US Labor Departments Office of Disability Employment Policy announces new outreach tools from Campaign for Disability Employment

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a series of new products through the Campaign for Disability Employment that are designed to promote the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities, and dispel negative stereotypes about disability and employment.

The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative of leading disability and business organizations funded by ODEP. It recently unveiled seven educational posters and two discussion guides to accompany the campaign's flagship "I Can" public service announcement.

The two PSA discussion guides are a "Workplace Discussion Guide" to help employers and human resource professionals facilitate staff conversations on flexible and inclusive workplaces, and a "Youth Discussion Guide" to help start a conversation among youth, with and without disabilities. The youth guide emphasizes the importance of focusing on ability and talent, not making assumptions about what people can and cannot do, and setting goals for employment. Each guide includes a DVD of the PSA.

The seven "What can YOU do?" posters can be ordered individually. Each addresses a different audience and features a compelling image and message about disability and employment. Organizations may display the posters on workplace bulletin boards or in schools, training centers, places of worship and other community centers.

The discussion guides and posters, as well as other campaign outreach tools, can be downloaded or ordered free of charge through the outreach toolkit on the campaign's website at http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org.

Since its release in March 2010, "I Can" has aired more than 45,000 times in media markets nationwide, during donated television and radio airtime valued at more than $11 million dollars. In addition, the PSA was shown before feature films in more than 4,700 AMC Entertainment movie theaters during October.

The Campaign for Disability Employment seeks to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent these employees bring to the workplace. Campaign partners include the American Association of People with Disabilities; the National Business and Disability Council; the National Council of La Raza; the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; the Society for Human Resource Management; Special Olympics; and the U.S. Business Leadership Network.