INDIANAPOLIS, September 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In an effort to bridge the gap between employers and people with disabilities, the National Employer Technical Assistance Center (NETAC) for Employers on Employment of People with Disabilities has formed an alliance with DirectEmployers Association. This initiative has been established to provide employers with information, guidance and resources to aid in the outreach, recruitment, hiring and retention of workers with disabilities.
“For years, the NETAC and DirectEmployers have been offering complimentary services. By partnering with the Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN), a NETAC service, we can better connect employers who are looking at improving their disability outreach with the NETAC to gain education, training and consultation,” commented Bill Warren, Executive Director, DirectEmployers Association. “This will help employers better understand and engage with this untapped talent pool and better integrate people with disabilities into their hiring initiatives.”
Several misconceptions surround employing people with disabilities. However, these myths about qualification, expensive acquisition costs and performance abilities can be dispelled through proper education and training. Since the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has proposed regulations to strengthen Section 503, it’s more important than ever to educate employers and bridge the gap between them and the disability community.
Looking ahead NETAC, EARN and DirectEmployers will work toward promoting the employment and retention of people with disabilities. Each organization will work in tandem to educate employers on the benefits of people with disabilities in addition to improving distribution of job opportunities to the disability community.
About DirectEmployers Association
DirectEmployers Association is a leading nonprofit HR consortium of global employers that was formed to assist in the sharing of ideas, incorporating of best practices, and research and development of technology where labor practices are concerned. Through this consortium, business standards are shaped and technology is used with respect to the diversity that is reflected in the various cultures embodied in a global workforce. Our recognized expertise in compliance, recruitment and cost effective technology enables our members to reach the largest, most diverse pool of quality job seekers worldwide.
About the Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN), an NETAC Service
EARN provides employers with confidential no-cost consulting, technical assistance, customized training and up-to-date information to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. Funding for EARN is provided by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability and Employment Policy (ODEP) to the Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) at Cornell University’s ILR School. EDI is a leading resource on employment and disability for businesses, lawmakers, federal and state agencies, educational institutions, unions, and service providers.
ODEP provides national leadership on disability employment policy by building collaborative partnerships and delivering authoritative and credible data to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into the 21st Century workforce.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nancy Holland, Vice President of Marketing, DirectEmployers Association, +1-317-874-9022, nancy@directemployers.org
