United States Department of Labor

Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)

To develop and influence disability employment-related policies and practices, ODEP sponsors five policy and technical assistance resources. One of these is the National Employer Technical Assistance Center, a collaborative that researches, influences and develops inclusive employer practices and policies and — through the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) — helps employers hire and retain workers with disabilities.

Recent EARN activities and areas of focus include:

• Business Strategies that Work: A Framework for Disability Inclusion
  Business Strategies that Work identifies promising employment strategies and practices for recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing qualified individuals with disabilities. It is a guide for employers who want to ensure that their workplaces are truly diverse and inclusive. It is a valuable tool, with proactive and dynamic human resource strategies for employers who want to be successful in today's diverse and global markets. The strategies found here are used by employers who make a strong business case for employing people with disabilities. By identifying, adopting, and refining these effective and meaningful employment practices, you too can benefit from having a vibrant, diverse workforce.
• Federal Workplace Mentoring Primer
  This toolkit is a rich resource for any federal government employee interested in learning the basics of workplace mentoring and how to apply them within the federal work environment.
• Toolkit for Establishing and Maintaining Successful Employee Resource Groups
  This informational resource outlines 12 steps on how to implement a disability-focused Employee Resource Group (ERG). ERGs, often called Employee Networks or Affinity Groups, are company-sponsored entities comprised of employees who have shared interests and experiences and have at one time felt underrepresented in the workplace.