March 18, 2014
Advancing Inclusion in Health Care
NOND ODEP Alliance Roundtable Final Report
http://www.dol.gov/odep/alliances/nond.htm
More than 40 employers, federal and state policymakers, researchers and nursing school administrators convened at the U.S. Access Board on March 18 for a policy roundtable hosted by the Office of Disability Employment Policy in collaboration with the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities. “We know that health-care occupations dominate the list of jobs predicted to be in most demand in coming years,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor Kathy Martinez, who heads ODEP, as she welcomed attendees. Martinez was joined by acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Eric Seleznow, along with leaders from the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Department of Education. They explored strategies for using the skills and talents of people with disabilities, including veterans, to meet anticipated labor shortages in nursing and allied health occupations. Because “there is simply not enough talent in the pipeline,” that people with disabilities “have an important role to play in meeting the demands of this changing landscape,” Martinez told attendees.