Wireless RERC - Department of Labor

Wireless RERC Researchers among Recipients of Nearly $1.85M in Funding from Dept. of Labor

mz22 — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 13:59:58 +0000

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

Nearly $1.85M in funding to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities awarded by US Labor Department

September 2014 – Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), and home of the Wireless RERC, was among the awardees of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) cooperative agreement to establish a National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center. The Agreement will be led by The Viscardi Center in Albertson, New York, and partners include the United States Business Leadership Network; The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education & Human Development; the World Institute on Disability; the Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy; the National Conference of State Legislatures, in coordination with the National Governors Association; and the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Advanced Communications Policy and Scheller College of Business. Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business will address, among other things, helping employers recognize the unique benefits of employees with disabilities.

The National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center goals are to assist employers with “recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting people with disabilities by:

1. Analyzing employer research, policies and practices related to disability employment;

2. Researching effective employer engagement strategies; and

3. Developing and providing outreach and technical assistance to targeted employers, such as federal agencies, federal contractors, small businesses and state governments.”

Department of Labor Offers $15M in Grants for Employment of People with Disabilities

mz22 — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:38:40 +0000

Department of Labor

Disability Employment Initiative

employment

Grants

DOL $15M in Grant Funding

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has made nearly $15 million available for state workforce agencies in an attempt to “develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in existing career pathways programs in the public workforce system.” These grants are the fifth round of funds made available through the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) from the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy. The DEI, which has awarded in the range of $81 million to service people with disabilities through public workforce systems, aims to award at least one grant for projects focusing on adults with disabilities (18 and up), projects focusing on youth with disabilities (14-24) and projects focusing on individuals 14 years and older with significant disabilities. Eight different grants will likely be awarded and will range from $1.5 to $2.5 million for a 42 month span. To apply, please visit http://www.grants.gov. For details regarding the definition of “people with disabilities” for purposes of this funding, please visit the link below. Application deadlien is July 8, 2014.

Department of Labor App Challenge

blippincott4 — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:23:31 +0000

Apps

Department of Labor

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

employment

Department of Labor News Release

DOL Office of Disability Policy

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]