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

DOL Announces Availability of Funds for Disability Employment Initiative Grants
U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of approximately $15 million in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for the Round VIII of the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI). The DEI provides funding to expand the capacity of American Job Centers (AJCs), also known as One-Stop Centers, to promote the use of existing career pathways to serve two populations: 1) adults (ages 18 and older) with visible, non-visible, and significant disabilities, including those who have acquired disabilities in adulthood; and 2) youth (ages 14-24) with visible, non-visible, and significant disabilities, including those who have chronic health conditions. The closing date for receipt of applications is July 31, 2017.

PEAT Talks: Neurodiversity & Workplace Technology — July 20, 2:00-3:00 PM ET
Sponsored by the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT), this “virtual talk” will feature Shea Tanis, Associate Director of the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, who will discuss why technology and information access is a critical right for everyone, and how technology solutions are changing employment opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities, including neurodiverse individuals.

Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application
A new resource, “Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application,” is a joint effort by the Youth Technical Assistance Center and the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration and supported also by the work of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and its technical assistance center, The LEAD Center. The document represents the combined efforts of several Customized Employment (CE) subject matter experts. Among its intended uses is the creation of a common understanding of Customized Employment among funding agencies and CE providers. It should also inform requests for proposals for CE training and to evaluate the quality of CE services and outcomes.

LEAD Center Publishes LEAD On! Newsletter
The LEAD Center’s quarterly e-newsletter LEAD On! highlights news and innovations in employment, policy and economic advancement for people with disabilities. The LEAD Center is dedicated to advancing sustainable individual and systems-level change to improve competitive, integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for people across the spectrum of disabilities. The June issue features information on the ABLE Act and employment, 2017 WIOA National Convenings, new resources and more.

PEAT Offers Accessible Technology Action Steps for Employers
Employers who want to ensure that their workplace technology is accessible to all employees and job applicants can utilize a valuable resource offered by the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT). “Accessible Technology Action Steps: A Guide for Employers” is a tool available on the PEAT website that walks employers through a set of steps to help them learn about how to implement accessible technology strategies in their workplace. Steps include “Get the Basics,” “Build Your Initiative,” “Buy and Implement” and more.