Nearly $1.85M in funding to improve outcomes
for individuals with disabilities awarded by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy announced today a cooperative agreement award of $1,848,350 to The Viscardi Center in Albertson, New York, to manage and operate the National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

The center will be a resource to assist employers with recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting people with disabilities by:

1. analyzing employer research, policies and practices related to disability employment;
2. researching effective employer engagement strategies; and
3. developing and providing outreach and technical assistance to targeted employers, such as federal agencies, federal contractors, small businesses and state governments.

"At ODEP, we work to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents not only for their benefit, but also for the benefit of society as a whole," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "This center will help employers understand these benefits and get them the information and tools they need to successfully employ people with disabilities."

To contribute to the awardee's success The Viscardi Center has partnerships in place with a number of entities that each bring valuable perspectives and experience to the effort. Partnering organizations include: the United States Business Leadership Network; The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education & Human Development; the World Institute on Disability; the Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy; the National Conference of State Legislatures, in coordination with the National Governors Association; and the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Advanced Communications Policy and Scheller College of Business.

ODEP works to increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities by developing and influencing policies and practices. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/.