April 16, 2003

Labor Department Offers Employers Free Database
of Qualified, Disabled Student Job Seekers

WASHINGTON—Government and private sector employers may take advantage of a free resource to identify college students and recent graduates with disabilities for their summer and permanent job openings, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced today. The department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in cooperation with the Department of Defense, now offers a database of more than 1,600 job seekers with disabilities through its Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP).

March 31, 2003

Businesses Can "Do Good" and "Do Well" Through Tax Breaks Offered to
Companies that Hire People with Disabilities

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.

October 3, 2002

Secretary of Labor Announces $14 Million in Grants to Support New
Freedom Initiative

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.

October 1, 2002

Grizzard Sworn-in as the First Assistant Secretary for Disability
Employment Policy

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.