Wednesday 11/15/2000

New web features will help employers hire workers with disabilities and help
the media do a better job of reporting on disability issues 

New features have been added to a government Web site to help employers do a
better job employing workers with disabilities and to help journalists do a
better job reporting on issues that affect those with disabilities. The new
Employers' Resource section and Media Resource section have been added to
http://www.disAbility.gov.  

"At a time when our nation is experiencing record levels of employment, the
unemployment rate is unacceptably high for individuals with disabilities,"
Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "This Web portal is another tool to
support employers and job seekers in the effort to increase the employment
rate."  

Secretary Herman chairs the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults
with Disabilities, which was established in 1998 to create a coordinated  and
aggressive strategy to increase the employment of people with disabilities to
a rate as close as possible to that of the general population.  

The Web site, announced by President Clinton on the 10th Anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act in July, offers a vast array of resources for
individuals with disabilities, including information about health, housing,
education, transportation, recreation and employment. The new Employers'
Resource section provides businesses access to information that facilitates
recruiting, hiring and making easy, low-cost accommodations for employees
with disabilities. The new Media Resource section will offer journalists and
broadcasters information on appropriate language for reporting about people
with disabilities, interviewing tips, and a growing bibliography of
publications and films that depict the disability experience.  

Already, disAbility.gov has been accessed by more than 120,000 people and has
won acclaim from other Web sites. CBS.com has listed disAbility.gov as one of
the 100 most useful Web services in America. A recent study by the Harris
Research Group indicates that adults with disabilities spend twice as much
time on the Internet as individuals without disabilities. The survey also
found that adults with disabilities are much more likely to report that the
Internet has significantly improved the quality of their lives.  

Despite today's robust economy, citizens with disabilities are continually
under-represented in the nation's work force. Only three of every 10 people
with disabilities are working full or part time; eight of every 10 who are
not disabled are actively employed 

The task force chaired by Secretary Herman is currently collaborating with
leading Internet dot-com employment businesses such as Monster.com,
BrassRing.com and Webhire.com to integrate disability related employment
support tools into their services. Addition of these tools will not only
assist the dot-coms' employer customers in recruiting and hiring people with
disabilities, but will also provide job candidates with pre-employment tools
such as resume writers and links to federal government job search services.  

"We are pleased that some of America's most successful online employment
companies have made it a priority to help employers benefit from the
contributions that employees with disabilities can bring to business," said
Becky Ogle, executive director of the task force. "We hope others will join
us in our effort."  

"Monster.com is excited to be part of this comprehensive Web portal for
individuals with disabilities. We are committed to providing the services and
tools that enhance career potential for all job seekers," said Jeff Taylor,
CEO of Monster.com. "Working with the Presidential Task Force on Employment
of Adults with Disabilities allows Monster.com to further strengthen its
mission of empowering people who want more out of their career and their
life."  

"We are extremely pleased to be able to participate in this worthy endeavor.
The technology industry has proven itself to be an area where people with
disabilities can truly excel," said James Sale, Executive Vice President of
BrassRing.com.  

The Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities was
established by executive order of President Clinton in March of 1998. The
Task Force consists of the heads of 18 government agencies. Tony Coelho
serves as vice chair. Information about the Task Force also is available at
http://www.disAbility.gov.  


Contact: Jennifer Sheehy, Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults
with Disabilities 

202/693-4940, TTY 202/693-4920
sheehy-jennifer@dol.gov


U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at
http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made
available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

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