NDEAM 2016 Posters Ready for Display Show your support for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2016 by downloading and printing the new NDEAM poster to display prominently in your workplace. The poster, which is available for free in both English and Spanish, is a colorful reminder of the important message that inclusion works for business, opportunity and innovation – a celebration of this year’s NDEAM theme, #InclusionWorks.
One-Stop Recruitment Resource for Employers Both private and public sector employers in search of qualified, job-ready candidates can visit Labor for America (LFA), a free, one-stop online resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor that provides a searchable database of skilled federal workers who have been displaced from their job due to workplace injury. LFA connects employers with local vocational rehabilitation counselors to facilitate the recruitment process and provide direct support to ensure candidates successfully re-enter the workforce.
Playbook for Accessible Technology in the Workplace A new resource released by the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council’s Accessible Technology Community of Practice provides practical tips and guidance on how to build an effective program related to Section 508 – the regulation requiring federal agencies to purchase, implement and maintain accessible technology. The “Technology Accessibility Playbook” provides a framework consisting of 12 key “plays” to ensure that digital services and technology solutions are fully accessible to both employees and members of the public who have disabilities.
GAO to Study Hiring of Those with Disabilities The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been tasked with reviewing federal agencies’ hiring practices regarding candidates with disabilities as a follow-up to a review conducted in 2012. The goal of the new review is to examine whether agencies are adopting leading practices for hiring and retaining employees with disabilities; evaluate retention rates of those with disabilities; examine agencies’ “reasonable accommodation” policies and procedures; and assess the Office of Personnel Management’s and the U.S. Department of Labor’s performance in supporting the order.
Accessibility standards as set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the U.S. Access Board apply to a range of public and private spaces, including workplaces. This webinar will address how to comply with these standards when designing an office space and how to avoid some common inaccessible design errors.
PEAT Talks: The ADA and Accessible Workplace Technology
July 21, 2016, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
WEBINAR
Join Bobby Silverstein, former staff director and chief counsel to the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy and chief aide to Senator Tom Harkin, for a discussion on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to accessible workplace technology as well as relevant current policy developments.
Emphasis on Wage Requirements Under Section 14(c) of the FLSA
Multiple Dates and Locations
Seminars
Throughout the summer in various cities nationwide, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is offering free seminars to assist employers and community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) in complying with section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). There is no fee to attend these conferences; however, space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
The Connecticut-based Thomas Hooker Brewing Company was recently featured in “Business Sense,” an email newsletter from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), for its thriving inclusive hiring practices. Through strong community partnerships, the company has recruited many employees with disabilities who are engaged in work that is truly integral to the success of the business.
Working with Job Coaches and Employment Support Professionals
Job coaches can provide support for people with disabilities in all phases of the employment lifecycle. EARN’s web page on this topic explores how both employers and employees can benefit from the services of job coaches to ensure a smooth on-boarding process and achieve desired performance outcomes.
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) is a resource for employers seeking to recruit, hire, retain and advance qualified employees with disabilities. It 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.