ODEP News Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $2 million in funds for the first year of a cooperative agreement for an employer-focused disability policy development and technical assistance center. The solicitation is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement. The deadline to apply is June 24, 2019.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new resource that helps employers better understand mental health issues, and provides guidance on how to cultivate a work environment that supports employees with related conditions.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announced today the selection of four organizations to pilot its Apprenticeship Inclusion Models' (AIM) initiative. The purpose of the AIM initiative is to expand pathways for youth and adults with disabilities into high-demand, well-paying careers by developing and testing new recruitment and retention strategies with employers, unions, and apprenticeship programs.

WASHINGTON, DC - As part of its annual commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the U.S. Department of Labor today launched a new public service announcement (PSA) that highlights the importance of helping workers who become ill or injured remain active in America's workforce.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today announced the award of a $1.9 million contract to develop pilot projects focused on apprenticeship opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities in high-growth industries.

WASHINGTON, DC – With the start of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI) and its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is helping raise awareness of disability-related nondiscrimination laws and regulations.

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 "America's Workforce: Empowering All."

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor's Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) today announced nearly $19 million in grants to eight state agencies to identify new, replicable strategies to help those who develop a potentially disabling condition remain at or return to work.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $20 million in grants to help Americans who are injured or ill remain in or return to the workforce. The grants are intended to identify new, replicable strategies to help individuals with a work-related disability stay on the job.

WASHINGTON, DC - In keeping with the U.S. Department of Labor’s  commitment to ensuring an American workforce for Americans of all abilities, this year’s official National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme will be “America’s Workforce: Empowering All,” the Department announced today.

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.”

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.