Advisory committee to increase employment for individuals with disabilities announced by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the establishment of a National Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities. The purpose of the committee is to study and provide recommendations to the secretary of labor on ways to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, the use of the certificate program carried out under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)) and ways to improve oversight of the use of such certificates. "Individuals with disabilities can make significant contributions to our workplaces," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This advisory committee will help American Job Centers, Workforce Development Boards and vocational rehabilitation agencies nationwide work collaboratively to promote employment opportunities for this pool of talented workers."

The creation of the committee is mandated by the recent passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, signed July 22. WIOA strengthens the public workforce system and the partnerships that sustain it by unifying and streamlining services to better serve job seekers. It will improve accountability and transparency within the system. WIOA also builds closer ties among key workforce partners: business leaders, workforce boards, labor unions, community colleges, nonprofits, and state and local officials. And it addresses the needs of veterans, the long-term unemployed, individuals with disabilities and of other populations facing unique economic challenges.

The advisory committee will consist of leaders from the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services and the Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Social Security Administration. In addition, any interested person or organization may nominate one or more qualified individuals for membership.

Anyone interested in submitting nominations for individuals can do so by emailing a cover letter, copy of each nominee's resume and contact information for each nominee to IntegratedCompetitiveEmployment@dol.gov, or the information can be mailed or hand delivered to U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Advisory Commission on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment, Room S-1303, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210. Electronic or hand delivered nominations must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Nominations submitted by mail must be postmarked by Oct. 14.

More information is available at https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21834.