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White House Announces Federal and Private Sector Commitments to Provide Employment Opportunities for Nearly 180,000 Youth
Employment - First Federal Agency Signs an Alliance with Office of Disability Employment Policy

The Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has signed its first federal agency alliance, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection.
The alliance is intended to increase the agency's hiring of people with disabilities, in accordance with Executive Order 13548. 
ODEP's Alliance Initiative, begun in 2006, enables organizations committed to improving disability workplace practices to work with ODEP to develop and implement model policies and initiatives
that increase recruiting, hiring, advancing, and retaining
employees with disabilities.

US Labor Department seeks to improve job opportunities for Americans with disabilities by setting historic hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors



http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20111614.htm

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From the White House - US Labor Department Proposes historic hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors
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Olympia Insider Special Edition:
Thurston County Legislative Forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv-WI3TCs0Y

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Seattle Times
Gregoire proposes half-cent sales tax increase

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PubliCola
Gregoire calls on voters to approve half-cent sales tax increase

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Spokane Spokesman Review
Gregoire to seek half-cent sales tax hike

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Everett Herald
Gregoire wants to ask voters for half-cent asles tax increase

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Tacoma News Tribune
Gregoire proposes temporary sales tax increase
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The Olympian
Gregoire proposes $1.7 billion in cuts, temporary sales tax increase
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/21/1885674/gregoire-proposes-17-billion-in.html

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Francis Haddon Morgan Center escorts

final resident to new home

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The Community Employment Alliance announced its list of 2011 Outstanding Employers and Legislators
at a special awards luncheon in Seattle on October 5th. The Alliance’s Outstanding Employer and Legislator Awards honor Washington State businesses, Legislators, government agencies and non-profit corporations that have made exceptional efforts to employ people with disabilities.
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2011 Outstanding Legislator Press Release
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2011 Outstanding Employer Press Release

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Reflections on Disability Employment

Posted by Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor

"The employment of people with disabilities is one of the last great frontiers in advancing civil rights.  While we have made incredible advancements in independent living and accessibility, the employment rate of people with disabilities is too low.

And, all of us have a role to play in reversing this inequity. Employers must foster workplaces welcoming to all qualified employees and potential employees. People with disabilities must understand the intrinsic value of work and their role in our economic success..." 


http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/31/reflections-disability-employment

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Work program for severely disabled may lose county funding


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Don't close job opportunities for people with Developmental disabilities.

Guest columnist Karen Williams warns the state would be making a mistake if it ended employment programs for people with developmental disabilities in favor of a program that warehouses them in adult day-care centers. A crisis, goes the widely used political adage, is a terrible thing to waste. But a crisis can also result in drastic decisions and ill-considered reversals in public policy...


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Unemployment Rising For People With Disabilities
U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics for December, 2010, shows employment drops for people with disabilities to just 21.0%.  This compares to 69.6% employment for people without disabilities.  Unemployment rates for people actively looking for work was 8.9% for people without disabilities and 14.3% for people with disabilities.
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MarketWatch - Dow Jones
"Disabled Americans Lag In Employment Opportunities". Since its passage in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, has greatly improved the physical environment for people with disabilities.  But employment appears to be where the law has fallen short so far.

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The Olympian
"70 Percent Of People With Disabilities Are Unemployed"
Much to my surprise, the person was denied an ideal position simply because of deafness.  Later, we met with the store's manager who confirmed "sorry, this person is deaf, we can't hire them".

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Skagit Valley Herald
  "Deliveries With A Smile".  To survive, you have to have something special.  Kaleb's my special, says A Cup Above Espresso & Deli owner Tina Magner.
New York Times
 "Using Humor in a Campaign Supporting Disabled People".  A national effort to encourage businesses to employ workers with disabilities is not your Father's hire the handicapped campaign....
Q13 Fox
  "Bellevue Group Helps Disabled People Find Jobs.  'AtWork' pairs those with disabilities with jobs in the community based on unique skills....

National Public Radio
  "The Joy of Work:  A Disabled Man's Quest for a Job".   It's a tough time for anyone to find a job.  For adults with developmental disabilities, it's even tougher.  Advocacy groups estimate that two thirds of adults with developmental disabilities are unemployed.....
Great Hires!  This video features three employers of people with disabilities in Washington State.....Starbucks, Auntie Anne's Pretzels and Children's Hospital.   Produced by the Washington Initiative For Supported Employment (W.i.S.e.)