Disability Employment Policy RRTC

10/09/2026

Exciting news! The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University has been awarded two national grants totaling $4.5 million over three years to advance disability research, employment opportunities and ADA education.

The funding will support:
• Training four postdoctoral fellows to study disability employment policy, practice and law, including the role of artificial intelligence.
• Continuing the Southeast ADA Center’s information, training and guidance across eight states.

Together, these initiatives strengthen BBI’s work to advance the civic, economic and social participation of people with disabilities.

Read more: https://bbi.syr.edu/2026/10/bbi-two-grants/

The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) has been awarded two competitive grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Together, the awards total $4. 5 million over three years and will bring a sig...

07/08/2026

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2026 Poster Now Available
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released 2026 the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEPM) theme and Poster – Begin Planning Your October Observance.

The 2026 NDEAM theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” carries forward the message of value and talent from the 80th anniversary of NDEAM and is also a great theme to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and the value and talent of the many working Americans with disabilities.

Learn More
https://bbi-dep-rrtc.org/newshighlights/ndeam-poster/

06/24/2026

Employer and HR Professional Focus Groups: Your Insights Matter
Researchers at Cornell's YTI are examining how workplace policies, attitudes, and practices impact the employment experiences of justice-impacted individuals with disabilities. If you are an employer, manager, or HR professional in New York who has worked for your organization for at least two years, and you are involved in hiring, supervision, or personnel decisions and willing to share your perspectives on employment practices and workforce needs, you are invited to take the screening survey as a first step to joining an online, 90-minute focus group. For more details, see the full article about the study.

The Yang-Tan Institute is looking for employers, managers and HR professionals who want to participate in a 90-minute, online focus group as part of a study of how workplace policies, attitudes and practices impact the employment experiences of justice-impacted individuals with disabilities.

06/09/2026

What drives disability employment outcomes across different communities? And what can policymakers do to create more all encompassing workplace opportunities?

On the latest episode of Let's Get to Work!, Dr. Purvi Sevak, Senior Director at Mathematica, joins Peter Blanck to discuss her path into disability employment policy research and the factors shaping employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Their conversation explores:
✅ The importance of education and support systems
✅ The role of Social Security and vocational rehabilitation
✅ How transportation and broadband access affect employment outcomes
✅ Why all encompassing employment policies benefit everyone

Tune in for an insightful discussion on evidence-based strategies that can help expand opportunity and strengthen your workforce.

🎧 Listen now: https://bbi-dep-rrtc.org/resources/podcast-series/lgtw-purvi-peter-25/

05/07/2026

Newest ADALive episode in collaboration with the Southeast ADA Center. Details below

One of most exciting ADALive episodes just dropped and you do not want to miss it! Episode 153: Disability Studies and Ethics as a Path to Equality and Justice https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-153/