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November
DisabilityInfo Connection
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In This Issue
November 2006
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News & EventsCelebrating Veterans Day — A Proclamation by the President of the United States |
Hot Topics in the Veterans & Military CommunitiesFeatured Tools & ResourcesSBA's Small Business Resources for Veterans |
Federal Agency In FocusDepartment of Veterans Affairs In Your CommunityThe DVOP — An Employment Specialist for Veterans with Disabilities |
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Welcome to this special Veterans Day edition of DisabilityInfo Connection. In honoring our veterans, we are reminded veterans with disabilities represent a frequently untapped source of dedicated and skilled workers. DisabilityInfo.gov, managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, was developed to respond to the information and resource needs of people with disabilities, to include veterans, employers, service providers and many others. Use DisabilityInfo Connection to stay informed about new developments relating to DisabilityInfo.gov as well as timely information about the important contributions and initiatives of the 21 federal agencies that support this Web site. — W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D., Assistant Secretary for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor |
News & Events |
Celebrating Veterans Day — A Proclamation by the President of the United States"Through the generations, America's men and women in uniform have defeated tyrants, liberated continents, and set a standard of courage and idealism for the entire world. On Veterans Day, our Nation pays tribute to those who have proudly served in our Armed Forces...This Veterans Day, we give thanks to those who have served freedom's cause; we salute the members of our Armed Forces who are confronting our adversaries abroad; and we honor the men and women who left America's shores but did not live to be thanked as veterans…" — President George W. Bush. (Read the full text of the Presidential Proclamation.) For more about Veterans Day and National Veterans Awareness Week, visit News and Events in the Community Life section of DisabilityInfo.gov. National Veterans Employment Summit — November 9, 2006Join event host Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao on November 9th and find out how tapping into highly-trained, committed, and responsible veterans and transitioning service members can protect your bottom line. Top industry executives and military and government officials will guide you in recruiting veterans in your area, hiring the right veterans for the right jobs and maximizing America's Workforce System. For more about the Summit visit the HireVetsFirst Web site. The Wounded and Injured Veterans Summit RecapOn September 20-21, 2006 in Auburn, AL Bob Riley, the Governor of Alabama, and Charles S. (Chick) Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment & Training Service hosted the Wounded and Injured Veterans Summit on Recovery, Rehabilitation and Employment to address the issues wounded and injured service members face once they return home from war. The Summit highlighted the best practices and programs employed at Federal, state, and community levels to guarantee their recovery and return to the workforce. Governor Riley and Assistant Secretary Ciccolella were joined by representatives from more than 40 states, the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and the military branches and several veteran's service organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project. The primary focus of the Summit was the Department of Labor's (DOL) Recovery & Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) program. REALifelines is a new approach to ensuring that wounded and injured service members and their families get the support they need to be successful and competitive as they return to the homes and lives they left in service to our country. In support of the program, DOL created the REALifelines Advisor, an online resource that provides veterans with disabilities and transitioning service members with the resources they need to successfully transition to a rewarding career. The Advisor offers access to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance and online resources that support their reintegration into the civilian workforce. The Summit included a State of Technology Resource Fair which showcased technologies available to help people with disabilities live independently and pursue their personal and professional ambitions. Information about these and other assistive technologies can be found in the Technology section of DisabilityInfo.gov. The Summit ended with a live Webinar, through which representatives from several federal agencies walked participants through online resources for service members with disabilities. For additional employment information for veterans and service members visit the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Hot Topics in the Veterans & Military Communities |
Operation WarfighterSponsored by the Department of Defense Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC), Operation Warfighter (OWF) is a temporary assignment or internship program for Service members who are undergoing therapy at military treatment facilities within the United States. OWF provides recuperating service members with meaningful activity outside of the hospital environment and offers a formal means of transition back to the military or civilian workforce. MSIC ties together military and other government programs that have been established to help disabled transitioning service members, such as those run by the Armed Forced and the departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs. Representatives at the center can answer questions related to benefits, employment, financial assistance and much more. If you have been injured or wounded while on active duty or have a family member who needs assistance, contact your MSIC care representative at 1-888-774-1361. For information on OWF and other programs available to transitioning service members with disabilities, visit the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Hire Vets FirstThe Department of Labor offers a comprehensive career Web site for hiring veterans, including those with disabilities: HireVetsFirst.gov. Whether you're a manager, human resources specialist, or veteran, you'll find the resources you need for matching employment opportunities with veterans. Veterans injured or wounded while in service and who are transitioning into civilian careers can bring a diverse set of skills to your organization. The National Workforce System is ready to provide interested employers with these trained and skilled veterans who can be valuable assets to any team. Visit HireVetsFirst to view the 10 Reasons to Hire a Vet as well as information on how to become a HireVetsFirst employer, employer testimonials and links to other valuable resources. For more information about hiring an injured or wounded veteran and employing people with disabilities, click on Employer Resources in the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov DoD's TRICARE.milBeginning November 10th, TRICARE beneficiaries will get a pleasant surprise the next time they visit TRICARE Online. The Web site has a new name, a new look and a new home. It's now part of TRICARE.mil, the official Web site for all TRICARE information. Reorganized with beneficiaries in mind, the site is much easier to use and allows visitors to the site to look up benefit information, schedule an appointment and track claims. The TRICARE system supports the health care plan for the uniformed services, retirees and their families, and serves more than 9.2 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide. For more information on TRICARE and other health programs available to service members and their families, visit the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Featured Tools & Resources |
SBA's Small Business Resources for VeteransThe Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development offers resources for veterans, including programs specifically for service-disabled veterans. These resources include Getting Veterans Back to Business, a comprehensive business-planning guide that describes the assistance available from the SBA for self-employed Reserve and Guard members prior to, during and following their active duty service. The SBA also offers the Service-Disabled Veterans-Owned Small Business Concern Program, which provides federal contracting funds for small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. Opportunities are available through sole source contracts, set-asides, simplified acquisition contracts and other procurement options specifically for this veterans. To find out more about SBA's Small Business Resources, click on Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship in the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. VA's Specially Adapted Housing ProgramVeterans who have service-connected disabilities may be entitled to grant funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to construct or modify a home to meet the veteran's special needs. The goal of the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Program is to provide a barrier-free living environment to afford veterans with disabilities a level of independent living they may not normally enjoy. For questions regarding SAH, contact your local VA SAH agent. For more information on housing programs for the disability community, visit the Housing section of DisabilityInfo.gov. elaws USERRA AdvisorOffered by the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment Training Service, the elaws Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisor helps veterans understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations and benefits and remedies under the Act. USERRA protects civilian job rights and benefits for returning veterans and members of the Reserve. USERRA also provides protections for veterans with disabilities, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate a disability. Service members recovering from injuries received during military service or training may have up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs. For more information on laws and regulations that protect people with disabilities, visit the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Federal Agency In Focus |
Department of Veterans AffairsThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves the nation's more than 25 million veterans and their families. Among its central goals is to ensure a smooth transition for veterans from active military service to civilian life. To achieve this goal, the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program has developed a Web site called VetSuccess.gov. This resource focuses on 5 key tracks to employment for veterans with service-connected disabilities: Re-employment, Rapid Access to Employment, Self-Employment, Independent Living Services and Employment Through Long Term Services. VetSuccess.gov also offers a user guide and videos that explain the 5 Tracks to Employment. To learn more about these resources, as well as information about vocational counseling available to veterans, please visit the Vocational Rehabilitation and Veterans & Military sections of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
In Your Community |
The DVOP — An Employment Specialist for Veterans with DisabilitiesThe Department of Labor's Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) representatives maintain a crucial role in the employment of veterans across our nation, and carry out intensive services to assist eligible veterans find suitable employment. DVOP's are stationed at the State Workforce Agencies, or One-Stop Career Centers, sometimes referred to as the employment or job service offices. To help you quickly locate DVOP's and other service providers in your area, the National Veterans' Training Institute offers the DVOP/LVER Locator, also known as the Networker. Search by name, city, state and/or zip code to find the DVOP nearest you. For more information on programs and services available to veterans with disabilities visit the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Celebrating Veterans DayEach year, the Veterans Day National Committee, led by the Department of Veterans Affairs, recognizes select Veterans Day observances throughout the country that represent fitting tributes to America's heroes. From stirring parades and ceremonies to military exhibits and tributes to distinguished veterans, these events serve as models for other communities to follow in planning their own observances. Each site is recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and may receive military support from the Department of Defense when available. For information on this year's sites, contact your Regional Site representative. Interested in having your community observance recognized as a 2007 Veterans Day Regional Site? Download the application and submit it to the committee for consideration. (Instructions for submitting the application are included on the application form.) Please include supporting evidence that demonstrates the scope of your event. Applications for 2007 must be submitted by May 1, 2007. For more about Veterans Day and National Veterans Awareness Week, visit News and Events of the Community Life section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
