ODEP News Brief - June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

2019 NDEAM Theme Announced: "The Right Talent, Right Now"

U.S. Department of Labor announced the theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2019: "The Right Talent, Right Now." This theme emphasizes the essential role people with disabilities play in America’s economic success, especially in an era when historically low unemployment and global competition are creating a high demand for skilled talent. "Every day, individuals with disabilities add significant value and talent to our workforce and economy," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Individuals with disabilities offer employers diverse perspectives on how to tackle challenges and achieve success. Individuals with disabilities have the right talent, right now."

• Read the news release

• Visit the NDEAM website

Apprenticeship Expansion

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced major milestones in the continuing effort to expand apprenticeships in the United States. The Department posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would establish a process to advance the development of high-quality, Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). DOL further announced awards totaling $183.8 million to support the development and expansion of apprenticeships for educational institutions partnering with companies that provide a funding match component. An additional $100 million will be available for efforts to expand apprenticeships and close the skills gap.

• Read the news release

Policy Development Center on Youth with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of an approximately $4 million four-year cooperative agreement for a youth-focused disability policy development center. The solicitation is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement. The funding will support continued work on the Office of Disability Employment Policy's National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth). This youth policy development center will conduct research, engage with the workforce system and its partners, identify effective policies and practices that support youth with disabilities, and provide resources and training to help support the transition of youth with disabilities to employment. The deadline to apply is July 23, 2019.

• Read the Funding Opportunity Announcement

Olmstead Decision 20th Anniversary

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the decision in Olmstead v. L.C., Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, posted a blog, "Celebrating Equality and Inclusion for Americans with Disabilities." Olmstead was the landmark Supreme Court decision that asserted the right of people with disabilities to live and receive publicly-funded services, including employment services, in their communities in the most integrated settings possible.

• Read the blog

Podcast: Expanding Employment Success for People with Disabilities

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) released a new Future of Work podcast interview with Benetech founder Jim Fruchterman. The interview discusses Benetech’s research on expanding employment success for people with disabilities, and how inclusive hiring and accessible technology intersect with Silicon Valley’s push to drive innovation.

• Listen to the PEAT podcast

Women in Government National Legislative Conference

The State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED) hosted a panel to kick off the 2019 Women in Government (WIG) National Legislative Conference on June 13-15 in Chicago, IL. Moderated by Representative Lauren Matsumoto (HI), the panel included Representative Jennifer Longdon (AZ), Representative Kim Schofield (GA), and Nadia Mossberg, Policy Advisor at ODEP. The discussion examined state policy options to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and included state examples of SEED policy assistance in Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee. Additionally, SEED policy assistance was highlighted during the conference’s bill share by Representative Christie Carpino (CT), who presented on legislation she authored to create a state-level task force on disability employment in Connecticut.

• Learn more about WIG’s collaborations with SEED