JUNE 11, 2015
WHAT'S NEW
EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT
OFCCP Posts Sample Transition Year AAPs
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs recently posted sample transition year Affirmative Action
Programs (AAPs) for federal contractors subject to Section 503 of the
Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance
Act. The AAPs were based on a company with less than 150 employees
but also may be used as guides for larger employers. Furthermore, they
are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only acceptable
formats for meeting regulatory requirements.
View the sample AAPs.
Leaders Gather to Discuss Strategies for Increasing
Disability Inclusion in the Federal Workforce
On May 28, about 50 leading thinkers on diversity issues from across the
federal sector convened in Washington, D.C., for a strategic planning and
engagement session, where they discussed key issues impacting the
employment of people with disabilities. The event was coordinated by the
Employer TA Center and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Office of Disability Employment Policy, the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in
order to inform their recommendations for sustaining the progress of
Executive Order 13548, Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with
Disabilities.
Learn more about disability employment in the federal sector.
Specialisterne
Specialisterne hires highfunctioning people with autism and
prepares them for jobs in the
technology sector, helping
employers understand the
connection between their skills and
those needed by the industry, such
as “pattern recognition, enhanced
memory and the ability to
consistently engage in repetitive
tasks.” Founded in 2004, the
Danish company, whose name
means “The Specialists,” is now
expanding worldwide, including in
the U.S.
Learn more about Specialisterne.
ASKEARN.ORG SPOTLIGHT
PTSD Awareness Month Helps Educate About NonVisible Disabilities
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, and an
opportune time to learn about how to best support veterans and other
employees who may experience PTSD through effective accommodations.
The Job Accommodation Network has a variety of resources to help, as
does the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD,
which spearheads PTSD Awareness Month each year.
The ADA and Workplace
Safety
Learn about accommodation ideas for people with PTSD or get PTSD
awareness materials for use in the workplace.
Did you know that June is National
Safety Month? As a result, it’s a
“Who I Am” DVD and Discussion Guide Now Available for
Order
great time to refresh knowledge of
employer policies and processes
for ensuring employee health and
safety and how they may intersect
with employer obligations under the
The discussion guide for the Campaign for Disability Employment’s “Who I
Am” public service announcement (PSA) is now available for order in hard
Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). To help, AskEARN.org
copy. Each guide includes a DVD with the PSA in multiple accessible
formats, offering an easy way to engage employees in a discussion about
disability in the workplace, including issues surrounding self-identification.
Currently in distribution nationwide, “Who I Am” features nine diverse
offers a webpage on the “ADA and
Workplace Safety,” which
addresses topics such as preemployment screenings, the
people with disabilities, among them actor RJ Mitte, best known for his role
in the hit television series “Breaking Bad.”
working environment,
confidentiality, environmental
sensitivities and workplace
emergency plans, among others.
Order “Who I Am” materials.
Visit the ADA and Workplace
Safety webpage.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Public Comments Due on ADA and Workplace Wellness
Programs NPRM
JUNE 19, 2015
DEADLINE
The deadline for providing public comments on the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and employersponsored health and wellness programs that are part of group health
plans is June 19. Issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission in April, this rule would provide guidance on how such
programs can comply with the ADA consistent with the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act, as amended by the Affordable Care Act.
Read more about the proposed rule.
Disability and Employment Symposium: Research
Informing Practice and Policy
JUNE 24, 8:45 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
EVENT
This conference will convene government representatives, researchers,
individuals with disabilities, employers and workforce professionals to
explore the intersection between disability employment research, practice
and policy. It will take place in Washington, D.C., and is sponsored by the
Interagency Committee on Disability Research’s Interagency Committee on
Employment and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Administration on Community Living.
Register for the Symposium.
America’s Disability Rights Museum on Wheels
VARIOUS THROUGHOUT 2015 - 2016
TOUR
The nation’s first ever disability rights mobile museum kicked off its crosscountry tour this week at the Wells Fargo Atrium in Charlotte, NC.
America’s Disability Rights Museum on Wheels offers an opportunity for
hands-on learning about the disability rights movement and technological
innovations resulting from the Americans with Disabilities Act, including
related to employment. As such, it offers an innovative opportunity for
disability awareness training.
Find out about identified stops in coming months.
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) is a resource for employers seeking to recruit, hire, retain and advance qualified
employees with disabilities. It is a service of the National Employer Policy, Research and Technical Assistance Center for Employers on the
Employment of People with Disabilities (Employer TA Center), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability
Employment Policy under a cooperative agreement with The Viscardi Center. For more information, visit AskEARN.org
Preparation of this material was funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant No. [OD-26451-1475-4-36]. This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of
Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.