OFCCP Posts Sample Transition Year AAPs The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs recently posted sample transition year Affirmative Action Programs (AAPs) for federal contractors subject to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. The AAPs were based on a company with less than 150 employees but also may be used as guides for larger employers. Furthermore, they are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only acceptable formats for meeting regulatory requirements.
Leaders Gather to Discuss Strategies for Increasing Disability Inclusion in the Federal Workforce On May 28, about 50 leading thinkers on diversity issues from across the federal sector convened in Washington, D.C., for a strategic planning and engagement session, where they discussed key issues impacting the employment of people with disabilities. The event was coordinated by the Employer TA Center and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in order to inform their recommendations for sustaining the progress of Executive Order 13548, Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.
PTSD Awareness Month Helps Educate About Non-Visible Disabilities June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, and an opportune time to learn about how to best support veterans and other employees who may experience PTSD through effective accommodations. The Job Accommodation Network has a variety of resources to help, as does the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD, which spearheads PTSD Awareness Month each year.
“Who I Am” DVD and Discussion Guide Now Available for Order The discussion guide for the Campaign for Disability Employment’s “Who I Am” public service announcement (PSA) is now available for order in hard copy. Each guide includes a DVD with the PSA in multiple accessible formats, offering an easy way to engage employees in a discussion about disability in the workplace, including issues surrounding self-identification. Currently in distribution nationwide, “Who I Am” features nine diverse people with disabilities, among them actor RJ Mitte, best known for his role in the hit television series “Breaking Bad.”
Public Comments Due on ADA and Workplace Wellness Programs NPRM
June 19, 2015
DEADLINE
The deadline for providing public comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and employer-sponsored health and wellness programs that are part of group health plans is June 19. Issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April, this rule would provide guidance on how such programs can comply with the ADA consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as amended by the Affordable Care Act.
Disability and Employment Symposium: Research Informing Practice and Policy
June 24, 8:45 – 4:30 p.m., EST
EVENT
This conference will convene government representatives, researchers, individuals with disabilities, employers and workforce professionals to explore the intersection between disability employment research, practice and policy. It will take place in Washington, D.C., and is sponsored by the Interagency Committee on Disability Research’s Interagency Committee on Employment and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Community Living.
America’s Disability Rights Museum on Wheels
Various Throughout 2015-2016
TOUR
The nation’s first ever disability rights mobile museum kicked off its cross-country tour this week at the Wells Fargo Atrium in Charlotte, NC. America’s Disability Rights Museum on Wheels offers an opportunity for hands-on learning about the disability rights movement and technological innovations resulting from the Americans with Disabilities Act, including related to employment. As such, it offers an innovative opportunity for disability awareness training.
Specialisterne hires high-functioning people with autism and prepares them for jobs in the technology sector, helping employers understand the connection between their skills and those needed by the industry, such as “pattern recognition, enhanced memory and the ability to consistently engage in repetitive tasks.” Founded in 2004, the Danish company, whose name means “The Specialists,” is now expanding worldwide, including in the U.S.
Did you know that June is National Safety Month? As a result, it’s a great time to refresh knowledge of employer policies and processes for ensuring employee health and safety and how they may intersect with employer obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To help, AskEARN.org offers a webpage on the “ADA and Workplace Safety,” which addresses topics such as pre-employment screenings, the working environment, confidentiality, environmental sensitivities and workplace emergency plans, among others.
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.
