For more information, go to www.dol.gov/odep.
WIOA Advisory Committee Holds First Meeting
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez gave welcoming remarks at the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, a key part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The meeting was held January 22 and 23 in Washington, DC. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez addressed the group, noting that “The collective expertise of the individuals on this committee is humbling, and I’m grateful for your willingness to share that expertise with us.” The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division Administrator David Weil and Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration Portia Wu also participated in the meeting.
The Family Connection: Supporting Postsecondary Success of Young Adults with Disabilities
Family support is crucial for young adults with disabilities as they transition from high school into postsecondary settings, noted Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez in a January 29 blog titled “The Family Connection: Supporting Postsecondary Success of Young Adults with Disabilities.” “But if we truly expect families to help youth with disabilities navigate their postsecondary journeys, they need the right tools and information,” said Martinez. To work towards that goal, the Office of Disability Employment Policy is hosting a National Online Dialogue on Families and Postsecondary Success from January 26-February 6, 2015. Families of youth with disabilities currently or recently enrolled in a postsecondary education program can register to participate in this “virtual town hall,” which will provide a forum for families to identify specific ways that postsecondary institutions and other providers can better assist them in supporting students’ educational and employment outcomes.
Job Accommodation Network Publishes Quarterly E-News
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) E-News is a quarterly online newsletter that keeps subscribers informed about low-cost and innovative accommodation approaches; the latest trends in assistive technologies; announcements of upcoming JAN presentations, media events, trainings, and Webcasts; and legislative and policy updates promoting the employment success of people with disabilities. Featured in this edition are articles on establishing a centralized accommodation fund, dress codes under the ADA, the JAN blog, and many other topics.
EARN Newsletter Now Available
The latest issue of the Employer Assistance and Resource Network’s (EARN) newsletter was released last week, featuring information about the Workforce Recruitment Program, upcoming events, and mentoring resources in honor of National Mentoring Month. EARN is a service of the ODEP-funded National Employer Policy, Research, and Technical Assistance Center for Employers on the Employment of People with Disabilities (Employer TA Center). In addition to issuing its biweekly newsletter, EARN disseminates information via social media and encourages anyone interested in current trends in disability inclusion to subscribe to its feeds.