US Labor Department seeks submissions for disability employment 
app challenge

The U.S.  Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment 
Policy today announced the launch of its first disability-related 
application challenge, which is designed to generate innovative 
tools that will improve employment opportunities and outcomes for 
people with disabilities.

"I am thrilled to announce the Labor Department's first 
disability employment app challenge.  Using today's technology, 
we hope to inspire creative and innovative solutions to the 
pressing employment-related problems faced by people with 
disabilities," said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor 
for disability employment policy.

Submissions should provide access to important data and 
resources; attract users with different skill sets and language 
preferences; be accessible (that is, compatible and interoperable 
with assistive technology commonly used by individuals with 
disabilities, such as screen reading and speech recognition 
software); and consider partnerships that will ensure 
sustainability of the app.  In addition, they should be targeted 
toward a variety of audiences such as students, teachers, 
employers, career counselors and workforce professionals, as well 
as individuals with disabilities working or seeking work at all 
levels in a variety of salaried and hourly jobs.

Awards with cash prizes - totaling $10,000 - will be given to the 
top three submissions, including the grand prize Innovation 
Award, the second prize People's Choice Award, and the third 
prize Above and Beyond Accessibility Award.  The winners will be 
featured prominently on ODEP's website, http://www.dol.gov/odep/, 
as well as at 
http://disability.gov<http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?ex
iturl=http://disability.gov/&exitTitle=www.disability_gov&fedpage
=yes> and through other public outreach vehicles.

Contestants must register for the contest on the Challenge.gov 
website by creating an account at 
http://challenge.gov/users/login<http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave
-dol.asp?exiturl=http://challenge.gov/users/login&exitTitle=www.c
hallenge.gov&fedpage=yes>.  Each registrant will receive a 
confirmation email and may then enter a submission via the "Post 
a Submission" tab at 
http://disability.challenge.gov<http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-
dol.asp?exiturl=http://disability.challenge.gov&exitTitle=www.dis
ability.challenge.gov&fedpage=yes>.  Submissions must be entered 
between May 23 at 12 a.m.  EDT and Aug.  23 at 11:59 p.m.  EDT.  
Late entries will not be eligible for prizes.

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