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ODEP News Release: [11/13/2006]
Contact Name: Peggy Abrahamson or Peter Hong
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x7909
Release Number: 06-1963-NAT

U.S. Department of Labor Forms Alliance with SHRM to Promote Employment of Workers with Disabilities

WASHINGTON — The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently established an alliance to encourage and promote the employment of people with disabilities.

The formal alliance, a first for ODEP with a major organization, will ensure that SHRM and ODEP stakeholders collaborate in this national effort by providing information, guidance, and access to resources.

"This alliance formalizes the relationship we have had with SHRM, benefiting SHRM as it serves its membership with the resources ODEP brings to the table and offering ODEP the opportunity for broader contact with human resource professionals," said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

The new relationship between SHRM and ODEP will target areas in training and education, outreach and communication and technical assistance, and it will promote a national dialogue on the employment of persons with disabilities — a human resource that is underutilized. The partnership will also provide recruitment, hiring, and advancement information through educational, access and research activities.

SHRM is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 205,000 individual members, the society's mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing the most essential and comprehensive resources available. Founded in 1948, SHRM currently has more than 550 affiliated chapters and members in more than 100 countries.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was authorized by Congress in the Department of Labor's FY 2001 appropriation. Recognizing the need for a national policy to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into the 21st century workforce, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao delegated authority and assigned responsibility to the assistant secretary for disability employment policy. ODEP is a policy agency in the Department of Labor.

For more information, visit ODEP online at www.dol.gov/odep under Circle of Champions.