October 2026
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Join the Secretary of Labor for a Virtual NDEAM Celebration
It’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month! This October, as ODEP turns 25, we’re celebrating a landmark moment in a landmark year: Today, employment and workforce participation rates of disabled working-age Americans have reached all-time record highs. Together with Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, ODEP Assistant Secretary Julie Hocker, and other department leaders, we’re marking this historic achievement and celebrating NDEAM in a wide-ranging virtual event. Stream the video now and find out how the Department of Labor is helping more American businesses find skilled workers and succeed.
Coming Soon: ODEP’s Career Track Challenge!
ODEP is launching the Career Track Challenge, a national prize competition to create accessible digital tools that connect disabled American job seekers to high-skill, high-paying jobs. We’re calling on innovators, developers, entrepreneurs, workforce experts, and our entire disability community to design cutting-edge concepts for digital tools that will empower job seekers with disabilities to translate their strengths and goals into real-world careers in local, high-demand industries. The competition will begin in January 2027 and we’re offering an informational webinar on Dec. 3 for everyone interested in participating.
Understanding Workplace Accommodations
Register today for ODEP’s free webcast on understanding the interactive accommodation process. Whether you’re a service provider, employer, or a disabled worker or job seeker, you’ll get practical guidance for handling accommodation requests and collaborating to identify solutions that work. The live webinar, hosted by ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network and Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability, has reached capacity, but you can register now to view the recording on Oct. 29.
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Accommodation Process
Thoughtful communication is the basis of every successful accommodation process. When employers respond to worker requests quickly and with respect, creativity, and collaboration, the process works better for everyone. For guidance, check out the Job Accommodation Network’s step-by-step sample accommodation process, which helps employers hold constructive dialogues and build trust. JAN also helps you manage the process efficiently, eliminating repetitive paperwork and multiple layers of approval. By streamlining your accommodation process, you’ll boost productivity and wellness in your workforce.
How Arizona’s Employment First Initiative Can Put More Disabled Americans in Jobs
In 2026, Arizona launched its own Arizona Office of Employment First at the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. This new office connects the state’s existing programs, partners, resources, and funding so they all work toward getting more disabled workers into jobs. Other states can learn from Arizona’s early experience and apply those lessons at home. Join ODEP’s webinar on Oct. 28, 3–4:30 p.m. ET.
Suicide Prevention in the Workplace
Let’s turn awareness into action. A new learning guide helps employers recognize suicide warning signs and protect worker safety. Steps employers can take: Communicate with workers who may be at risk; engage in supportive, timely conversations; connect workers to available supports; and foster a work environment that reduces risk factors and encourages help-seeking behaviors. Read more in the new guide from ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability. Remember, if you or someone you know needs emotional support, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 at 988.
Q&A on Workforce Mental Health with the National Safety Council
Find out what the National Safety Council’s Claire Bryant, a manager of workplace safety programs, has to say about the employer’s role in supporting mental health, recovery from substance use disorder, and overall well-being in the workforce. Fostering a supportive culture, reducing stigma, and connecting workers to the right resources can make a real difference in helping staff thrive on the job. Check out this Q&A from ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability for practical tips on building safe and healthy workplaces.
Unlocking the Potential of Young Americans with Disabilities
If you’re a policymaker working to help young Americans with disabilities finish school and find jobs, check out our new brief “Unlocking the Potential of WIOA Title I: To Help America’s Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Access Jobs.” Find out how states and local workforce systems can use an existing federal law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, to build programs that work better together, use real data to guide decisions, and connect more skilled young Americans with disabilities to jobs.