Welcome to our November issue. I hope that you will find something of value to you in this month's collection of resources!

For the past few weeks, I have been developing a new seminar for employers - intended to inspire hiring managers and recruiters to take a more proactive role in increasing the opportunities for people with disabilities to join their workforces.

While I intend to cover the basic "business case" data & statistics that make the case for the shrinking size of the workforce and need to explore untapped talent of people with disabilities, the productivity and reliability of employees with disabilities, the relatively low cost of accommodations, etc., I want to go beyond that. I don't believe that the "business case" alone effectively changes the behavior of many employers.

What are the true factors that compel some employers to become really proactive about seeking out and employing people with disabilities? What factors induce them to step out and increase the employment opportunities available in their workplaces? What drives them to become disability "champions" and "allies" in their companies and communities? I believe that a better understanding of the source of their motivation might help us to more effectively motivate other employers to become more proactive themselves.

I'd appreciate hearing from any readers, particularly employers, who would like to comment on this. While your comments will help me to develop my seminar, I will also summarize your feedback in next month's newsletter. Please send your comments to dnet@diversityworld.com.

ONLINE BROCHURES: Employment and Youth with Disabilities

The US Office of Disability Employment Policy has two new brochures (in PDF format) that focus on employment for youth with disabilities:

  “Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce: Including Talents of young People with Disabilities” estimates that there are approximately 2.4 million young people (ages 16 -24) in America. It encourages employers to proactively recruit from this labor pool and points them towards some organizations that can assist them in finding qualified applicants.See: http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/shaping_tomorrows_workforce.pdf 

  “Essential Skills to Getting a Job: What Young People with Disabilities Need to Know” is an overview of basic skills, issues and information that can help young people with disabilities to succeed in the job search process. See: http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/essential_job_skills.pdf

DIRECTORY: For Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members

A new National Resource Directory has been set up to assist wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, their families, and those who support them find helpful resources and services - including those related to careers and employment.

  See: https://www.nationalresourcedirectory.org 

THE OBAMA PLAN: The President Elect’s Plan to Empower American’s with Disabilities.

For readers who haven’t familiarized themselves with the President Elect’s stand on disability issues, a visit to barackobama.com and a review of the “Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities will be worthwhile. A video overview and a copy of the detailed plan are available. The four basic components are:

• Provide Americans with disabilities the educational opportunities that they need to succeed.

• End discrimination and promote equality

• Increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities’

• Support independent, community-based living.

  See: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities/

ONLINE RADIO: Disability Matters

Since 2003, long-time disability activist Joyce Bender has hosted Disability Matters – an online talk radio show that features guests with prominent roles in the disability arena. Broadcast online every Tuesday from 2:00pm - 3:00 pm Eastern Time, the show also features real-time captioning. (For those unable to access the show online, there is also a toll-free phone number.) Hundreds of past interviews are catalogued online both in print and audio format.

  See:

DISABILITY ETIQUETTE: Tips from Starbucks

“How would you shake hands with someone who has an artificial hand or no hand at all? How would you navigate a website if you couldn’t see the screen?” Take a moment to view this smart little collection of disability related facts and tips put together by Starbucks – a series of six engaging and educational pages in PDF format.

  See: http://wsbln.org/07 Poster Campaign sm.pdf

PREFERRED PURCHASING: Diversity-Disability Supplier Program (DDSP)

A new initiative is going to help companies identify companies owned by people with disabilities as suppliers of goods and services. The Boards of Directors of both the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and The Abilities Fund have formed a partnership to develop and launch a self-sustaining Diversity-Disability Supplier Program (DDSP). This initiative is just in the formative stages, however, companies that are interested in learning more, or in sponsoring the DDSP, are invited to be in touch.

  See: Contact Jill Houghton: Jilldh@bellsouth.net