White House Announces Groundbreaking Effort to Promote Equal Opportunity for Americans with Disabilities http://www.aapd.com/resources/press-room/white-house-announces.html For Immediate Release August 27, 2013 Contact: Colin Schwartz Phone: 202-521-4309 cschwartz@aapd.com Washington, DC (August 27, 2013) – Speaking before a group of veterans today, Vice President Joe Biden announced the Administration's intention to move forward with a landmark effort that would require federal contractors to set a 7 percent hiring target for people with disabilities. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, praises President Barack Obama for enforcing the landmark rule, which delivers on a 40 year old bipartisan promise by the federal government to require contractors to include disability as part of diversity hiring goals. Specifically, the initiative will enforce Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires federal contractors to promote equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “President Obama has ended discrimination based on disability in health coverage, has signed into law rules that expand access to technology, and enforced the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead for the first time, and today's announcement could be his greatest achievement, " said Mark Perriello, the President and CEO of AAPD."Obama has once again demonstrated his historic commitment to creating equal economic opportunity for Americans with disabilities, who for too long have experienced widespread discrimination in the workplace.” After more than twenty years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the unemployment rate of people with disabilities remains high at 14.7 percent, nearly double the rate of people without disabilities at 7.4 percent. Further, people with disabilities have a workforce participation rate of only 20.3 percent. Although Section 503 was enacted 40 years ago, it has never been enforced or clarified to the extent necessary, requiring employers only to make a “good faith” effort to hire people with disabilities. This rule establishes an explicit benchmark of 7 percent and includes data collection and record keeping requirements that will improve employer accountability. The regulation comes after President Obama issued an Executive Order in 2010 that committed the nation's largest employer, the federal government, to become a model for the employment of Americans with disabilities. The regulation was first proposed in December, 2011. This regulation is widely supported by businesses including two of AAPD's strongest partners, American Airlines and Amerigroup. As a result of this regulation, federal contractors will have a more diverse workforce, and will benefit from the contributions of qualified and hardworking Americans with disabilities. A survey by the National Organization on Disability has also indicated that contractors are ready to implement Section 503. To find out more information on Section 503 and the perspective of the disability community, please go here. ### About AAPD The American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation's largest disability rights organization. We promote equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. Our members, including people with disabilities and our family, friends, and supporters, represent a powerful force for change.  To learn more, visit the AAPD Web site: www.aapd.com.  ### News Release OFCCP News Release: [08/27/2013] Contact Name: Laura McGinnis or Mike Trupo Phone Number: (202) 693-4653 or x6588 Email: McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov or Trupo.Michael2@dol.gov Release Number: 13-1578-NAT   US Labor Department announces final rules to improve employment of veterans, people with disabilities   WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two final rules to improve hiring and employment of veterans and for people with disabilities. One rule updates requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; the other updates those under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more than 40 years these laws have required federal contractors and subcontractors to affirmatively recruit, hire, train and promote qualified veterans and people with disabilities respectively.   “In a competitive job market, employers need access to the best possible employees,” said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “These rules make it easier for employers to tap into a large, diverse pool of qualified candidates.”   “Strengthening these regulations is an important step toward reducing barriers to real opportunities for veterans and individuals with disabilities,” said Patricia A. Shiu, director of the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which enforces both laws.   The VEVRAA rule provides contractors with a quantifiable metric to measure their success in recruiting and employing veterans by requiring contractors to annually adopt a benchmark either based on the national percentage of veterans in the workforce (currently 8 percent),  or their own benchmark based on the best available data. The rule strengthens accountability and record-keeping requirements, enabling contractors to assess the effectiveness of their recruitment efforts. It also clarifies job listing and subcontract requirements to facilitate compliance.   The Section 503 rule introduces a hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors that 7 percent of each job group in their workforce be qualified individuals with disabilities. The rule also details specific actions contractors must take in the areas of recruitment, training, record keeping and policy dissemination–similar to those that have long been required to promote workplace equality for women and minorities.   The rules will become effective 180 days after their publication in the Federal Register. More information is available at www.dol.gov/ofccp/VEVRAARule and www.dol.gov/ofccp/503Rule.   OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These three laws require those who do business with the federal government, both contractors and subcontractors, to follow the fair and reasonable standard that they not discriminate in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For general information, call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.  ### A full press release explaining today’s announcement is below and available online in both English: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20131578.htm and Spanish:http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20131578s.htm.   Also, please check out this blog post from Secretary of Labor Tom Perez:http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/08/27/promoting-opportunity-veterans-and-disabled-workers.