‘America’s People, America’s Talent... America’s Strength!’ is 2008 National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that "America's People, America's Talent... America's Strength!" will be the official 2008 theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is observed in October nationwide. The 2008 theme captures the accomplishments highlighted in the 2007 progress report on President Bush's New Freedom Initiative for people with disabilities. READ MORE…

University of Maryland Study on Factors Related to Reasonable Accommodation
American with Disabilities Act(ADA)requires that reasonable accommodation should be provided to individuals with disabilities at the workplace. The purpose of this study is to (a) compare the perception of significance on factors affecting job accommodation requests and provisions among persons with disabilities, employers who are employing persons with disabilities and service providers; (b) attempt to examine the latent themes among these factor items. Please answer the survey questionnaire based upon your own experience or knowledge, NOT your opinion on what the ideal should be. CLICK HERE to take the survey.

Sign language is part of Disney's world
How might you say Mickey Mouse in Spanish? Mickey Mouse will do -- after all, it's a proper name. What about in American Sign Language? READ MORE…

The Department of Justice Proposes New Rules to Implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced today its intent to solicit comment on proposed amendments to its regulations implementing Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The proposed regulations will, for the first time, establish specific requirements for the design of accessible public facilities such as courtrooms and an array of recreation facilities including playgrounds, swimming pools, amusement parks, and golf courses, making it easier for individuals with disabilities to travel, enjoy sports and leisure activities, play, and otherwise participate in society. READ MORE…

The 2008 DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
What makes a company a leader for people with disabilities? Strong employee-resource groups, supplier diversity, recruitment, work/life benefits and customer service. READ MORE…

Senator urges agencies, Congress to hire more disabled employees - April 14, 2008
The federal government must hire more people with disabilities to meet its obligation as a model employer, said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., in a Monday lecture at New York Law School. READ MORE...

New England ADA Center Releases New Videos – March 28, 2008
In the videos, students with disabilities share strategies to successfully stay in school, graduate and get jobs. Students reveal their struggles with self-reporting their disability, and negotiating accommodations in school and at work. DVDs are available upon request. WATCH VIDEOS

2007 State of Workplace Diversity Management A Survey Report by the Society for Human Resource Management - February 2008
The report that follows is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind, gathering data from the front lines—human resource professionals and diversity management experts—to gain a better understanding of the current status of diversity management and to learn what human resource professionals and diversity management experts believe is necessary for them to increase their effectiveness in addressing diversity-related challenges. READ MORE (PDF)

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Calls for 2008 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations - January 29, 2008
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has called upon nonprofit organizations, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities to submit entries for the 2008 Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. READ MORE

Exploring the Bottom Line: A Study of the Costs and Benefits of Workers with Disabilities – January 28, 2008
In a first-of-its-kind study unveiled to Chicago-region business leaders on January 28, a team of researchers at DePaul University discussed research results that found employees with disabilities from the healthcare, retail and hospitality sectors in the region were just as dependable and productive as employees without disabilities. In addition, researchers also discussed research results that showed accommodation costs associated with workers with disabilities were often minimal and well worth the expense. READ MORE…

NCD Says NCLB and IDEA Having Positive Impact - January 28, 2008
The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released a report analyzing the progress of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that says students with disabilities are no longer ignored. To that end, NCLB and IDEA have had a significant, positive impact. READ MORE

(April 16, 2008) - Local businesses form a network focused on disabilities to get a competitive edge
To help businesses tap into this underutilized talent pool, 10 business representatives from Binghamton, Syracuse, Ithaca, Rochester and Buffalo as well as staff from Cornell and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, met at the ILR Conference Center on April 2 to inaugurate the Business Leadership Network (BLN) of CNY. This new chapter of the U.S. Business Leadership Network is co-chaired by Lynette Chappell-Williams, director of Cornell's Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity and Life Quality and Tony Ruiz-Quintanilla, director of the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) of Cornell's Employment and Disability Institute in the ILR School. READ MORE…

(March 31, 2008) - BLN EMPLOYERS DIVERSIFY THEIR WORKFORCES TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Florida’s local Business Leadership Network members are opening their doors to employees with disabilities, according to the 2007-08 Pre and Post BLN Member Survey. Between 2006 and 2007, the percent of respondents saying that as a result of their “BLN involvement” they hired, mentored or provided internships to workers with disabilities rose from 46 to 62 percent, a 16 percent increase. Of the 631 employer members in the 10 local BLNs working with Wilson Resources, Inc. (WRI), 138 responded to the BLN survey, a response rate of 22 percent. For more information, see the attached news release and full report. PRESS RELEASE(PDF) | FULL REPORT(PDF)

(March 1, 2008) Employers: Looking for great employees who think outside the box?
The OBLN and the Oregon Business Plan are co-sponsors of Look At My Ability, a new 2 minute video on the largely under-tapped skilled labor pool of Oregonians with disabilities. The video addresses the work ethic and skills represented by this labor pool. The video was produced with a grant from the Oregon Department of Human Services by Morgali Films. VIDEO.

(January 20, 2008) – Tampa Bay Metro Business Leadership Network- How it helps you!
Bob Haber and JoJo Ruby-white talks about Tampa Bay Metro Business Leadership Network and how they educate employers about people with disabilities. VIDEO.