted to acknowledge the needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to what it is today. Upon its establishment in 2001, ODEP assumed responsibility for NDEAM and has worked to expand its reach and scope ever since.

Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate, as are educators and youth service professionals, business associations, labor unions, and disability advocacy organizations. Ideas for how different types of organizations can observe NDEAM, as well as this year's official poster, are available at dol.gov/ndeam.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has extended the application submission deadline for its Excellence in Disability Inclusion (EDI) Awards to November 1. Employers who have already submitted an application may update it if desired.

The EDI Awards will recognize federal contractors who excel in this regard through two levels of recognition:

• Up to four (two large and two small) federal contractors will receive a "Gold Award" and three-year moratorium on the Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance evaluations. These awardees will also participate in a post-award "Year of Engagement" program to help educate other federal contractors on best practices for disability inclusion.
• Up to 20 additional federal contractors will receive recognition as "Pacesetters." These awardees will not receive a moratorium on OFCCP compliance evaluations.  

The EDI Awards are sponsored jointly by OFCCP and the Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy. For more information, including eligibility criteria, see dol.gov/ediaward.

Federal contractors covered under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act have the responsibility to treat all qualified job applicants and workers equally and fairly, without regard to disability. Federal contractors also have the responsibility to take proactive steps to recruit, hire, retain, and advance qualified applicants with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the award of $4 million for a four-year cooperative agreement to operate a policy development center focused on youth with disabilities. The center will build on the work of the Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.

During the performance period, the awardee – the Council of State Governments – will develop and manage the center. The center will conduct research, engage with the workforce system and its partners, identify effective policies and practices that support youth with disabilities, and provide resources and training to help support the transition of youth with disabilities to employment.

"The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy is intent on making a difference in the lives of youth with disabilities," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Jennifer Sheehy. "Using evidence-based practices and proven collaborative strategies with the Council of State Governments' management of the Center, we can develop policies that help these young people transition from school to adulthood and to make a valued contribution to the workplace."

ODEP's mission to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn more about ODEP and this cooperative agreement.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has announced the awarding of $2 million to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, for the first year of a 4-year cooperative agreement to operate an employer-focused disability policy development and technical assistance center. This center will build upon the prior work of ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).

The primary goal of this new center is to conduct research; engage with the business community; identify effective policies and practices that support business needs; and provide resources, technical assistance, and training to help public- and private-sector employers (including federal contractors) recruit, hire, retain and advance individuals with disabilities.

“Employers need motivated, skilled and talented workers during this time of historically low unemployment and global competition,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Jennifer Sheehy. “This center will research workforce policies and provide employers with the latest guidance, tools, and resources to gain and retain skilled people with disabilities, thereby strengthening their workforce and America’s economy.”

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 on ODEP and this cooperative agreement, visit https://www.dol.gov/odep.
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.