Subscribe to the weekly ODEP News Brief
![ODEP News Brief. Driving Change - Creating Opportunity](/https/www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/odep/newsletter/images/banner2016.jpg)
August 29, 2024
Happy Labor Day!
On Labor Day and every day, ODEP celebrates the workers and employers who make inclusion a priority. This holiday weekend, we have a special message of appreciation from Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams and other department leaders for all America’s workers. Thank you for keeping America running smoothly and showing the power of good jobs to change lives!
Webinar: Best Practices and Innovations in Customized Employment
To learn about best practices for using customized employment (CE) to improve competitive integrated employment outcomes in job seekers, join the next Employment First Community of Practice webinar on September 4, 2024, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. ET. During the session, leading CE providers will share innovative advancements in their field and offer recommendations for increasing CE nationwide. Participants will also hear from job seekers who benefited from CE and learn about the impact of CE through detailed provider case studies.
Webinar: NTIA Announces $1 Billion to Help Improve Digital Access
Join the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Administration for Community Living and ODEP for a webinar on September 4, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. ET to learn about the Digital Equity (DE) Competitive Grant Program. The NTIA announced nearly $1 billion available for DE grants, which aim to improve access and participation in the digital world, especially for communities that may lack equitable access, including people with disabilities, veterans, the elderly and those living in poverty or in rural areas. The webinar is intended for agencies that work with disabled or aging populations and for workforce development professionals and organizations.
Enrollment Is Open! Register Now with the WRP
The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is seeking applicants for its 2025 talent database. College students and recent graduates with a disability who are interested in federal employment are welcome to register and apply until October 15. Individuals must be a U.S. citizen and be seeking a degree or have recently received a degree from a U.S. college or university. The WRP provides disabled college students and recent graduates with career development and potential connections to federal employment.
White House Report Recognizes ePolicyWorks Online Dialogue
Thank you to all the participants of ODEP’s ePolicyWorks online dialogues! A new White House report titled “With the People, For the People: Strengthening Public Participation in the Regulatory Process” highlights our 2022 online dialogue “Advancing the National Apprenticeship System” as a model for fostering public engagement. The U.S. Department of Labor gathered extensive input from the public through this online dialogue to help inform its recently proposed regulation to strengthen Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), improve equity and access to RAPs, and enhance worker protections. Stay tuned for more ePolicyWorks engagement opportunities.