Policy Brief Explains Proposed Rules for Federal Disability Hiring Last month, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires affirmative action and nondiscrimination in employment by federal agencies. In addition to combining and clarifying existing requirements, the proposed rule addresses achieving set representation rates and the provision of personal assistance services. To assist federal employers in understanding the NPRM, EARN has developed a policy brief summarizing its proposed requirements.
Inclusive Workplaces Encouraged to Share How They Stand “Side by Side” This month, employers of people with developmental disabilities and employees with developmental disabilities are encouraged to participate in “Side by Side,” a social media campaign led by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and National Disability Rights Network in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about how people both with and without developmental disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities – and workplaces.
National Online Dialogue Invites Feedback on State Policy’s Role in Increasing Workforce Inclusion To inform priorities for the upcoming inaugural meeting of the National Task Force on Workforce Development and Employability for People with Disabilities, the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) is hosting an online national dialogue, “Advancing State Policy for a More Inclusive Workforce.” Employers can contribute by sharing their experiences with state-level disability employment-related policy. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, SEED is a collaborative effort between state intermediary organizations, including the National Conference of State Legislatures and Council of State Governments..
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, an annual campaign to educate about the incidence of brain injury and ways to support people with brain injuries, including in the workplace. As such, it’s an opportune time to learn about workplace accommodations for employees who may have brain injuries, including veterans who sustained them in combat. The Job Accommodation Network, a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, offers a wealth of information on the topic.
This PEAT Talk, part of a monthly virtual speaker series on accessible workplace technology hosted by the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology, will feature Sharron Rush, co-founder and executive director of nonprofit Knowbility, who will present on the importance of user testing in ensuring workplace technologies are accessible to employees with disabilities. Participation is free, but registration is required.
The State of Accessibility in the Online Workplace
March 17, 2016, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
WEBINAR
As working from home and “virtual workspaces” become more and more common, it is important for employers to ensure the technology they provide is accessible to all employees, including employees with disabilities. During this webinar, Janet Peter, Project Coordinator, Great Lakes ADA Center and Judith Stark, Accessible Information Technology Consultant, Pacific ADA Center will discuss requirements for accessible technology as set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Millions of people in the American workforce are also caregivers to family members. In this webinar sponsored by the DC Metro Business Leadership Network, John Schall, CEO of the Caregiver Action Network (CAN), will address how employers can best support these employees so they can meet their family responsibilities while also remaining productive on the job. The presentation will also include information about CAN’s Assisting Caregiving Employees program.
A replica CVS store opened at the end of January in Riverside, California, serves as a venue to teach retail skills to 52 students with disabilities enrolled in Project TEAM (Transitional Education Adjustment Model), a school district-led job training program. To aid in the launch of the program, CVS Health donated funding and materials to fill the store. Following the training, the program partners with the Inland Regional Center to help students transition to the workforce and find jobs in which they can use their newly learned skills.
Effective Employment Practices: Accessibility Training
While most businesses are aware of the importance of physical accessibility in the workplace, it is important to ensure an accessible virtual environment as well. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help employers implement fully accessible information and communication technology, in all areas of the workplace, from computer products, to the company website, to online recruiting and job applications.
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.
