West Virginia University Research Corp. awarded $2.5 million grant to manage, operate Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $2.5 million grant to the West Virginia University Research Corp. to manage and operate the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network, a national technical assistance center that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities.

"The Job Accommodation Network has been a trusted resource for nearly 30 years," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "JAN is a unique solutions helpline providing a high level of service and support for employers and employees."

JAN is a free and confidential consulting service that provides individualized worksite accommodation solutions and technical assistance spanning the complete range of disabilities and job functions to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related legislation. JAN also provides information about self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

WVU, which has hosted the Job Accommodation Network since its inception in 1983, was selected for the current grant by an independent panel that reviewed all submissions.

Additional information about JAN is available at http://askjan.org. For information about ODEP, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/.