Here is today's Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) Disability News message.? I hope you have a wonderful day.?
Martha
Martha K. Gabehart | Executive Director
Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC)
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
900 SW Jackson, Suite 100 | Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-6525 (direct) | (785) 260-4027 (cell)
[email protected] | www.kcdcinfo.ks.gov
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This message is from the US Department of Labor (DOL)
News Release
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES 2023 THEMES TO PROMOTE IMPORTANCE OF ADVANCING DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT, HONOR LANDMARK LEGISLATION?S ANNIVERSARY
Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Rehabilitation Act of 1973
WASHINGTON ? To mark two significant events in 2023 for people with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has selected themes to promote National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and honor the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
ODEP has chosen ?Advancing Access and Equity? as its theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month in 2023. Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America?s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive policies and practices that benefit employees and employers alike.
Each year, the agency chooses an NDEAM theme for use by organizations around the nation to recognize the importance of ensuring people with disabilities have equal opportunity to prepare for and succeed in employment.
Similarly, ODEP will use ?Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next? to celebrate the passage of the Rehabilitation Act a half-century ago and its importance in prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment by federal agencies, federal contractors and recipients of federal funds, and in the delivery of federally funded programs and activities. ODEP will use the theme to promote activities to mark passage of the act, the first federal legislation to address access and equity for people with disabilities.
?National Disability Employment Awareness Month reminds us of the valued contributions people with disabilities make in our nation?s workplaces, and the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 marks a major milestone in our nation?s ongoing quest to advance access and equity for all Americans,? said Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams. ?So, from now through October, we will be exploring the act?s impact on everything from employment to community living to non-discrimination to accessible technology.?
The Rehabilitation Act laid the foundation upon which the more comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 now stands. These laws continue to be vital tools used to advance access and equity for workers from historically underserved communities and meet the goals in the department?s Equity Action Plan.
Learn more about ODEP and NDEAM, including how different organizations can participate.
Agency Office of Disability Employment Policy
Date May 11, 2023
Release Number 23-810-NAT
Media Contact: Bennett Gamble
Phone Number 202-693-6587
Email [email protected]
United States Department of Labor
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
200 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20210
1-866-4-USA-DOL
1-866-487-2365
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This message is the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief
Driving Change | Creating Opportunity
May 19, 2023
DOL Announces Funding Opportunity to Support Employment Policy Development for Youth with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor announced this week the availability of $1.5 million in funds for the first year of a cooperative agreement to operate a policy development center focused on advancing employment opportunities and outcomes for youth with disabilities. Administered by the department?s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the funding will build on the work of ODEP?s Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth. This youth technical assistance center will conduct research, engage with the workforce system and its partners, identify effective policies and practices that support the employment of youth with disabilities, and provide resources and training to help support their transition to adulthood. ODEP anticipates the availability of $7.5 million in funds for a five-year budget period, subject to federal fund availability. The solicitation is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement.
Prospective Applicant Webinar for Employer-Focused Disability Policy Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Labor announced last week the availability of $2 million in funds for the first year of a cooperative agreement for an employer-focused, disability policy development and technical assistance center. The agency anticipates the availability of $10 million in funds for a five-year budget period, subject to federal fund availability. The announced funding availability is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement to manage the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion. EARN helps employers, human resources professionals, and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility staff find the resources they need to recruit, hire, retain and advance people with disabilities. A prospective applicant webinar to discuss key features of the opportunity will be held on Thursday, May 25 from 3:00 ? 4:30 pm ET.
ODEP?s Michael Reardon Named Sammies Award Finalist
ODEP is proud to announce that Policy Advisor Michael Reardon was named a finalist for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals. Sponsored by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, the Sammies are the premier awards program honoring excellence and innovation in federal service. Reardon was selected from more than 350 impressive nominations, winning a finalist slot in the Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement category for successfully promoting policies and practices that have provided greater access to employment, transportation and technology for millions of people with disabilities. All Sammies finalists are eligible for the Service to America Medals People?s Choice Award. Now through June 30, the public can vote once per day for the individuals and teams that make them most proud of our Federal Government.
Read Michael Reardon?s Sammies finalist profile
Vote for the People's Choice Award
New ODEP Blog Highlighting AA and NHPI Workers with Disabilities in Skilled Trade Professions
A new data spotlight from ODEP explores the employment of Asian Americans (AA), Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) with disabilities in the skilled trades, with data breakdowns for four specific categories. Among the findings is that approximately 56,000 (18%) work in the skilled trades, with the largest representation (44%) in production.
SEED Promotes Disability Employment Best Practices during Annual Summit
Last week, the State Exchange on Employment & Disability presented on a disability-focused legislative panel to more than 20 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly during Representative Dan Miller?s 10th Annual Disability & Mental Health Summit in Pittsburgh, PA. The session, ?Recommendations of the Employment First Oversight Commission,? featured model state employer examples of disability-inclusive policies and practices. The annual summit convenes stakeholders from federal and state government, disability and community organizations, and the private sector to engage policymakers and exchange topical information on disability and mental health.
New Way to Learn about FOAs
ODEP recently added a new topic link to its subscription feature that individuals and organizations can use to sign up to learn about ODEP funding opportunity announcements once they are announced.
Subscribe to receive FOA updates
EARN Wins MUSE Creative Award for the Website, Diversity & Inclusion Category
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) won a Website - Diversity & Inclusion 2023 MUSE Creative Silver Award for AskEARN.org. Hosted by the International Awards Associate, MUSE Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals who inspire others with their concepts, ideas or designs. The awards are composed of a series of competitions that honor excellence from various fields. EARN is thrilled to receive recognition under this category as it promotes resources, tools and valuable information to help advance and integrate disability inclusion in the workplace and into organizational DEIA plans.
New NGA/SEED Commentary on Policy Solutions to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace
The National Governors Association, in partnership with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED), published a new commentary, ?Governors Lead on Solutions to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace.? The commentary highlights a recent panel discussion at the NGA 2023 Workforce Symposium featuring ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams, among others, and examines three key strategies for states to better serve workers with mental and behavioral health conditions. Strategies include fostering interagency coordination; leveraging private sector best practices and partnerships; and growing the behavioral health workforce.
Supporting Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions in Employment and Beyond
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, join the Employment First Community of Practice on Wednesday, May 31 from 3:00 ? 4:00 PM ET for the webinar, ?Supporting Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions in Employment and Beyond.? The webinar will focus on strategies to support jobseekers in the Intellectual and Developmental Disability community who may have diagnosed or undiagnosed co-occurring mental health conditions. Speakers will discuss how employment services teams can understand jobseekers' immediate and long-term needs, provide the correct level of support, and take a person-centered approach to helping these jobseekers be successful in job placement and job retention.
U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE ? CREATING OPPORTUNITY
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