U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Office of Disability Employment Policy Roy Grizzard to leave post

Has served as assistant secretary for ODEP since agencys inception in 2002

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that Dr. W. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), will leave his post at the end of June. Grizzard has led the office since its inception in 2002.

"Roy Grizzard will go down in history as the first assistant secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy. He established the first ODEP office. He has worked to advance the agency's mission to enhance employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. He has been a tireless advocate for helping Americans with disabilities succeed in the workplace. His colleagues at the U.S. Department of Labor wish him, his wife Nancy and their family well in this new chapter of their life," said Secretary Chao.

ODEP was authorized by Congress in the Department of Labor's FY 2001 appropriation. Recognizing the need for a national policy to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into the 21st century workforce, Secretary Chao delegated authority and assigned responsibility to the assistant secretary for disability employment policy.

"After nearly five years, it is with very mixed emotions that I leave the Department of Labor and ODEP," said Assistant Secretary Grizzard. "I will miss the day-to-day relationships working to create enhanced opportunities for people with disabilities, but I look forward to spending more time with my family as I explore other opportunities to contribute to our nation's progress on this front."

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