June 13, 2005

Labor Department Program Places More Than 300 Students, Graduates with Disabilities in Summer Jobs

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Recruitment Program has placed more than 300 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities in summer positions. The placements were made using a free database of more than 1,900 candidates seeking summer and full-time employment. The database was distributed on a CD-Rom beginning March 16.

May 31, 2005

Deadline for 2005 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations Extended to June 6

WASHINGTON—The deadline for nominations for the 2005 Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative award has been extended to June 6. The award honors non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals for advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities.

May 5, 2005

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Issues Reminder of May 27 Deadline for 2005 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations

WASHINGTON—Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao issued a reminder today of the May 27 deadline for nominations for the 2005 New Freedom Initiative award. The award recognizes non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities.

March 16, 2005

Labor Department Offers Employers Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

WASHINGTON—A free database that identifies 1,913 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and fulltime employment is available for the tenth year to public and private sector employers to help them meet their staffing needs.

February 10, 2005

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Calls for 2005 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations

WASHINGTON—Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today called upon non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities to submit their entries for the 2005 Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award.

November 17, 2004

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Recognizes
Recipients of New Freedom Initiative Award at Award Ceremony

Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award Recognizes Achievements of People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—Five businesses, three non-profits, and one National Football League player today received the Secretary of Labor's annual New Freedom Initiative Award for service to people with disabilities.

October 27, 2004

Record Number of College Students with Disabilities Placed In Summer Federal Jobs, U.S. Labor Secretary Chao Announces

WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced today that a record 368 college students and recent graduates with disabilities were placed in summer and permanent job openings in the federal government under the department's Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP).

October 25, 2004

Nine Honorees Receive Secretary of Labor's New
Freedom Initiative Award Recognizing Achievements On Behalf Of People With
Disabilities

WASHINGTON—Five businesses, three non-profits, and one National Football League player have been selected by U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao as recipients of the Secretary of Labor's Annual New Freedom Initiative Awards.

October 20, 2004

Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Kicks Off 6th Annual Disability Mentoring Day

WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao officially kicked off the 6th annual Disability Mentoring Day by delivering the keynote address at the department's ceremony today.

Disability Mentoring Day is an opportunity for young people with disabilities to gain firsthand exposure to the many career options available to them, Secretary Chao said. It increases awareness among employers and the public that people with disabilities are a highly talented and largely untapped resource.

October 15, 2004

DisabilityInfo.Gov Celebrates Second Year of Operation
With Almost 3.5 Million Visitors

WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today hailed the 2nd anniversary of DisabilityInfo.gov—a comprehensive web site with one-stop access to governmental disability informationas an example of President George W. Bush's deep commitment to making government easily accessible to all Americans.

October 4, 2004

Labor Secretary Chao Awards $1.5 Million Grant to Address
Chronic Homelessness among People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON— U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today awarded a $1.5 million technical assistance grant to the Corporation for Supportive Housing as part of a Bush Administration initiative to end chronic homelessness among persons with disabilities.

October 1, 2004

Human Service Agencies in States Selected for U.S. Labor Department Training/ Technical Assistance Programs for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—Human service agencies in California, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts and Oklahoma have been selected to take part in training and technical assistance programs for people with disabilities, the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announced today.

September 16, 2004

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Awards $2.4
Million in Telework Grants to People and Veterans with Disabilities:
Minneapolis, Minn., Richmond, Va., and Bridgeport, Conn. Receive Telework
Grants

Minneapolis, Minn., Richmond, Va., and Bridgeport, Conn. Receive Telework Grants

WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to help fund initiatives that will increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Connecticut, Minnesota and Virginia.

July 26, 2004

Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao and U.S.
Department of Labor Celebrate the 14th Anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today celebrated the 14th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

July 8, 2004

Labor Secretary Chao Announces Availability of
$2.5 Million Grant Aimed at Improving Telework Employment Strategies for People
with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced the availability of a $2.5 million grant through her Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which is aimed at increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities through telework positions.

June 17, 2004

Jobs Program for Students with Disabilities
Exceeds 2003 Totals, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Says

WASHINGTON—A three-month-old jobs program that places college students with disabilities in summer employment has already exceeded last year’s placement totals, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao announced today.

June 10, 2004

Labor Secretary Chao Announces $1.5 Million Grant
Aimed at Ending Chronic Homelessness Among People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced the availability of a $1.5 million technical assistance grant designed to help fulfill the Bush Administration’s ten-year goal of ending chronic homelessness among persons with disabilities.

May 27, 2004

Secretary Chao Selects "You’re Hired!
Success Knows No Limitations!" as October's National Disability Employment
Awareness Month Theme

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has selected “You’re Hired! Success Knows No Limitations!” as the official theme for October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

May 24, 2004

Labor Secretary Chao and Defense Secretary
Rumsfeld Issue Memo Urging Federal Hiring of College Students with Disabilities

Washington—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld today urged federal government agency heads to continue to enthusiastically support a Bush Administration program that has successfully placed hundreds of college students with disabilities in summer and permanent employment.

May 17, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Issues Report on Emergency
Preparedness for Federal Workers with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today released a report that gives federal officials and workers key advice and comprehensive recommendations on ensuring a safe and secure environment for the more than 120,000 employees with disabilities who work in buildings, regional offices or field locations owned or leased by the federal government.