May 5, 2015

'My Disability Is One Part of Who I Am'

2015 Theme Announced for Octobers National Disability Employment Awareness Month

WASHINGTON — Planning for National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2015 is underway, and the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the official theme for the October observance: "My Disability Is One Part of Who I Am."

January 5, 2015

ODEP News Release: Disability employment advisory committee adds 17 public members [01/05/2015]

WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced the 17 public members who will serve on the new Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, a key provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

October 15, 2014

ODEP News Release: US Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy announces launch of Web portal on accessible workplace technology [10/15/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the launch of http://www.PEATworks.org — a comprehensive Web portal spearheaded by ODEP's Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology. From educational articles to interactive tools, the website's content aims to help employers and the technology industry adopt accessible technology as part of everyday business practice so that all workers can benefit.

September 30, 2014

ODEP News Release: Nearly $1.85M in funding to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities awarded by US Labor Department [09/30/2014]

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:

September 30, 2014

ODEP News Release: Nearly $1.85M in funding to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities awarded by US Labor Department [09/30/2014]

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:

September 29, 2014

ODEP News Release: $2M awarded by US Labor Department to improve post-secondary education and employment of youth with disabilities [09/29/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced $2,007,322 in grants to Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York, and Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee, as part of the Pathways to Careers: Community Colleges for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Demonstration Project.

September 22, 2014

ODEP News Release: Advisory committee to increase employment for individuals with disabilities announced by US Labor Department [09/22/2014]

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.

September 11, 2014

ODEP News Release: $8.4M in continued funding to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities announced by US Labor Department [09/11/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $8,422,574 in continued funding for organizations that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

"Individuals with disabilities have skills and experiences that employers need," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "These federal grants will help connect these workers with employers and put them on the path to economic self-sufficiency."

August 4, 2014

State governments and stakeholders invited to an online dialogue on employment of workers with disabilities hosted by US Labor Department [08/04/2014]

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.

June 26, 2014

ODEP News Release: $2M in funding now available from US Labor Department to enhance employment and career opportunities for youth with disabilities [06/26/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the availability of $2,083,300 for two cooperative agreements to improve post-secondary education and employment opportunities for youth with disabilities through the Pathways to Careers: Community Colleges for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Demonstration Project.

June 26, 2014

ODEP News Release: $1.85M in funding now available to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities from US Labor Department [06/26/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the availability of $1,850,000 to fund a cooperative agreement to manage and operate the National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

The center will increase the commitment and capacity of employers to recruit, hire, retain and advance people with disabilities by:

May 27, 2014

ODEP News Release: Disability Employment Initiative to provide $15M in grants from US Department of Labor [05/27/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $15 million in grants to state workforce agencies to develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in existing career pathways programs in the public workforce system.

May 19, 2014

ODEP News Release: US Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy signs alliance agreement with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society [05/19/2014]

WASHINGTON — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez and Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society President Emeritus Richard Bancells signed an alliance agreement to promote disability employment and total inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce today at the Nationals Park baseball stadium.

May 15, 2014

ODEP News Release: Join the conversation about integrating universal design in social media [05/15/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the National Council on Disability invite the public to participate in an online dialogue on the importance of technology accessibility and usability, particularly in regards to the universal design in the development of workplace technology products.The virtual town hall runs from today, May 15, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, to Friday, May 30.

April 30, 2014

ODEP News Release: National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2014 theme announced [04/30/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the 2014 official theme of National Disability Employment Awareness Month: "Expect. Employ. Empower." Observed in October, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and honors the many diverse contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

March 13, 2014

ODEP News Release: Join the conversation for change on social media accessibility [03/13/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the National Council on Disability invite the public to participate in a virtual town hall dialogue, "Advancing Accessibility and Inclusion in Social Media — The User Experience," which will examine the accessibility barriers of social media for individuals with disabilities, including jobseekers and workers.

September 23, 2013

ODEP News Release: $9.7 million in continued funding to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities announced by DOL [09/23/2013]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $9,721,837 in continued funding for organizations managing consortia that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

September 5, 2013

ODEP News Release: Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy to host online dialogue Sept. 9-11 on employing workers with disabilities [09/05/2013]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy invites employers and other interested stakeholders to participate in an online dialogue Sept. 9-11 on hiring, retaining and advancing workers with disabilities.

May 23, 2013

US Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy announces theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month October 2013

WASHINGTON — "Because We Are EQUAL to the Task" is the theme of this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Chosen by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, the theme reflects the reality that people with disabilities have the education, training, experience and desire to be successful in the workplace.

May 7, 2013

Join the conversation for change

WASHINGTON — Members of the public are invited to participate in an online dialogue to examine the impact of existing federal regulations and legislation on the successful transition from school to work of youths and young adults with disabilities. The U.S. departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration will host the event May 13-27, and they invite policymakers, service providers, the advocacy community and others to join this conversation to improve transition outcomes.