The PRA conference was a success. CAP advocate Lee Lippi talked with numerous people, passed out a modest amount of literature, and took the opportunity to attend a breakout session on Disability and Veteran Hiring Requirements: Federal Office of Contract Compliance Policy presented by Janet Fiore.
Steve Suroviec was one of three keynote speakers. His presentation was Honor the “Past” Change for the Future in which he outlined his list of strategic priorities: 1) Customer Service; 2) Transition. His goal is to have OVR reach transition age students as early as 8th grade; 3) Collaboration with stakeholders; 4) Collaboration with Workforce Development, Workforce Investment Boards and CareerLinks; 5) Outreach – Branding & Marketing. He became extremely emotional over the death of his sister Paula eight years ago. She too had a disability.
Sara Sundeen was the second speaker and is the President of the NRA. She provided info about what’s happening on the national level. You can check out the website at www.nationalrehab.org (Government Affairs link).
Steve McWilliams is a professor at Villanova. He is also advisor to students with disabilities and co-director for the Center for Social Justice Films. He presented a video he made called, “Coming Off the DL” about two students with CP who both work as managers, one for the Villanova men’s, the other for the women’s basketball teams, and the challenges they face.
Impressive.
Janet Fiore did a presentation on Disability and Veteran Hiring Requirements, which took place the same time as the Arrests and Convictions session. Any contractor doing work for the Feds is required to meet a 7% goal for hiring persons with disabilities, including veterans. These contractors, according to the OFCCP (?) regs, are required to outreach by recruiting through accessible web sites; www.askarn.org, www.bpn.gov/CCRSearch/Search.aspx. I think the key point here for interviewees with disabilities are going from, “don’t disclose to disclose” without repercussions for employment.
