ODEP News Brief - July 20, 2018

July 20, 2018

Employer Success Stories

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion compiled profiles of employers who have implemented successful practices for recruiting, hiring, and advancing individuals with disabilities. These first-hand accounts demonstrate the importance of disability diversity in the workplace. Both large and small businesses are highlighted. If you know of an employer who should be featured on the EARN website, please submit an Employer Spotlight Form.

• View the Employer Success Stories
• Nominate a company using the Employer Spotlight Form

TechCheck

TechCheck is a tool created by the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology that helps large and small employers assess their technology accessibility practices. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and provides a benchmarking "snapshot" of the current state of a company's technology. After completing the questions, the employer will receive a confidential evaluation of where it stands across several dimensions, from internal training efforts to procurement policies. TechCheck helps businesses build a foundation to create a more accessible workplace.

• Learn about TechCheck

JAN Webcast Archive

The Job Accommodation Network provides access to archived JAN webcasts at no cost. Gather your employees together in a room for in-service training. Educate yourself, management, and other employees on disability etiquette, assistive technologies, management techniques, and the latest on accommodations and the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each accessible webcast is approximately one hour in length. Transcripts and presentation slides are available for download for all webcasts.

• Visit the JAN webcast archive

DRIVE Website

In order to better inform state efforts to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities of persons with disabilities, ODEP launched the Data & Resources to Inspire a Vision of Employment website. The site shares information on state policies, practices, technical assistance initiatives, and outcomes that are focused directly or indirectly on the employment of individuals with disabilities. Through the DRIVE website, state government leaders, policy-makers, disability advocates, and other stakeholders can learn about what is working in the area of disability employment across the nation.

• Visit the DRIVE website

Career Development for Youth

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth produced a brief on “Providing Quality Career Development within Youth Development & Leadership Programs.” This guide helps organizations assess the extent to which they currently provide quality career development opportunities and suggests ways to integrate more career development skills-building into programs for youth with and without disabilities. By incorporating more career development activities into their work, youth development and leadership programs can ensure that youth acquire competencies they need not only to enter and succeed in employment but also to make informed decisions and manage their future careers.

• Read “Providing Quality Career Development within Youth Development & Leadership Programs” (PDF)