ABLE Act Online Dialogue Report Now Available
The final summary report for “The ABLE Act: A Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes Online Dialogue” is now available to read online at ePolicyWorks.org. This virtual crowdsourcing event, hosted by the LEAD Center and ODEP’s ePolicyWorks, explored how youth and adults with disabilities can use ABLE accounts to advance employment and financial self-sufficiency. The online dialogue attracted more than 245 registrants, 100 comments, 218 votes and 28 postings. The feedback and responses of the participants will inform the LEAD Center’s future endeavors and will further provide guidance for the use of ABLE accounts.
“Tuesdays with Liz” Features ODEP Policy Advisor Richard Davis
“Tuesdays with Liz” is a weekly video series highlighting current issues in disability policy. It is hosted by Liz Weintraub, a long-time disability advocate, and produced by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Recently, Liz sat down with Richard Davis, Policy Advisor at the Office of Disability Employment Policy, to discuss Employment First and Customized Employment for people with disabilities.
PEAT Releases August eNews
The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology released the August edition of its eNews. This issue features the publication of PEAT’s enhanced resources on WIOA Guidance for American Job Centers, the updated draft of WCAG 2.1 from W3C, blogs on accessible technology issues from experts in the field, and more.
New ODEP Policies in Practice Profile — Erin Thompson
Erin Thompson is an Administrative Assistant at Rosetta Stone. Erin, who has Down syndrome, handles a variety of tasks in the office, such as data entry, processing expense reports, filing, delivering mail, and keeping the cooler and coffee station stocked. Her detail-oriented approach makes her a valuable member of the Rosetta Stone team. Outside of work, Erin is a community volunteer, and serves on the Self-Advocate Advisory Board of the National Down Syndrome Society.
EARN Publishes New Workforce Recruitment Program Success Stories
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion recently published two new profiles of Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) participants on its Success Stories webpage. The WRP is a free service managed by ODEP and the U.S. Department of Defense that connects employers with highly qualified postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities. The profiles highlight how CVS Health and Northrop Grumman Corporation were able to meet their talent needs through two outstanding WRP participants: Afomeya Mekonnen and LeAndre Yarrell, respectively.
Latest EARN Newsletter Now Available
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion has published its August 10 newsletter. This issue highlights the National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme, a blog about the ADA anniversary from Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, EARN’s participation in the recent conference of the National Industry Liaison Group, upcoming web events, and more.
For more information, go to www.dol.gov/odep.