Department of Labor App Challenge

05.24.12 – The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has launched an app challenge inviting participants to compete for $10,000 in prizes and a chance for their app to be featured on the ODEP website.  The challenge aims to “promote recruitment resources for employers, develop job training and skill-building tools for job seekers, facilitate employment-related transportation options and expand information communication technology accessibility.”  The assistant secretary of labor for disability policy, Kathy Martinez highlighted the importance of this challenge stating, “Using today’s technology, we hope to inspire creative and innovative solutions to the pressing employment-related problems faced by people with disabilities.” Currently, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 12.5 percent compared to 7.6 percent of people without disabilities.  Submissions are asked to address the unemployment gap by ensuring that the apps are accessible, “provide access to important data and resources,” and are intended for a variety of job seekers, career counselors and employers.  Submissions for the challenge are due on August 23, 2012. [Source: Department of Labor]