For more information on any of the following articles, go to www.dol.gov/odep.

Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council Welcomes Assistant Secretary Martinez

Federal employment initiatives for people with disabilities were the focus of assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy Kathy Martinez’s remarks to the board members of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council and other representatives of the disability community at a gathering on January 16 in Harrisburg, PA. Martinez addressed topics including the Affordable Care Act, Executive Order 13548 (Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities), changes to the regulations for Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and resources available from the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Helping the Federal Workforce Reflect the Citizenry It Serves — Assistant Secretary Martinez’s Blog

In a post on the U.S. Department of Labor’s blog, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy Kathy Martinez discussed employment of people with disabilities in the federal sector, focusing on the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) as a pipeline to bring talented college students and recent graduates with disabilities into public service.

Assistant Secretary Martinez Discusses Workforce Development and Economic Development in Fedcap Blog

Assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy Kathy Martinez, in a Fedcap blog, answered questions about the workforce development system, youth transition, myths and stereotypes about people with disabilities, and a wide range of other topics related to disability employment. Fedcap is a nonprofit organization that develops solutions that help people surmount barriers, work toward economic independence, and effect change in their families and communities.

Fact Sheet on Section 503 and VEVRAA Tools Now Available from the Employer Assistance and Resource Network

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) has released a fact sheet on the changes to the regulations for Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). The fact sheet helps federal contractors quickly and easily identify valuable resources for updating their recruitment, hiring, and employment practices to comply with the new regulations.

Employer Assistance and Resource Network Releases New Reports from the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) released two new reports on disability employment that were written by researchers from the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. The research was produced under the auspices of the National Technical Assistance, Policy, and Research Center for Employers on Employment of People with Disabilities and funded by a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy to Cornell University. One of the reports looks at states as model employers of people with disabilities, while the other examines advancing economic opportunities for business owners and job seekers with disabilities.