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From: Virtual Majordomo Account [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
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Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 12:57 PM
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Subject: New Office on Disability Policy.


                      Justice For All

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              New Office on Disability Policy

Jonathan_M._Young, [log in to unmask], writes:
Below please find a press release from the Department of Labor.  Last
Monday, Secretary Herman announced that the President's FY01 budget
includes the creation of a new Office on Disability Policy, Evaluation
and
Technical Assistance, which was one of the recent recommendations by the
Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities.
Significantly, this office would (if approved by Congress) be headed by
an
Assistant Secretary, which would give high exposure and priority to the
issues of employment for people with disabilities.  Congratulations to
everyone at DOL and the Task Force on this initiative.


--
                      Wednesday February 9, 2000


The U.S. Labor Department's proposed 2001 budget includes funding For
a new Office on Disability Policy, Evaluation and Technical Assistance.
Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said the new office will be charged
with increasing the employment rate of people with disabilities.

Secretary Herman discussed details of the department's proposed budget
for next year during a briefing in Washington Monday.  She requested $21
million to set up the disability office and said it would be headed by
an
assistant secretary.

'This new office will provide leadership in helping people with
disabilities enter, reenter and remain in the workforce,' Secretary
Herman
said.  'With the recent passage of the Workforce Incentives Improvement
Act
and the Workforce Investment Act, the stage is set to achieve real
change
in the unemployment rate for people with disabilities.'

The Labor Department's new disability office would ensure that people
with disabilities get full consideration in all programs funded or
managed
by the department; that the laws enforced by the department are
evaluated
to remove any barriers that may exist for people with disabilities; and
absorb the President's Committee on the Employment of People With
Disabilities, which works with employers to develop strategies to employ
persons with disabilities.

The Work Incentives Improvement Act makes it possible for millions of
people with disabilities to take jobs without losing their health care.
The
Workforce Investment Act establishes a system of one-stop career centers
throughout the country and funds job training programs.  The disability
office also would be directed to make sure that all services of the
one-stop centers are accessible for people with disabilities.

Currently only 29 percent of working age people with disabilities are
employed, though of those not working, 72 percent want to work.  The
Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities
recommended that the Labor Department office be established to improve
opportunities for people with disabilities.

Task Force Executive Director Becky Ogle said that creating the office
'demonstrates the commitment to put people with disabilities to work.'
Secretary Herman chairs the task force.

U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at:
The
Information in this news release will be made available to sensory
impaired
Individuals upon request.

Bennett Gamble
202-693-4650

Jonathan_M._Young
[log in to unmask],


--
Fred Fay
Chair, Justice For All
[log in to unmask]
http://www.jfanow.org

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