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ODEP News Release: [03/30/2004]
Contact Name: Michael Volpe
Phone Number: (202) 693-7909

Labor Department offers Employers Database of Qualified College Students with Disabilities who Seek Summer and Permanent Jobs

WASHINGTON—A free database that identifies almost 1,600 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and permanent job openings is being made available to government and private sector employers.

“The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) gives students with disabilities the opportunities they need to start successful careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “The program also fulfills President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative pledge to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the nation.”

The department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in cooperation with the Department of Defense, is now offering the database of job seekers with disabilities through its Workforce Recruitment Program. Through ODEP’s complimentary CD-ROM database, employers can search for potential applicants by field of study, state or school, in disciplines ranging from computer sciences and business to communications engineering and office administration. Searches generate candidate profiles, academic and demographic data, and contact information from applications recruited by the program from more than 180 colleges and universities in over 40 states and territories. The CD-ROM and additional information are available from www.wrpjobs.com, or by contacting ODEP at (202) 693-7880.

“WRP applicants are a valuable resource to employers because they can undertake special projects postponed for lack of time or resources,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for ODEP, Roy Grizzard. “The program participants can assist permanent staff with important projects, share innovative technical skills and assume responsibilities of staff on vacation or leave.”

Other resources ODEP offers to business to employ people with disabilities are the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and the Employer Assistance and Referral Network (EARN). JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities for people with disabilities. It can be reached at 1-800-526-7234 or at www.jan.wvu.edu. EARN, a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service, helps employers who have job vacancies to locate and recruit qualified workers with disabilities in their localities. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its Website (www.earnworks.com). ODEP also encourages employers and employees to access its website at www.dol.gov/odep and also www.DisabilityInfo.Gov, a cross-government portal on disability easily accessible to all Americans.

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