Fwd: Disability.gov Launched Today - New and Redesigned with Social Media

> News Release
>
> U.S. Department of Labor                                           For
> Immediate Release
>
> Office of Public  
> Affairs                                                July
> 23, 2009
>
> Washington, D.C.
> Contact: Jennifer Kaplan
>
> Release Number: 09-834-NAT                                   Phone:
> 202-693-5052 or 202-693-4676
>
> Disability.gov offers social media tools, upgrades to complement  
> information
> from 22 federal agencies on disability-related programs and services
>
> Launch of revamped site to coincide with Americans with Disabilities  
> Act's
> 19th anniversary
>
> WASHINGTON - In conjunction with the 19th anniversary of the  
> Americans with
> Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Labor has re-named and re- 
> launched
> DisabilityInfo.gov as Disability.gov.  The site offers comprehensive
> information about programs and services to better serve more than 50  
> million
> Americans with disabilities, their family members, veterans,  
> employers,
> educators, caregivers and anyone interested in disability-related
> information.
>
> The new Web site will integrate content from 22 federal agencies and  
> be
> managed by the Labor Department.  The former DisabilityInfo.gov site  
> has
> been revamped with social media tools to encourage interaction and  
> feedback,
> and new ways to organize, share and receive information. Visitors  
> will be
> able to sign up for personalized news and updates, participate in  
> online
> discussions and suggest resources for the site. New features include a
> Twitter feed, Really Simple Syndication feeds, a blog, social  
> bookmarking
> and a user-friendly way to obtain answers to questions on such  
> topics as
> finding employment and job accommodations. Additional tools will be  
> added
> during the months ahead.
>
> "The new Disability.gov site is bigger, better, faster and stronger  
> than the
> old site," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Far more than  
> just a
> directory of federal resources, Disability.gov is a meeting ground for
> Americans to learn, respond and communicate about a wealth of  
> critically
> important disability-related topics."
>
> The site is organized into 10 subject areas: benefits, civil rights,
> community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health,
> housing, technology and transportation. By selecting a category,  
> visitors
> are directed to useful information on federal and state government  
> programs
> and services, news and events, grants and funding opportunities, and  
> more.
>
>
> "The Department of Labor is pleased to be the managing partner of
> Disability.gov and to help advance the independence and full  
> participation
> of people with disabilities in the workforce, the classroom and their
> communities," said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary for the  
> Labor
> Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy.
>
> Disability.gov contains thousands of links to reliable information  
> from its
> federal agency partners, as well as educational institutions,  
> nonprofit
> organizations, and state and local governments.
>
> ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic
> underemployment of people with disabilities.  In collaboration with  
> other
> government agencies, public and private employers, and additional
> stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of
> innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully  
> inclusive
> workplace.  ODEP's work primarily falls into three categories:   
> employers
> and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related  
> supports, which
> include education and training, health care, reliable transportation,
> affordable housing and assistive technology.  For more information,  
> visit
> www.dol.gov/odep
> <http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ConceptsPR/621daffd39/2987d3d83b/ 
> f55950391f> .
>
>
> # # #
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________
> _______________________
>
> U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at
> <http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ConceptsPR/621daffd39/2987d3d83b/b828c3e2a5>
> http://www.dol.gov.  The information in this news release will be made
> available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or  
> disc)
> from the COAST office upon request.  Please specify which news  
> release when
> placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.  The Labor
> Department is committed to providing America's employers and  
> employees with
> easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its  
> laws and
> regulations.  For more information, please visit
> http://www.dol.gov/compliance
> <http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ConceptsPR/621daffd39/2987d3d83b/ 
> d6005474a0> .

Received on Monday, 27 July 2009 19:18:57 UTC