Federal News Radio Shines a Spotlight on Disability Employment Last week, Federal News Radio hosted Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez during its “Business of Government” hour. During the interview, Martinez spoke with host Michael Keegan about a range of issues, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, accessible technology and the value of internships and other work experiences for young people with disabilities. She also shared her own personal career journey.
Time for a TechCheckAn inclusive workplace is a technology-accessible workplace, one where all employees, including those with disabilities, can access the technology tools they need to be productive. To help employers achieve such a workplace, the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) offers a range of resources, including an interactive self-assessment tool, TechCheck. Like the Employer TA Center, PEAT is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
New York Times Article Illuminates the Intrinsic Value of Work In a recent article, author and person with a disability Jerry McGill recounted his personal career journey to provide poignant commentary on the intrinsic value of work to people with disabilities—and the many benefits employers stand to gain when they offer them equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents in the workplace. The article, titled “Losing Mobility and Gaining a Work Life,” was published in the New York Times’ Business Day section.
February is American Heart Month and AMD/Low Vision Month February is both American Heart Month and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)/Low Vision Month—and an opportune time to learn about workplace accommodation ideas for employees who may have heart conditions or vision impairments. The Job Accommodation Network, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, offers a wealth of information regarding both. Read more about accommodations for employees with heart conditions or vision impairments.
Mark Your Calendar
Best Practices and Success in Inclusive Employment in the Hospitality Sector
February 19, 1:30-3:00 p.m. EST
Webinar
On February 19, RespectAbility will sponsor a webinar exploring best practices in disability inclusion in the hospitality sector. Speakers include David Scott from Embassy Suites and Courtyard by Marriott Hotels in Omaha-La Vista, NE, and Valentini Kalargyrou, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at the University of New Hampshire.
The Disability Employment Tracker is a tool launched last year by the National Organization on Disability in partnership with the National Business and Disability Council and Sirota to help companies assess their disability hiring efforts. The deadline for enrollment is March 2, and this year, DiversityInc will consider completion a factor when determining its list of Top 10 Companies for People with Disabilities.
Best Practices for Complying with Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act
March 11, 2:00-3:30pm EST
Webcast
This webcast is the third in the Job Accommodation Network’s (JAN) three-part winter 2015 federal monthly webcast series. The speakers will be Jeanne Goldberg from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and JAN representatives, who will address current developments in the application of Section 501 and practical tips for compliance. Participants do not need to have participated in the series’ earlier webcasts to participate in this one.
Through an innovative program called Project RISE (Reaching for Independent Successful Employment), Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital helps ensure that its future workforce reflects the diverse community it serves. The program allows young adults with disabilities an opportunity to rotate through a variety of roles across the hospital’s operations, focusing on tasks that may be better learned through on-the-job training instead of a classroom environment.
Business Strategies that Work: A Framework for Disability Inclusion
Want to tap into the third largest market segment in the U.S.? Any smart business would. As with any customer segment, one of the best ways to do so is to ensure it is represented in your workforce. To learn more, read Business Strategies that Work: A Framework for Disability Inclusion—a compilation of promising policies and practices for recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing qualified individuals with disabilities. It’s available on AskEARN.org in both PDF and HTML.
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) is a resource for employers seeking to recruit, hire, retain and advance qualified employees with disabilities. It is a service of the National Employer Policy, Research, and Technical Assistance Center for Employers on the Employment of People with Disabilities (Employer TA Center), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under a cooperative agreement with The Viscardi Center. For more information, visit AskEARN.org
Preparation of this material was funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant No. [OD-26451-14-75-4-36]. This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
