State governments and stakeholders invited to an online dialogue
on employment of workers with disabilities hosted by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy invites state governments and other interested stakeholders to participate in an online dialogue from Monday. Aug. 4, to Monday, Aug. 18, on hiring, retaining and advancing workers with disabilities. "State Governments: What Can We Do? Join the Conversation for Change," will help inform ODEP's technical assistance to states.

"State governments can play a critical role when it comes to increasing the employment rate of people with disabilities," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "We need to fully understand their needs and how we can assist them so they, in turn, can foster increased employment of people with disabilities in state government and in the private sector."

The online dialogue, will be facilitated through ODEP's ePolicyWorks initiative and moderated by ODEP's employer policy team. To register and participate, visit http://EmployerDialogue.ePolicyWorks.org/.

ODEP invites state government disability employment professionals, state human resource and diversity professionals, and all others with insight into disability employment issues to participate in the dialogue. Participants are encouraged to share new or innovative approaches to employing individuals with disabilities and to comment or vote on posts made by others.