Celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

The mission of the ADA and Section 503 is to help employers build more equitable, inclusive organizations that value the contributions of individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed 33 years ago to protect individuals with disabilities against discrimination in their public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places. Government contractors are obligated to adhere to both the ADA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 503 prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against individuals with disabilities and requires affirmative action programs to recruit, hire, promote and retain individuals covered by the act. 

Beyond the necessary compliance requirements, employers have long recognized the value of a dedicated disabled workforce and therefore, have enhanced their recruiting methodology to target these communities. OutSolve stands ready to help employers not only adhere to these federal laws, but also to add value to their businesses by recruiting, developing, accommodating, promoting, and retaining qualified individuals with disabilities.

OutSolve invites you to take advantage of focused resources to help you build an inclusive workforce that welcomes individuals with disabilities:

• DE&I: Tips for Inclusive Hiring- recorded webinar 
• Best Practices in Accommodations- recorded webinar 
• OFCCP Compliance Checklist- practical tool for compliance 
• New Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form- informational blog post on new form 

The OFCCP offers several compliance assistance resources to educate federal contractors about the rights of individuals with disabilities: 

• Disability Inclusion Starts with You- video overview of voluntary self-identification  
• Recruitment and Hiring of Qualified Individuals with Disabilities- list of publicly available resources for recruiting 
• Reasonable Accommodation Pocket Card- quick reference to assist applicants and employees in the accommodation request process 
• Disability Rights Facts Sheet- quick reference for individuals with disabilities  

The DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy also provides free resources for employers: 

• Increasing Disability Inclusion: Centralized Accommodation Programs as a Best Practice- recorded webinar 
• Checklist for Employers: Facilitating the Hiring of People with Disabilities- real-world guide for business leaders responsible for recruitment

The EEOC offers several resources for ADA compliance:

• Visual Disabilities in the Workplace and ADA- FAQ document addressing specific disabilities
• ADA: Your Responsibilities as an Employer- guide to understanding the basics of ADA
• EEOC Disability-Related Publications- listing of publications for job applicants, employees and employers 

OutSolve strives to go beyond compliance- providing employers with the information and resources to not only meet compliance with federal requirements, but to build an inclusive workplace which seeks out qualified individuals with disabilities. Contact us to learn about how to build these inclusivity programs into your recruitment and hiring.