October 5, 2004

Labor Secretary Chao Awards $1.5 Million Grant To Address Chronic Homelessness Among People With Disabilities

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao awarded a $1.5 million technical assistance grant to the Corporation for Supportive Housing as part of a Bush Administration initiative to end chronic homelessness among persons with disabilities.

News Release

News September 16, 2004

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Awards $2.4 Million in Telework Grants

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to help fund initiatives that will increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Connecticut, Minnesota and Virginia.

Release

July 8, 2004

Secretary Chao Announces Availability of $2.5 Million Grant for Improving Telework Employment Strategies

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced the availability of a $2.5 million grant through the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which is aimed at increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities through telework positions.

The Telework/Telecommuting Pilot Research solicitation will fund up to three pilot research projects designed to investigate, develop and validate strategies likely to yield the largest number of telework positions for people with disabilities.

News Release
Federal Register Notice

June 10, 2004

Labor Secretary Chao Announces $1.5 Million Grant Aimed at Ending Chronic Homelessness Among People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON - On June 10, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the availability of a $1.5 million technical assistance grant designed to help fulfill the Bush Administration's ten-year goal of ending chronic homelessness among persons with disabilities.

"In keeping with the promise of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative and his goal of ending chronic homelessness, this $1.5 million grant from the Department of Labor will strengthen customized employment and permanent housing services so that chronically homeless people with disabilities may live, work and fully participate in their communities," said Secretary Chao, who is also Vice Chair of the government's Interagency Council on Homelessness.

News Release
Grant Solicitation

May 14, 2004

Deadline Extended - 2004 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations

The deadline to receive nominations for the Secretary of Labor's 2004 New Freedom Initiative Award has been extended from May 21, 2004 to Friday, May 28, 2004. Established in 2002, this award recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment objectives of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative. Nomination and application packages must meet the deadline criteria as defined in the extension notice published in the May 14, 2004 issue of the Federal Register, as well as the eligibility and nomination criteria published in the original notice in the February 27 issue of the Federal Register. Both Federal Register notices are also available on this site.

May 6, 2004

ODEP Releases Report on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

On December 2-3, 2003, ODEP hosted Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities: An Interagency Seminar of Exchange for Federal Managers. The event, which was the first of its kind, brought together more than 200 federal managers and experts representing nearly 90 agencies and offices in the areas of disability, emergency preparedness, and workplace safety. Attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas and share information related to the development, implementation and maintenance of emergency preparedness plans that involve people with disabilities.

A report summarizing the proceedings is now available online.

April 22, 2004

2004 Disability Mentoring Day Announced

National "Disability Mentoring Day: Career Development for the 21st Century" will be held on October 20, 2004. Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is designed to enhance internship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities by bringing them together with employers for a day of job shadowing and other hands-on career exploration activities. DMD is a partnership activity between the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the American Association of People with Disabilities. This national event supports ODEP's goals of improving transition outcomes for youth with disabilities and building partnerships with employers and federal, state, and local agencies to increase awareness of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. For additional information, please visit the Disability Mentoring Day website.

March 17, 2004

Workforce Recruitment Program Database Now Available

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) database is now available on CD-ROM to federal and private sector employers. The database contains information on over 1,500 college students with disabilities who are interested in summer or permanent jobs in a wide variety of fields. To find out more about this free resource, visit our WRP information page.

February 25, 2004

Nominations Open for the Secretary's 2004 New Freedom Initiative Award

ODEP invites nominations for the Secretary of Labor's 2004 New Freedom Initiative Award. Established in 2002, this award recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment objectives of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative. The eligibility criteria and nomination process, as published in the February 27 issue of the Federal Register, may also be accessed at this site. The deadline for receipt of nominations is May 21, 2004.

News Release
Federal Register Notice

February 5, 2004

Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces 2005 Spending Plan

On February 2, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced details of the Department of Labor's Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 request of $57.3 billion, of which $45.4 billion is mandatory and $11.9 billion is in discretionary budget authority, and 17,419 full-time staff.

News Release
ODEP Budget Information