U.S. Department of Labor Blog
When I first joined the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) during President Trump’s first term, I was proud to advance ODEP’s mission—one that holds personal significance—to develop and influence policies and practices that help more people with disabilities connect with high-quality employment opportunities.
Six years later, I'm grateful to return, under the leadership of Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, to help lead the agency whose work benefits individuals with disabilities, employers, and the country.
This July, as the President kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, we also will commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to celebrate the powerful role Americans with disabilities have played in our country’s evolution and fortitude.
The ADA affirmed the right to work for people with disabilities, setting into law their right to contribute their many skills and talents to the American workplace. Specifically, it prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of disability and ensures the right to job accommodations when needed to apply for or perform a job. This landmark legislation renewed our nation’s founding values of independence and self-determination. Work is often thought of as just earning a paycheck. However, work also means self-sufficiency, community engagement, dignity, and a sense of belonging.
We would like to invite business owners, hiring managers, and others to join ODEP this month to learn more about disability employment. Join us July 23 for a webinar about the wide-ranging benefits of hiring people with disabilities, benefits that many employers may not have considered.
The webinar (register for free here) will be hosted by two key ODEP resources: the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN) and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). EARN works with businesses to adopt workplace practices that support the hiring and advancement of people with disabilities. JAN is the nation’s leading source of expertise and guidance on workplace accommodations.
EARN and JAN experts will explain why businesses gain a competitive advantage by hiring talented individuals with disabilities. Webinar speakers will also clarify employer responsibilities under the ADA and provide insights on applicable tax incentives. Most importantly, the webinar will highlight the many practical tools and resources available through JAN and EARN.
By helping businesses tap into the more than 22 million working-age Americans with disabilities with varied skills, ODEP supports the Trump Administration’s goals to combat the cost-of-living crisis, fill high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future, and support the Golden Age of economic opportunity for the American workforce.
The President recently shared a message on the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, celebrating the “rights upon which our nation was built.” I encourage all Americans to pause and reflect on the foundational tenet enshrined in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.”
When we strive to realize this ideal for all people, including people with disabilities, we improve lives, enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and help further this great American experiment established nearly 250 years ago.
Brian Walsh is the deputy assistant secretary for policy in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.