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  • 06/17/13: Assistant Secretary Martinez Applauds Enforcement Actions to Protect Workers with Disabilities

    In a June 14 blog post, Assistant Secretary Martinez lauded a decision by the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) to revoke special minimum wage certificates issued to a Rhode Island disability services provider and require retroactive fair payment for workers with disabilities whose rights were willfully violated. After its investigation, WHD also referred the case to the U.S. Department of Justice, which in turn announced an interim settlement to redress related violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which entitles people with significant disabilities to receive publicly funded services in community-based, integrated settings.

  • 06/17/13: Assistant Secretary Martinez Speaks at M-Enabling Summit

    On June 6, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez spoke as part of a panel at the M-Enabling Global Summit on Accessible Technology, which drew nearly 500 mobile technology industry leaders from more than 40 countries. Her remarks highlighted the role mobile technology is playing in the workplace and emphasized the importance of making mobile communications work for users of all abilities.

  • 06/17/13: Webinar Demonstrates Disability Employment Tabulation

    On June 6, the department's Office of Disability Employment Policy hosted a webinar with the Census Bureau's Melissa Chiu, which included a live demonstration on accessing the data. More than 400 employers, service providers, policymakers and researchers participated in the webinar. "We were delighted by the breadth and diversity of the participants who logged on to learn more about this great new resource," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

    Click here to access the Census Data.

  • 06/11/13: Three Tips for Increasing Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

    CJ Lange, Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales & Marketing at Industries for the Blind, Inc. - Milwaukee, offers three tips for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities that can be applied to any business.

    Since joining IB Milwaukee in 2000, his innovative ideas and successful programs have helped grow the organization’s pool of resources for investing in adaptive technologies, in turn, growing the number of positions available to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. 

  • 06/07/13: VA, DoD and HHS Partner to Expand Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members and Families

    On May 21st, 2013, the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the progress made to date on initiatives called for in President Obama’s August 31, 2012, Executive Order to Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and their families.

    Working together, the Departments will continue to expand the public health approach to providing optimal support for the mental health needs of Veterans, Service Members and their families.  They also will continue to provide updates on their work as it progresses.

  • 06/06/13: CAP's Quick Reference - Ergonomic Stretches to Help Prevent Injury

    June is National Safety Month! Download CAP's Quick Reference poster on ergonomic stretches for five easy steps to prevent injury in your computer work environment!

  • 06/06/13: Collaborating to Build a More Inclusive Workforce

    In a blog post adapted from remarks delivered at "Building a More Inclusive Workforce: A National Summit to Boost Education and Employment Outcomes for Americans with Disabilities" in Wilmington, Del., on May 31, 2013, DOL Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris states that the unemployement rate for people with disabilities in 12.7 percent, compared to a 7.5 percent national average.

    People with disabilities face considerable barriers to finding and keeping good jobs, but by working together, business and government, employers and foundations, state and local officials, and faith-based organizations can create the opportunities Americans with disabilities deserve.

  • 06/06/13: Just-In-Time Module Series: Assistive Technology in the Workplace

    The Job Accommodation Network has published its fourth installment of the Just-In-Time Module Series: AT in the Workplace.

  • 06/06/13: At least one-fourth of Army soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from hearing loss

    According to Army audiologists, at least one-fourth of soldiers who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan show some hearing loss.  Even those who don't deploy often are exposed to constant or concussive noises from their work or training that can cause hearing loss or tinnitus.  As they grow older, normal, age-related hearing loss will compound the problem.

    Tinnitus and hearing loss are the most common service-connected disabilities among veterans, with more than 1.5 million veterans receiving compensation for those problems at the end of 2011.  Of the approximately 805,000 veterans who began receiving disability compensation that year, about 148,000 were for tinnitus or hearing loss.

  • 06/06/13: Planning Accessible and Inclusive Conferences and Events

    Keep these tips in mind from National Service Inclusion Project while planning your upcoming National Disabilty Employment Awareness Month events for October to ensure an accessible event.

  • 06/03/13: DFAS Careers for Americans with Disabilities

    This video from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) takes a look at three Americans with disabilities who work every day to proudly serve America's heroes.  The DFAS supports the recruitment, hiring and retention of talented and qualified individuals with disabilities through the DCAD program, which allows individuals with disabilities to explore different avenues to apply for DFAS jobs and receive reasonable accomodation in the application process.  Learn more about the DCAD program at: http://www.dfas.mil/careers/dcad.html.

  • 06/03/13: Investing in Employee Mental Health

    To wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the EARN|Exchange blog has posted "Employers Can't Afford to Ignore Mental Health," an article by Clare Miller, director of the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health.  The article explores how companies are approaching prevention, employee education, behavioral health benefits, and disability management to support employees and improve mental health in the workplace.

  • 05/31/13: Assistant Secretary Martinez Publishes Article in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation

    In the current issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (JVR), Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy, published an article "Integrated employment, EmploymentFirst, and U.S. federal policy" as part of the JVR special issue on "International Perspectives on Integrated Employment." The issue presents articles from six countries, including the U.S., highlighting policies and programs related to integrated employment from the perspectives of the various nations. Notes Martinez, "In [publishing this article], I join with colleagues from around the world, represented in this special journal issue, in identifying issues and sharing strategies designed to ensure that wherever people with disabilities live they have a reasonable likelihood to gain the dignity, economic self-sufficiency, and community participation that comes with having a good job."

  • 05/31/13: LEAD Center Featured in Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Podcast on Employment & Workforce for People with Disabilties

    The LEAD Center, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Labor were all highlighted in a recent podcast on "People-Centered Practices: Improving the Workforce Potential for Those with Disabilities" hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Michael Morris, Executive Director of National Disability Institute and LEAD Center policy team co-lead, was interviewed in the podcast about innovative programs and policies for people with disabilities and how the workforce development system can better respond to jobseekers with disabilities. Kathy Krepcio of Rutgers' Heldrich Center for Workforce Development was also interviewed. National Disability Institute is the organization spearheading the LEAD Center, an ODEP-funded training and technical assistance center dedicated to advancing sustainable individual and systems-level change to improve competitive, integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for people across the spectrum of disability.

  • 05/31/13: Job Accommodation Network Issues New Consultants' Corner Publication

    The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has released the latest issue of its Consultants' Corner publication, on the topic "Is Menopause a Disability under the ADA?" JAN consultant Melanie Whetzel provides background information and accommodation ideas related to this subject.

  • 05/30/13: Employees With Disabilities Need Not Compete For Reassignment

    In a closely watched case, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a written order denying air transportation giant United Airlines’s petition for high court review of a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  This means the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal’s Sept. 7, 2012 decision will stand, holding that “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may require employers to provide employees with disabilities with “reassignment to a vacant position” when the employee cannot be accommodated in his or her current position.  (EEOC v. United Airlines, 1:10-CV-01699, U.S. Dist. Court, No. Dist. of Illinois; EEOC v. United Airlines, No. 11-1774. 7th Cir.)

  • 05/23/13: ODEP Announces Theme For National Disability Employment Awareness Month October 2013

    "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.

    This year's theme echoes the message of ODEP's ongoing Campaign for Disability Employment to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities and expand ideas about what youths with disabilities can do when they receive encouragement and support for their ambitions. More information about the Campaign for Disability Employment is available at http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org.

    Resources for participation and more information are available on ODEP's Web pages at http://www.dol.gov/odep by selecting NDEAM from among the topics listed.

  • 05/19/13: Earn Newsletter

    The latest EARN newsletter is now available and contains many valuable tips and tools for employers of persons with disabilities. 

    In this Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) monthly newsletter, EARN features and recognizes employers’ successful practices for outreach, recruitment, hiring, and accommodating workers with disabilities. EARN invites employers who would like to highlight their effective practices in employing people with disabilities to submit articles for future issues of the EARN newsletter.

    This month, EARN recognizes May as Older Americans Month and offers resources to help retain one of our best resources. Additionally we spotlight Miami Air International for fostering an inclusive workplace by working with the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) to provide internship, training, and employment opportunities to people with disabilities. 

  • 05/19/13: EARN/Exchange blog is launched

    EARN is pleased to announce the launch of its new business and disability blog, the EARN|Exchange. Each month, The Exchange will bring you regular commentary on news and current events in business and disability employment. Postings will be provided by experts in HR, recruiting, training, as well as employers and EARN staff. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness during the month of May, the first EARN|Exchange post focuses on supporting veterans’ return to the workforce. 

  • 05/19/13: EEOC Issues Guidance for Mental Health Providers, Revised Publications on Employment Rights

    Many people with common mental health conditions have a right to a reasonable accommodation at work under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When requesting accommodations, employees may sometimes need supporting documentation from their mental health providers. An EEOC fact sheet briefly explains the law on reasonable accommodation and the mental health provider's role in the process.

  • 05/19/13: EEOC issues revised publications on employment rights of persons with specific disabilities

    The EEOC has issued four revised publications on the employment rights of people with specific disabilities including cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities. 

  • 05/10/13: ODEP Signs Alliance with the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
    Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy and Paula Alfone, mid-Atlantic director of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, have signed an alliance agreement to promote the employment of people with disabilities throughout the higher education community. The two organizations are combining their expertise to increase recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement at colleges, universities, hospitals, research labs, government agencies and related organizations, to combat the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in these professions. "It is critical to correct this imbalance because students, both with and without disabilities, benefit from having teachers and mentors who reflect society's wide diversity and talent," said Martinez. "This alliance will help us develop strategies for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the education community."
     
  • 05/10/13: The May 22, 2013 "News Hour"

    The Federal Disability Workforce Consortium (FDWC) and eFedlink invite you and other disability professionals to “The News Hour” webinar. Backed by popular demand, the entire session will focus on EEOC Management Directive 715 (MD-715) barrier analysis and its application to the retention and development of people with disabilities.  It will draw from Executive Order 13548, Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, and some of the leading practices gleaned from agency's implementation plans.
     
    The webinar will be delivered by a panel of EEOC Staff from the Office of Federal Operations, Federal Sector Programs including Dexter Brooks, Director Federal Sector Programs; Mildred Rivera-Rau, Acting Branch Chief Agency Oversight Division; and Veta Hurst, Acting Diversity Program Manager.
     
    We encourage you to email your questions ahead of the webinar. Questions relating to this topic may be posted on efedlink.org or email to banjo.akinyemi@dol.gov by noon Friday, May 17. All questions received will be forwarded to the presenters to address during the webinar.  

  • 05/03/13: New Resources on Inclusive Workplaces from EARN

    The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) has new resources available that highlight the importance of creating inclusive work environments. Topics for employers include improving accessibility, tips for managers and human resource professionals, and more.  Building an inclusive workforce allows all employees to work to their full potential and leads to increased retention and productivity.

  • 05/03/13: Learn about Global Accessibility Awareness Day

    Global Accessibility Awareness Day, May 9,  is a community-driven effort whose goal is to dedicate one day to raising the profile of and introducing the topic of digital (web, software, mobile app/device etc.) accessibility and people with different disabilities to the broadest audience possible. 

  • 04/24/13: Census Bureau Releases New Publications on Employment and Government Assistance for People with Disabilities
  • 04/22/13: Recruitment and Retention of Older Workers: Considerations for Employers

    The National Center on Workforce Development/Adult (NCWD/A), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), undertook a one-year project that examined practices and strategies implemented by U.S. companies seeking to recruit and retain older workers. This brief presents themes that emerged from phone conversations with employees at 18 companies in 13 states.

    Five of those companies subsequently participated in more in-depth, in-person visits. NCWD/A staff held phone conversations with human resource or diversity program representatives; during in-person visits, researchers had discussions with a wide range of informants, from company leadership to frontline supervisors/managers and older workers themselves.

    This brief presents the motivational factors that drove companies to focus on older workers, the cultural contexts of businesses that have undertaken these practices, and the range of recruitment and retention practices and initiatives they used. Researchers offer suggestions to employers on the relevance of the findings to their own workplace practices, initiatives, and cultures.

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