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U.S. Department of Labor. DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Challenge.gov. DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Background.
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U.S. Department of Labor DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Challenge.gov
DOL Disability Employment App ChallengeBackground Nearly twenty-two years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and thirty-nine years after the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - two of the most significant disability employment-related pieces legislation in American history - people with disabilities continue to be employed at much lower levels than people without disabilities/the general population. Not only do people with disabilities have a significantly higher unemployment rate than the general population, they also have a much lower labor force participation rate.
DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Background According to the most recent statistics from the Bureau of Labor statistics (April 2012), people with disabilities had a 20.3% labor force participation rate compared to 69.1% for their non-disabled peers. 20.3% vs. 69.1% 12.5% vs. 7.6% People with disabilities had an unemployment rate of 12.5% compared to 7.6% for their non-disabled peers. For minorities with disabilities, these disparities are even greater. This represents a loss of significant willing and able talent to the American workforce, a loss of income for people without jobs, and an economic loss to the American economy.
DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Contest Overview • Launch Date: May 23rd, 2012 • Event: First ever disability-related app challenge/code-a-thon of its kind at DOL. • Partners: Department of Education and Social Security Administration. • Supporters: FCC, Craigslist, IBM, Microsoft and the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA). • Mission: DOL launched the Disability Employment App Challenge to promote the development of innovative tools to improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities. • Each submission was asked to achieve at least one of the following goals: • Promote Recruitment Resources for Employers • Develop Job Training and Skill-Building Tools for Job Seekers • Facilitate Employment-Related Transportation Options • Expand Web and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility
DOL Disability Employment App ChallengeContest Winners Innovation Award: Access Jobs • Prize: $5,000 & Showcase Application at 2012 FCC Developing With Accessibility Expo • People’s choice Award: VoisPal – Speak As Your Think! • Prize: $3,000 & Showcase Application at 2012 FCC Developing With Accessibility Expo • Above and Beyond Accessibility Award: AccDC Accelerated Dynamic Content • Prize: $2,000, showcase Application at 2012 FCC Developing With Accessibility Expo & 1 hour session hosted by leaders from government to showcase the winning app.