How Does Inclusion Work? Let Me Count the Ways In a recent post on the U.S. Department of Labor blog, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy shared the impetus behind this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme, #InclusionWorks, noting the many ways “inclusion works” for workers, employers and innovation. She also encouraged individuals and employers to add to the national dialogue now and through NDEAM in October by posting images of inclusion on social media using the hashtag.
Viscardi Achievement Awards Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards. Bestowed annually by the Viscardi Center, these awards recognize leaders who have helped improve quality of life for people with disabilities in all areas of community life, including employment. They are named in honor of one of the world’s foremost advocates for people with disabilities, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. This year’s selection committee is co-chaired by Robert Dole, former U.S. Senator, and Sherwood D. Goldberg, Esq. (Col. Ret) Senior Advisor for Asian Affairs Center for Naval Analysis.
Free Webcourse on ADA and Employment The New England ADA Center offers a free online course on the requirements that employers must meet under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This course, which is approved for 2.5 credits from the HR Certification Institute the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, provides key information about different stages of the employment lifecycle, including topics such as pre-employment do’s and don’ts, provision of reasonable accommodations, and concerns regarding medical information and confidentiality.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month June is recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has several key resources available to assist employers in understanding how best to accommodate and support people with PTSD, including veterans with disabilities. Using these resources, employers can learn more about PTSD and its symptoms, as well as gain ideas for practical accommodation solutions for specific workplace situations.
PEAT Talks – Social Media & Job Recruiting–Leveling the “Playing Fields”
June 16, 2016, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Speaker Series
As part of its monthly “PEAT Talks” webinar series, the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology will host an online presentation by digital marketer Eliza Greenwood, who will speak about best accessibility practices for using popular social media platforms for employee recruitment.
EEOC’s New Resource on Leave as an ADA Reasonable Accommodation: A Closer Look with EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum
June 23, 2016, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. ET
WEBINAR
Join Jeff Nowak, an expert on the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioner Chai Feldblum for a webinar that will provide context and examples of real-life scenarios to support EEOC’s newly released technical assistance resource on leave as a reasonable accommodation.
Talent Matters: Fostering Disability-Inclusive Outreach and Recruitment Strategies
June 30, 2016, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
WEBINAR
Have you partnered with, or perhaps considered partnering with, disability service providers to recruit talent for your company? If you have questions about how this process works, this webinar will provide insight. Employers will discuss how such partnerships can be leveraged to both increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and meet individual businesses’ unique workforce needs.
Employer Spotlight
Brass Light Gallery
Wisconsin-based lighting company Brass Light Gallery has been shining a light on inclusive hiring practices since 1993. Since hiring the company’s first employee with a disability more than 20 years ago, the company’s Operations Officer, Jeff Perkins, has been dedicated to promoting inclusive employment. Perkins shares the immediate value that Brass Light Gallery’s first employee with a disability brought to the team, benefitting the bottom line and boosting morale among all staff.
With graduation season upon us, many college students and recent graduates – including those with disabilities – are hitting the job market, whether in search of seasonal or long-term employment. Employers interested in benefitting from their skills and talents may want to check out AskEARN.org’s resources related to interviewing, selecting and supervising interns with disabilities.
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.
