For more information, go to www.dol.gov/odep.

Assistant Secretary Martinez Addresses National Council of Field Labor Locals Leadership Conference

At the National Council of Field Labor Locals Leadership Conference on July 17 in New Orleans, union representatives from various U.S. Department of Labor agencies gathered to hear Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez discuss the changing face of disability and the importance of fostering disability-friendly workplaces. “As a key part of DOL and its workforce, I hope that all of you share my vision of a workplace culture revolutionized by today’s realities,” said Martinez. Her remarks were followed by a practical presentation on disability employment basics by the Job Accommodation Network’s Lou Orslene.

Assistant Secretary Martinez Joins National Disability Institute to Release First-Of-Its-Kind Report on the Financial Capability of People with Disabilities

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez joined National Disability Institute’s press conference July 22 to release the first national report providing a picture of the financial capability of people with disabilities. Martinez joined a distinguished panel of federal agency representatives from the IRS, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Social Security Administration at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to share insights on their agencies’ work to advance financial capability for youth and adults with disabilities. National Disability Institute’s report, “Financial Capability of Adults with Disabilities — Findings from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation 2012 National Financially Capability Study,” found that people with disabilities are less financially stable than people without disabilities in nearly all categories analyzed. Categories included making ends meet, planning ahead, managing financial products and financial knowledge and decision making. An accessible PDF of the report will be available the week of July 28.

Baltimore Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities Welcomes Assistant Secretary Martinez

On July 23, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez spoke to members of the Baltimore Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities, and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, as they celebrated their accomplishments over the past year and discussed priorities for the future. “It’s about people from all walks of life living, learning and working together,” Martinez said. “And it certainly includes people with disabilities. So your work to make Baltimore a more accessible community adds to its charm, to those of us with disabilities and all people.”

President Obama Signs the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA),” which reauthorizes and reforms core workforce development programs administered by the Departments of Education and Labor and transfers from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services certain disability and independent living program functions. WIOA increases individuals with disabilities’ access to high-quality workforce services to prepare them for competitive integrated employment. It requires better employer engagement and promotes physical and programmatic accessibility to employment and training services for individuals with disabilities. Under WIOA, youth with disabilities receive extensive pre-employment transition services to obtain and retain competitive integrated employment. The law also creates an Advisory Committee on strategies to increase competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.

OPM Releases “A Roadmap to Success: Hiring, Retaining and Including People with Disabilities” Online Course

On July 26, 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13548 on “Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities,” to mark the historic 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). EO 13548 says that the Federal Government, as the Nation’s largest employer, must become a model for the employment of individuals with disabilities. In continued support of EO 13548, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in consultation with partner agencies, has developed an online course entitled, “A Roadmap to Success: Hiring, Retaining and Including People with Disabilities.” This course will provide federal employees with basic information and resources to successfully hire, retain, and advance employees with disabilities. OPM is making this course available to agencies at no cost on HR University. In accordance with EO 13548, this training should be considered required training for human resources personnel and hiring managers. A memorandum to the Chief Human Capital Officers has been issued with instructions for accessing this course. Along with launching this course, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta has posted a blog and video on OPM’s website, recognizing the anniversary of the ADA and the contributions of employees with disabilities to the federal workforce.

ODEP and NCD to Host Online Dialogue on STEM Careers for People with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the National Council on Disability (NCD) announced the third online dialogue in their three-part series, “Encouraging People with Disabilities to Pursue Careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).” The purpose of this online dialogue is to gather insight, ideas and recommendations on how to take the necessary steps to ensure job opportunities in the STEM fields are open to everyone, including people with disabilities, and that individuals with disabilities are able to secure and succeed in those positions. Participants are encouraged to contribute their ideas on how to increase the number of people with disabilities pursuing STEM careers, as well as suggestions on how to provide better support to ensure successful employment outcomes in these growing fields. The virtual event begins July 28 and will run through August 8.

National Employer Policy, Research, and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities Prospective Applicants’ Conference Call Materials Available

The SCA-14-06 — Solicitation for Cooperative Agreement — for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy’s National Employer Policy, Research, and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities Prospective Applicants’ Conference Call was held Thursday, July 17, 2014. Now available on the ODEP website are the transcript of the call; an audio recording of the call; the transcript of the question and answer portion of the call, and the PowerPoint presentation from the call.

President Obama Signs Executive Order Protecting LGBT Workers

On July 21, 2014, President Obama signed an executive order (EO) prohibiting workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in the federal government and by federal contractors and subcontractors. This executive order amends EO 11478 and EO 11246 to include protections for LGBT workers. “The President understands the value diverse perspectives — including LGBT and disability perspectives — add to the workforce,” said Martinez. “When employees can bring their whole selves to work, everyone benefits.”

LEAD Center Archives Olmstead Webinar

To celebrate the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision and reflect on the past, present and future of Olmstead, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, in coordination with the LEAD Center, presented “Rising to the Occasion: ADA, Olmstead and State Efforts to Promote Integrated Employment of Individuals with Significant Disabilities”. A recorded archive of the webinar is now available. Visit the archive to view the recorded webinar and download presentation slides and the webinar transcript.