Companies “Circle” to Discuss Disability Inclusion On May 18, the “Circle”—a group of companies noted for their commitment to disability inclusion—met at U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) headquarters in Alexandria, Va. On the agenda were internships and mentoring programs for people with disabilities; Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act; and new materials federal contractors can use to converse with employees about disability disclosure. USBLN is a national non-profit that assists employers to increase disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain and marketplace. It manages the Circle as a partner of the Employer TA Center.
Have Questions about Proposed ICT Refresh? PEAT has Answers! The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) published a Q&A on the proposed information and communication technology (ICT) “refresh” released by the U.S. Access Board earlier this year. This proposed rule—open for public comment until May 28—updates accessibility requirements for ICT in the federal sector under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and guidelines for telecommunications equipment subject to Section 255 of the Communications Act. Like the Employer TA Center, PEAT is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Improving Mental Health for Workers, This Month and Every Month Mental Health Awareness Month continued this week, with organizations around the nation participating through a variety of activities and events. In a recent post on the U.S. Department of Labor blog, Elena Brown, a senior advisor in the department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, explored the value of supporting the mental health needs of workers, not only to individuals, but also employers and society at large, as evidenced by a recent report issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Monthly nTide Report Shows Continued Positive Wave The latest National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report showed a continued positive trajectory in the employment of people with disabilities, with the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increasing 6.7 percent from April 2014 (25.3) to April 2015 (27.0). Issued since March 2013, the monthly nTIDE report is coordinated by the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability and based on the monthly jobs report issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The State of Employment for People with Disabilities
May 27, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST
WEBINAR
Sponsored by the Northeast ADA Center, this panel discussion will explore New York’s Employment First initiative, which began in September 2014. In this context, it will examine the negative impact of the employment gap between people with and without disabilities to the state’s economy and how employers and disability service providers can work together to create more integrated employment opportunities.
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 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 last month, 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 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., EST
EVENT
This one-day conference will convene government representatives, researchers, individuals with disabilities, employers and workforce professionals to explore the intersection between employment research, practice and policy. It will take place at the U.S. Department of Labor 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. The deadline for registration is June 16.
Employer Spotlight
Puzzles Bakery & Café
Puzzles Bakery & Café in Schenectady, New York serves up not only sandwiches, baked goods and soup to the city’s hungry patrons, but also integrated employment and training opportunities for local residents with autism and other developmental disabilities. Key to the establishment’s success is matching each person’s skills to the right job, ranging from customer service to food preparation and everything in between.
Do Ask, Do Tell: Encouraging Employees with Disabilities to Self-Identify
This new report, published by The Conference Board with support from the Employer TA Center, explores challenges to and strategies for encouraging disability disclosure in the workplace based on a survey of 98 companies and extensive interviews with disability experts.
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.
