EARN Newsletter: September 2025

Plus: a new EARN resource on the advantages of disability employment, accommodation solutions, a Labor Day message from the Labor Secretary, and more.

EARN in Action

Benefit Your Business through Disability Employment

If you are a business owner who wants to expand your customer base, enhance talent in your workforce, and improve employees’ productivity and performance, check out this new resource from EARN: “Benefit Your Business through Disability Employment.” Learn the many business advantages of hiring and retaining people with disabilities, including opportunities for tax and other financial incentives and increased job satisfaction.

The Future of Work: EARN Engages Small Business Leaders

Earlier this month, EARN participated in the “Future of Work” conference, an annual professional development event hosted by America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network. EARN team members spoke to more than 700 small business representatives and entrepreneurs about how EARN’s resources can help them hire and support employees with disabilities. EARN exhibited and presented two sessions at the conference, “Leveraging Tax Credits to Include Workers and Customers with Disabilities” and “Accessible Business Advising.”

ICYMI: Access EARN’s Webinar Recordings

Recordings of two recent EARN webinars are now available. “Apprenticeships and Workers with Disabilities” (August) addresses strategies to help organizations support apprentices with disabilities, build partnerships with Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and tap into recruitment resources. “Hiring Talent, Meeting Workforce Needs: Disability Employment Basics for Small Businesses,” held in honor of the 35^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (July), addresses essentials of disability employment, including reasonable accommodations.

The Latest

Labor Day 2025: Celebrating the American Worker

On Labor Day, the U.S. Department of Labor kicked off its celebration of America’s 250^th birthday by celebrating the nation’s most valuable resource—the American worker. Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer shared a Labor Day message honoring the contributions of America’s workers, both past and present, and affirming her commitment to supporting the workforce of tomorrow, including by expanding access to apprenticeships.

NDEAM 2025: Celebrating Value and Talent

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has been entrusted since 2001 to select and promote the annual theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a celebration that honors the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. NDEAM is less than one month away, and organizations of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate. Looking for ways to observe NDEAM in your workplace? Download or order this year’s official poster with the theme “Celebrating Value and Talent” or share a brief video about the campaign.

Stay Updated with the ODEP News Brief

If you enjoy the EARN newsletter, you may also want to subscribe to the ODEP News Brief. EARN is funded by ODEP, the only nonregulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. ODEP’s monthly News Brief keeps you abreast of timely topics and trends in disability employment, including best practices for employers.

Ask EARN

Spotlight

Situations and Solutions Finder

Reasonable accommodations are at the heart of every accessible workplace. Employees need the right tools and environment to succeed, and for some workers with disabilities, this may involve making a reasonable accommodation. But how can you identify potentially effective solutions? Use JAN’s Situations and Solutions Finder, which contains more than 700 examples of real-world accommodations made by employers of all sizes. The examples are searchable by disability, limitation, or occupation, and users can save their search results.

EARN is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under Cooperative Agreement No. 23475OD000002-01-00 with Cornell University's Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, in the amount of $10,000,000 (five-year total amount).

The content in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.