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Maryland Workers with Disabilities

May 16th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

A new partnership between two major organizations will benefit Maryland workers with disabilities.
The recent collaboration between the US Department of Labor and a major association of human resource professionals will provide more jobs for Maryland workers with disabilities.

The US Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has joined forces with the Society of Human Resource Managers. It is a first for the ODEP, which was formed in 2001 to enable people with disabilities to be fully integrated into the workplace of the 21^st century.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy received his authority from the US Secretary Labor Elaine L. Chao.

When speaking about the recent alliance between the two departments Roy Gizzard (Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy) said, “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.

The Society of Human Resource Managers focuses on human resource professionals. With over 550 affiliated chapters, its 205,000 members come from more than 100 countries. It is the world’s largest association of its kind, and has been active since being formed in 1948. The aim of this association is to provide all human resource professionals the best resources available.

The new alliance will promote a national dialogue on the employment of people with disabilities, as well as targeting outreach, communication, education and training. It will also supply technical help for disabled people who want to get into the workplace.

This is the first time the Society of Human Resources and the Office of Disability Employment have worked together in this way, and through the collaboration it is intended that people with disabilities will have better access to information, resources and will receive better guidance on the 21^st century workplace.