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You (BLNs) are leading the way, and that is exactly what we need to build a vibrant, productive, and inclusive workforce for the 21st century
- Elaine S. Chao,
Secretary,
US Department of Labor
Building the New Workforce to look like America creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities and makes our nation stronger. I commend the work the USBLN® and its partners are doing to prepare our country’s future workforce.”
- Karen M. Czarnecki, J.D.
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Disability Employment Policy
Once an overlooked talent pool, people with disabilities are contributing to the American economy in ways never imagined . . .
- Thomas J. Donohue
President & CEO
US Chamber of Commerce
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Greetings and Welcome to the US Business Leadership Network!
The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) is the national business organization
currently representing BLN chapters in 32 states and more than 5000 employers using
a “business to business” strategy to promote the business imperative of including
people with disabilities in the workforce. (more information...)
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USBLN News
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US Business Leadership Network Praises Debra Ruh for Receiving “Federal
100” Award
WASHINGTON, DC (April 1, 2008) – The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) today
praised Debra Ruh, Founder and President of TecAccess, for being recognized by Federal
Computer Week, which named Ruh to its prestigious “Federal 100” list. The theme
for this year's Federal 100 awards is "Agents of Change." (PDF
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DOC)
USBLN Affirms ADA Principles
Washington, DC (March 28, 2008) – The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) affirms
its support for the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. As
a national business association dedicated to advancing the employment of people
with disabilities, the USBLN® is focused on developing meaningful programs and promoting
promising practices that further this purpose. In this spirit, the USBLN® continues
to educate employers about the benefits of employing people with disabilities. To
learn more about different perspectives regarding the ADA Restoration Act, click
on the following links: (PDF
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DOC)
US Business Leadership Network’s Katherine McCary of SunTrust Banks Appointed
by President Bush to Serve on National Council on Disability
WASHINGTON, DC (March 26, 2008) – The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) today
announced that Katherine McCary of SunTrust Banks, Inc. will be appointed by President
George W. Bush to serve on the National Council on Disability (NCD). McCary has
served as the USBLN Board Chair since 2004. (PDF
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DOC)
US Business Leadership Network Commends Leadership of Ernst & Young on its AccessAbilities
Resources
WASHINGTON, DC (March 24, 2008) – The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) today
commended the efforts to promote accessibility and an inclusive workplace being
done by its member, Ernst & Young LLP, a leading professional services firm. Resources
being offered by Ernst & Young include brochures, briefs, posters and DVDs. (PDF
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DOC)
US Business Leadership Network Recognizes Newspaper Article Praising Accomplishments
of its Member, TecAccess For Immediate Release Contact: Katherine
WASHINGTON, DC (March 10, 2008) – The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) announced
today that The Goochland Gazette has published, “ Business Built on People,” detailing the inspiring story
of one of its members, TecAccess, an award-winning provider of accessible technology
and workforce solutions. TecAccess, Debra Ruh, Founder and President of TecAccess,
currently serves on the USBLN® board of directors, and has been a leading voice
in Virginia promoting diversity in the workplace. (PDF | DOC)
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USBLN Reports
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ROADMAPS FOR ENHANCING EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY
The USBLN and ATIA Release Final Report on “Roadmaps to Enhancing Employment of
Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology”
Executive Summary (
DOC |
PDF)
Full Report (
DOC |
PDF)
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Upcoming Events
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Join/Register
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Advanced Learning Technologies Summit
Experience 21st Century Learning with John D. Kemp and others at the Advanced Learning Technologies Summit being held May 13-14, 2008, in Raleigh, NC.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
Disability, Diversity, Inclusion and the Connection to the Bottom Line
The Oregon BLN will co-host a webinar with Steve Hanamura on May 16, 2008 at 10:00 AM (PDT). For more information,
CLICK HERE .
HHS Career Day
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) will host a Career
Day for persons with disabilities on May 29, 2008 from 9:00am-3:00pm.
For more information, registration, reasonable accommodation requests,
please contact: The Employee Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) at
866-327-6669 or via email at earn@earnworks.com.
The National ADA Symposium & EXPO/Assistive Technology Fair will
be held May 12-14, 2008, in St. Louis, MO. For more information, visit http://www.adasymposium.org/.
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Disability News
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Senator urges agencies, Congress to hire more disabled employees - April 14, 2008
The federal government must hire more people with disabilities to meet its obligation as a model employer, said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., in a Monday lecture at New York Law School.
READ MORE...
New England ADA Center Releases New Videos – March 28, 2008
In the videos, students with disabilities share strategies to successfully stay
in school, graduate and get jobs. Students reveal their struggles with self-reporting
their disability, and negotiating accommodations in school and at work. DVDs are
available upon request. WATCH VIDEOS
2007 State of Workplace Diversity Management A Survey Report by the Society
for Human Resource Management - February 2008
The report that follows is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind,
gathering data from the front lines—human resource professionals and diversity management
experts—to gain a better understanding of the current status of diversity management
and to learn what human resource professionals and diversity management experts
believe is necessary for them to increase their effectiveness in addressing diversity-related
challenges. READ MORE (PDF)
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Calls for 2008 New Freedom Initiative
Award Nominations - January 29, 2008
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has called upon nonprofit organizations,
small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary
and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of
people with disabilities to submit entries for the 2008 Secretary of Labor's New
Freedom Initiative Award. READ MORE
Exploring the Bottom Line: A Study of the Costs and Benefits of Workers with
Disabilities – January 28, 2008
In a first-of-its-kind study unveiled to Chicago-region business leaders on January
28, a team of researchers at DePaul University discussed research results that found
employees with disabilities from the healthcare, retail and hospitality sectors
in the region were just as dependable and productive as employees without disabilities.
In addition, researchers also discussed research results that showed accommodation
costs associated with workers with disabilities were often minimal and well worth
the expense. READ MORE…
NCD Says NCLB and IDEA Having Positive Impact - January 28, 2008
The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released a report analyzing the progress
of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) that says students with disabilities are no longer ignored. To that end,
NCLB and IDEA have had a significant, positive impact. READ MORE
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Affiliate News
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(April 16, 2008) - Local businesses form a network focused on disabilities to get a competitive edge
To help businesses tap into this underutilized talent pool, 10 business
representatives from Binghamton, Syracuse, Ithaca, Rochester and Buffalo
as well as staff from Cornell and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce,
met at the ILR Conference Center on April 2 to inaugurate the Business
Leadership Network (BLN) of CNY. This new chapter of the U.S. Business
Leadership Network is co-chaired by Lynette Chappell-Williams, director
of Cornell's Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity and Life Quality and
Tony Ruiz-Quintanilla, director of the Disability and Business Technical
Assistance Center (DBTAC) of Cornell's Employment and Disability Institute
in the ILR School. READ MORE…
(March 31, 2008) - BLN EMPLOYERS DIVERSIFY THEIR WORKFORCES TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Florida’s local Business Leadership Network members are opening their doors to employees with disabilities,
according to the 2007-08 Pre and Post BLN Member Survey. Between 2006 and 2007, the percent of respondents
saying that as a result of their “BLN involvement” they hired, mentored or provided internships to workers with
disabilities rose from 46 to 62 percent, a 16 percent increase. Of the 631 employer members in the 10 local BLNs
working with Wilson Resources, Inc. (WRI), 138 responded to the BLN survey, a response rate of 22 percent.
For more information, see the attached news release and full report.
PRESS RELEASE(PDF)
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FULL REPORT(PDF)
(March 1, 2008) Employers: Looking for great employees who think outside the
box?
The OBLN and the Oregon Business Plan are co-sponsors of Look At My Ability, a new
2 minute video on the largely under-tapped skilled labor pool of Oregonians with
disabilities. The video addresses the work ethic and skills represented by this
labor pool. The video was produced with a grant from the Oregon Department of Human
Services by Morgali Films. VIDEO.
(January 20, 2008) – Tampa Bay Metro Business Leadership Network- How it helps
you!
Bob Haber and JoJo Ruby-white talks about Tampa Bay Metro Business Leadership Network
and how they educate employers about people with disabilities. VIDEO.
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