2012
See you in the fall for another great empoment event. Read below about our last annual conference.

2011

October 31, 2011
Georgetown University 2nd Annual Conference on Employment of People with Disabilities

The Georgetown University Conference on Employment of People with Disabilities
Georgetown University is proud to recognize the many strides of the past two decades in achieving greater freedom and independence for millions of people with disabilities, and to look ahead to an even brighter future for the disabilities movement. During October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Georgetown hosted the Annual Georgetown University Conference on Employment of People with Disabilities examining the challenges and opportunities in the area of employment of people with disabilities. As part of the conference, two panels of experts in the areas of public policy, business, federal contracting, and technology examined the history and future of disability employment.

This year we were proud to present the 2011 Human Spirit Award to the Honorable Bob Dole for his unwavering support of people with disabilities and his leadership enacting the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the 1975 Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the 1986 Protection and Advocacy for the Mentally Ill Act, the 1986 Air Carriers Access Act, the 1986 Education of the Deaf Act, the 1988 Technology Assistance Act, the 1990 Television Decoder Circuitry Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

This Conference could not be done without our partners: The Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Marshall, Alston + Bird, LLP; John D. Kemp, Executive President and CEO of ABILITIES!; Taylor Price; Cameron Lynch, President, The Lynch Group; the Georgetown student organization, DIVERSAbility; the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action, and the McDonough School of Business.

For more information about the agenda click here.

Publications

Impediments to Employment and Job Retention for Individuals with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities
The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Consumer Advisory Council Created a document on impediments to employment and recommendations to reduce barriers for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Preparation and Youth Transition

What Can You Do?: The Campaign for Disability Employment
Resource for youth and adults with disabilities, educators, and employers about how to prepare for and employ persons with disabilities. Website has a video on how people with different disabilities got quality, satisfying jobs.
http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/

Resources

Local Resources

District of Columbia Office on Disability Rights
This office has resources and information for employers and employees, accommodations and laws and regulations. http://odr.dc.gov

District of Columbia Department on Disabilities Services, Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation Services, Client Services Division provides vocational services to assist persons with disabilities to prepare for, enter, and maintain employment. Contact 202-442-8400 or click here for more information.

Federal Government Initiatives and Resources

Disability.gov
Resources and information about employment, career planning, work place supports and accommodations, self-employment, work incentives, youth programs, and laws and regulations. The site has information on other topics as well as such as civil rights, health, housing, technology, etc. http://www.disability.gov/employment

DisAbility Online
The US Department of Labor and Training Administration (DOLETA) develops and implements workforce policy and programs to support people with disabilities in accessing and navigating programs to obtain and retain jobs. Many employment resources and programs to prepare for and access employment can be found on this website. http://www.doleta.gov/disability/

Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities (LEAD)
This national outreach initiative was created by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to increase the number of individuals with disabilities employed by the federal government.  The program educates employers and conducts focus groups with employers and interested parties to come up with solutions to the declining numbers of people with severe disabilities employed by the federal government.
http://www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/lead/index.html

Federal Hiring of People with Disabilities
The U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has section on their website about the hiring authority regulations specifically used to hire people with disabilities.  The Federal Register notice announcing the authority and questions and answers are available.
http://www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro_3-02.asp

White House Employment Initiatives
In October 2009 the President Obama announced that his administration is committed to ensuring people with disabilities have fair and equal access to work. Click here to read the press release.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management Federal Employment of People with Disabilities
This site has many resources on federal disability hiring program, workplace accommodations, employment laws and frequently asked questions. http://www.opm.gov/DISABILITY/

National Initiatives and Resources

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AAPD is the largest national cross-disability organization for the purpose of advocating for implementing the goals of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). This organization has specific programs to improve employment outcomes for individuals with all types of disability. http://www.aapd.com/

Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN)
This is a free job network service that connects employers with job candidates.  Both job candidates and employers sign up with EARN.  In addition EARN promotes employer practices that allow recruitment and retention of employees with disabilities. 
http://www.earnworks.com/

Employment Diversity Network
Assists job seekers with disabilities and employers with proper accommodations and coaching and education about the advantages of hiring a diverse workforce and how to meet their needs. http://employmentdiversitynetwork.com/

National Business and Disability Council
Resource for employers seeking to integrate individuals with disabilities into their workforce. or companies seeking to reach consumers in the marketplace. This website contains resources for employers and job seekers. http://www.nbdc.com/