U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
ODEP News Release: [08/04/2011]Contact Name: Gloria Della or Bennett GamblePhone Number: (202) 693-8666 or x4667Release Number: 11-1141-NAT
WASHINGTON — Today at the National Disability Forum in Washington, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced the availability of approximately $1.6 million in funding for the Add Us In initiative, which will fund up to three cooperative agreements with allotments ranging from $500,000 to $550,000 each.
The initiative is designed to increase the ability of companies to employ individuals with disabilities, particularly businesses owned and operated by African-Americans; Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders; Latinos; members of federally recognized tribes and Native Americans; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals; and women.
"The Labor Department is committed to ensuring that every American who wants a job can find one, including people with disabilities. The Add Us In initiative will help businesses develop strategies to provide a broader range of employment opportunities for this underutilized group of workers," said Secretary Solis.
Eligible applicants are consortia having representation from each of the following four organization types: 1) An association of targeted businesses, a business association located in a target population community, or other similar entity; 2) a disability-serving organization; 3) a local workforce investment board or other organization with demonstrated experience in providing training and employment-related support services, such as a One-Stop Career Center; 4) and a youth-serving organization.
In addition to developing models, strategies and policies to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, a consortium must also form and strengthen connections among the four organization types by building a network of disability and diversity experts.
The full announcement for this grant opportunity can be found at http://www.dol.gov/odep/Addusin. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 2.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/odep20111141.htm
Showing posts with label Add Us In Initiative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Add Us In Initiative. Show all posts
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Adding Value to Small Businesses
U.S. DOL, Office of Disability Employment Policy
Business Sense
Diversity leads to innovation. By fostering a work culture respectful of individual differences, employers benefit from varied perspectives on how to confront challenges and achieve success. In fact, most of today's most successful companies proudly deem diversity a core corporate value.
Although often used in reference to differences in race or ethnicity, diversity actually encompasses a wide range of attributes and experiences, including disability. This intersection is the premise behind Add Us In, a new U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) initiative that aims to assist small businesses — including the rapidly increasing number of those owned by diverse individuals — to employ people with disabilities.
A major goal of Add Us In is to identify successful, replicable models adopted by small businesses in different industries. Thus, ODEP is encouraging small businesses to share their experiences related to the employment of people with disabilities. As part of this, a National Diversity Forum will be held on August 4, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Businesses interested in participating should e-mail huberman.michael@dol.gov.
Small businesses are the engine of economic growth in the U.S. Through effective disability employment policies and practices, they also have the power to drive innovation through diverse perspectives — strengthening not only the nation's economy, but also its ideals.
For additional news and resources, sign up for ODEP's e-mail updates.
http://www.dol.gov/odep/bsense/bsense0611.htm
Business Sense
Diversity leads to innovation. By fostering a work culture respectful of individual differences, employers benefit from varied perspectives on how to confront challenges and achieve success. In fact, most of today's most successful companies proudly deem diversity a core corporate value.
Although often used in reference to differences in race or ethnicity, diversity actually encompasses a wide range of attributes and experiences, including disability. This intersection is the premise behind Add Us In, a new U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) initiative that aims to assist small businesses — including the rapidly increasing number of those owned by diverse individuals — to employ people with disabilities.
A major goal of Add Us In is to identify successful, replicable models adopted by small businesses in different industries. Thus, ODEP is encouraging small businesses to share their experiences related to the employment of people with disabilities. As part of this, a National Diversity Forum will be held on August 4, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Businesses interested in participating should e-mail huberman.michael@dol.gov.
Small businesses are the engine of economic growth in the U.S. Through effective disability employment policies and practices, they also have the power to drive innovation through diverse perspectives — strengthening not only the nation's economy, but also its ideals.
For additional news and resources, sign up for ODEP's e-mail updates.
http://www.dol.gov/odep/bsense/bsense0611.htm
Monday, October 11, 2010
US Department of Labor’s ‘Add Us In’ initiative provides more than $2.4 million to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
News Release
ODEP News Release: [09/30/2010]
Contact Name: Bennett Gamble or Clarisse Young
Phone Number: (202) 693-4667 or x5051
Release Number: 10-1387-NAT
WASHINGTON — As part of its "Add Us In" initiative, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy awarded four two-year cooperative agreements totaling more than $2.4 million to consortia led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo.; Community Partners-Integrated Recovery Network in Los Angeles, Calif.; The Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn.; and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
The consortia will create replicable models and strategies that can be used nationwide by businesses and employers to reach out to people with disabilities in their communities, build a national and local network of experts skilled in serving a diversity of individuals with disabilities, and improve employment opportunities and outcomes for diverse people with disabilities. According to recent data from the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of August 2010, the percentage of individuals with disabilities participating in the labor force was 22.0 percent compared with 70.2 percent for individuals with no disability. About one in five people with disabilities is in the labor force, and the unemployment rate for those with disabilities remains much higher than the national average.
"This administration is committed to expanding job opportunities for all Americans, including individuals with disabilities," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Add Us In will expand opportunities for workers with disabilities and help ensure that everyone who wants to work can find a good job."
More than 10 million Americans who are members of ethnic and racial minority groups have long-lasting disabling conditions or impairments. When looking at the relationship between disability and employment, researchers have found that individuals with disabilities from these groups are often at increased risk for unemployment. Add Us In is an important step toward integrating disability and diversity into employers' workforce planning and addressing employment disparities for people with disabilities.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez noted, "It is quite appropriate for the Add Us In grants to be awarded on the eve of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We look forward to the Add Us In consortia improving the ability of businesses to employ individuals with disabilities and serving as examples of success during NDEAM for many years to come."
The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships, and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities.
To learn more about the Add Us In initiative, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep.
Editor's Note: A complete listing of the consortia and their members follows this release.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20101387.htm
Office of Disability Employment Policy
News Release
ODEP News Release: [09/30/2010]
Contact Name: Bennett Gamble or Clarisse Young
Phone Number: (202) 693-4667 or x5051
Release Number: 10-1387-NAT
WASHINGTON — As part of its "Add Us In" initiative, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy awarded four two-year cooperative agreements totaling more than $2.4 million to consortia led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo.; Community Partners-Integrated Recovery Network in Los Angeles, Calif.; The Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn.; and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
The consortia will create replicable models and strategies that can be used nationwide by businesses and employers to reach out to people with disabilities in their communities, build a national and local network of experts skilled in serving a diversity of individuals with disabilities, and improve employment opportunities and outcomes for diverse people with disabilities. According to recent data from the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of August 2010, the percentage of individuals with disabilities participating in the labor force was 22.0 percent compared with 70.2 percent for individuals with no disability. About one in five people with disabilities is in the labor force, and the unemployment rate for those with disabilities remains much higher than the national average.
"This administration is committed to expanding job opportunities for all Americans, including individuals with disabilities," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Add Us In will expand opportunities for workers with disabilities and help ensure that everyone who wants to work can find a good job."
More than 10 million Americans who are members of ethnic and racial minority groups have long-lasting disabling conditions or impairments. When looking at the relationship between disability and employment, researchers have found that individuals with disabilities from these groups are often at increased risk for unemployment. Add Us In is an important step toward integrating disability and diversity into employers' workforce planning and addressing employment disparities for people with disabilities.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez noted, "It is quite appropriate for the Add Us In grants to be awarded on the eve of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We look forward to the Add Us In consortia improving the ability of businesses to employ individuals with disabilities and serving as examples of success during NDEAM for many years to come."
The Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships, and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities.
To learn more about the Add Us In initiative, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep.
Editor's Note: A complete listing of the consortia and their members follows this release.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20101387.htm
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