Here is an electronic copy of the 5-year strategic plan submitted to Congress by the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Labor), in accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) -- otherwise known as the Reinventing Government initiative or National Performance Review. ---------- PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FY 1998 - FY 2002 GPRA STRATEGIC PLAN I. MISSION The mission of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is to impact the high involvement rate of people with disabilities by facilitating the communication, coordination and promotion of public and private efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. According to 1994 U.S. Census Bureau figures, approximately 74% of working age people with severe disabilities do not work, either full or part-time. The Committee provides information, training, and technical assistance to America's business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, cooperating state and local committees, families and individuals with disabilities. The President's Committee has the following unique capabilities in the disability arena. O Ability to attract, involve and bring together, in one organization dedicated to a single unifying mission, key publics which have the potential to impact on the employment of people with disabilities (e.g., employers, organized labor, people with disabilities, veterans, rehabilitation providers, educators, media, state and local committees, and federal, state and local officials). d Ability to serve as a bridge or convener between and among these key publics for problem solving, communications, and discussions contributing to the employment of people with disabilities. o Ability to involve these key publics in a unified multi-disciplinary effort studying, identifying and seeking resolution to policies and programs inhibiting employment opportunities for people with disabilities. o Ability to utilize these key publics, rather than government officials, as champions or the communicators of the value of employing and advancing people with disabilities in the work place. Rev l, June 27, 1997 The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is authorized under Executive Order 12640, dated May 10, 1988. The President's Committee was established in 1947 to advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Members of the Committee serve as volunteers and represent business, organized labor, education and rehabilitation providers, veterans, disability advocacy organizations, federal, state and local government agencies, and people with disabilities themselves. II. VISION All efforts of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities shall be to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities and to move the nation to the point where the employment rate of all people with disabilities equals the employment rate for all Others. The Committee's programs shall work towards a climate in this nation which continually reduces, and eventually eliminates, any negative view or impact of disability in the work place. III. STRATEGIC GOALS The President's Committee provides leadership in the effort to eliminate employment barriers for people with physical, mental and cognitive disabilities. Since there are no monthly or reliable yearly employment data collections in place, it is impossible to accurately measure the employment rate of people with disabilities on a regular basis. Therefore, the Committee can only measure its progress in carrying out its mission through the successful completion of its projects and other activities, which are designed to promote the employment of people with disabilities. I* The President's Committee's major activities are described below. Cognitive Disabilities Project -- The purpose of this project is to dispel current stereotypes concerning the employability of persons with cognitive disabilities and to develop white collar or office job opportunities for these individuals, with primary focus on people with mental retardation. Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)-- Through the WRP, which is cosponsored by the President's Committee and the Department of Defense, college students with disabilities are interviewed, profiled and placed in summer internships and permanent employment with public and private sector employers. Rev l, June 27, 1997 2 Annual Conference -- The purpose of this conference is to provide training and technical assistance on disability employment issues, sponsor a job fair for candidates with disabilities, and sponsor an exhibition of state-of-the-art products and services for employees with disabilities. Perspectives Conference -- This conference, which is co-sponsored by ten federal agencies and chaired by the President's Committee, provides training and technical assistance to federal EEO officials, personnel representatives and managers on issues that affect the employment of people with disabilities within the federal government. Travel Conference -- This is a national training conference for travel industry employers on both employment strategies and access considerations for persons with disabilities. Job Accommodation Network (JAN)-- JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations for people with disabilities and the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Business Leadership Network (BLN!-- The BLN is a corps of knowledgeable employers, organized at the national, state and local levels, who educate other employers on how to recruit, accommodate, train and employ persons with disabilities. Outreach to Small and Medium Sized Businesses Project -- This project is designed to educate small and medium size businesses about the ADA; the benefits of hiring, retaining and promoting people with disabilities; and available resources. Self-Employment and Small Business Project -- The goal of this project is to identify and promote,,appropriate resources for planning, training, technical assistance and capital development for individuals with disabilities who wish to develop their own businesses. High School/High Tech (HS/HT) -- This project, through the provision of paid internships, mentoring and other experiences, encourages secondary students with disabilities to pursue the necessary academic preparation and skill training for careers in engineering, science and high technology fields. Youth Leadership Forums -- The goal of this project is to assist states in developing youth leadership training forums for high school students with disabilities. The purpose of these forums is to better prepare young people with disabilities for careers and community leadership. Rev I, June 27, l 997 3 Technology Initiative -- The technology initiative is designed to promote the development and use of technology to maximize employment opportunities for people with disabilities Cultural Diversity Initiative -- This project provides training to minority individuals with disabilities, who in turn educate others within their respective communities on the ADA and disability employment issues. Another aspect of the project involves working with minority organizations to develop strategies they can pursue to reduce the high unemployment rate of minorities with disabilities. Disabled Veterans Forums -- The purpose of the forums is to learn from veterans with disabilities, direct service providers, and veterans service organizations what are the current employment issues facing disabled veterans and, in view of these issues, pursue actions to address them. in Education Kit -- A kit containing a variety of facts, resources and information on the employment of people with disabilities is prepared annually and distributed to national, state and local organizations as well as individuals in order to educate about, and generate support for, increasing job opportunities for people with disabilities. Outreach through Media -- This program is a nationwide media relations effort, utilizing the print and broadcast media, to educate the general public about disability employment issues and to impact on public perceptions of people with disabilities. Internet -- The support and maintenance of a President's Committee Internet Web site increases the Committee's ability to share information and resources with greater and greater numbers of concerned organizations and individuals. Statistics~Initiative -- This initiative is designed to promote the collection of recurring and accurate data on the employment of people with disabilities by data collection agencies. Rev l, June 27, 1997 4 STRATEGIC GOAL I Educate and assist employers in hiring, retaining, and promoting people with disabilities. Objective 1.1 Break down attitudinal barriers by demonstrating that people with disabilities can work in a wide variety of jobs. By FY 1998, the President's Committee will: create an understanding among an initial corps of employers and others regarding nontraditional career possibilities for persons with cognitive disabilities; and educate 100 WRP employers and coworkers regarding the employment of people with disabilities. By FY 1999, the President's Committee will: increase acceptance among a large sector of employers and others regarding nontraditional career opportunities for persons with cognitive disabilities; and educate 125 WRP employers and coworkers regarding the employment of people with disabilities By FY 2000, the President's Committee will: place 20-30 persons with cognitive disabilities in nontraditional careers through model demonstration efforts; and educate 150 WRP employers and coworkers regarding the employment of people with disabilities. !8 By FY 2001, the President's Committee will: place 60-90 additional persons with cognitive disabilities in nontraditional careers through model demonstration efforts; and Rev 1, June 27, 1997 5 educate 175 WRP employers and coworkers regarding the employment of people with disabilities. By FY 2002, the President's Committee will: place 180-270 additional persons with cognitive disabilities in nontraditional careers through model demonstration efforts; and educate 200 WRP employers and coworkers regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Objective 1.2 Provide technical assistance and training to employers on hiring, accommodating and promoting individuals with disabilities. By FY 1998, the President's Committee will: train 1000 attendees at the 1998 Annual Conference and, in its Job Fair, serve 500 persons with disabilities; train 300 federal employers at the Perspectives Conference; train 100 travel sector employers at the Travel Conference on the untapped market of business travelers and potential employees with disabilities; through JAN, provide technical assistance to 60,000 inquirers, promoting the retention,,or new hiring of 15,000 people with disabilities; involve 180 private sector employers as BLN members; and provide technical assistance on the employment of people with disabilities to 1000. . small and medium sized employers through speaker kits and a forum. By FY 1999, the President's Committee will: train 300 federal employers at the Perspectives Conference; train 125 travel sector employers at the Travel Conference on the untapped market of business travelers and potential employees with disabilities; Rev l, June 27, 1997 6 through JAN, provide technical assistance to 65,000 inquirers, promoting the retention or new hiring of 16,500 people with disabilities; involve 300 private sector employers as BLN members; and provide technical assistance on the employment of people with disabilities to 1000 small and medium sized employers. By FY 2000, the President's Committee will: train 300 federal employers at the Perspectives Conference; train 150 travel sector employers at the Travel Conference on the untapped market of business travelers and potential employees with disabilities; through JAN, provide technical assistance to 70,000 inquirers, promoting the retention or new hiring of 18,000 people with disabilities; and involve 400 private sector employers as BLN members By FY 2001, the President's Committee will: train 300 federal employers at the Perspectives Conference; train 175 travel sector employers at the Travel Conference on the untapped market of business travelers and potential employees with disabilities; through IAN, provide technical assistance to 75,000 inquirers, promoting the retention or new hiring of 19,500 people with disabilities; and involve 500 private sector employers as BLN members By FY 2002, the President's Committee will: train 300 federal employers at the Perspectives Conference; train 200 travel sector employers on the untapped market of business travelers and potential employees with disabilities; Rev l, June 27, 1997 7 11 .. provide technical assistance to 80,000 inquirers of JAN, promoting the retention or new hiring of 22,000 people with disabilities; involve 600 private sector employers as BLN members. STRATEGIC GOAL 2 Provide national leadership to prepare people with disabilities for employment, self-employment and small business opportunities. Objective 2. 1 Prepare people with disabilities, especially the next generation, for the workforce. By FY 1998, the President's Committee will: involve 20 government and private sector groups in the planning and development of a self-employment and small business initiative; involve 1000 students in HS/HT programs; train 10 state sponsors to produce Youth Leadership Forums; and place 200 WRP students in public and private sector jobs. By FY l999, the President's Committee will: establish a data base of self-employment and small business resources at JAN; involve 1200 students in HS/HT programs; train 10 additional state sponsors to produce Youth Leadership Forums; and place 225 WRP students in public and private sector jobs. Rev l, June 27, 1997 8 11 By FY 2000, the President's Committee will: develop a training program for Small Business Development Centers to insure their services that support self-employment opportunities are accessible to people with disabilities; involve 1400 students in HS/HT programs; train 10 additional state sponsors to produce Youth Leadership Forums; and place 250 WRP students in public and private sector jobs. By FY 2001, the President's Committee will: determine if a capital loan fund is needed to support the self-employment initiatives of people with disabilities; involve 1600 students in HS/HT programs; train 10 additional state sponsors to produce Youth Leadership Forums; and place 275 WRP students in public and private sector jobs. By FY 2002, the President's Committee will: if needed, promote the development of a capital loan fund to support self-employment; involve 1800 students in HS/HT programs; train 10 additional state sponsors to produce Youth Leadership Forums; and place 300 WRP students in public and private sector jobs. Rev l, June 27, 1997 9 I Objective 2.2 Foster and promote the use and development of technology to maximize employment opportunities for people with disabilities. By FY 1998, the President's Committee will: partner with ETA and the Council for Excellence in Government to produce the Joint Employment and Training Technology Conference (JETT*CON); and establish a task force of business, government, technology, and disability leaders to develop project goals and objectives to insure accessibility of emerging technologies in the workplace. By FY 1999, the President's Committee will: assist five to ten large employers in modifying procurement procedures to enable the purchase of universally designed technology; and begin implementation of project goals and objectives developed by the task force created in FY 1998 By FY 2000-2002, the President's Committee will: carry out the goals and objectives developed by the task force of business, government, technology and disability leaders. STRATEGIC GOAL 3 Educate policy makers and society in general as to the changes that need to be made to affect positively the employment of people with disabilities. Objective 3.1 Identify barriers to employment and develop and pursue solutions. By FY 1998 the President's Committee will train 30 leaders in minority disability employment issues and involve five major minority organizations in active programs addressing the high unemployment rates Rev l, June 27, 1997 l0 11 of minorities with disabilities; and include 60 agency and organizational representatives dealing with veterans issues in a specific region in the identification and solution to existing employment issues. By FY 1999 the President's Committee will: train 30 new leaders in minority disability employment issues and involve an additional five minority organizations in active programs addressing the high unemployment rates of minorities with disabilities; and include 60 agency and organizational representatives dealing with veterans issues m a different region in the identification and solution to existing employment Issues. By FY 2000 the President's Committee will: train 30 new leaders in minority disability employment issues and involve an additional five minority organizations in active programs addressing the high unemployment rates of minorities with disabilities; and include 60 agency and organizational representatives dealing with veterans issues in a different region in the identification and solution to existing employment issues By FY 2001 the President's Committee will: train 30 new leaders in minority disability employment issues and involve an additional five minority organizations in active programs addressing the high unemployment rates of minorities with disabilities; and include 60 agency and organizational representatives dealing with veterans issues in a different region in the identification and solution to existing employment issues. Rev l, June 27, 1997 11 By FY 2002, the President's Committee will: train 30 new leaders in minority disability employment issues and involve an additional five minority organizations in active programs addressing the high unemployment rates of minorities with disabilities; and include 60 agency and organizational representatives dealing with veterans issues m a different region in the identification and solution to existing employment Issues. Objective 3.2 Provide information on disability employment related issues in order to educate the general population and to change attitudes to enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities. By FY 1998, the President's Committee will: educate the general public and generate activities which in turn educate others on disability employment issues by producing an educational kit; in a national outreach through media effort, reach consumers in 30 states in order to promote the employment of people with disabilities; and generate 40,000 visits to our Web site to educate visitors and expand the resource base available to users. By FY 1999, the President's Committee will: educate the general public and generate activities which in turn educate others on disability employment issues by producing an educational kit; reach consumers in 35 states, via national and regional media, in order to promote the employment of people with disabilities; and generate 45,000 visits to our Web site to educate visitors and expand the resource base available to users. Rev l, June 27, 1997 12 11 By FY 2000, the President's Committee will: educate the general public and generate activities which in turn educate others on disability employment issues by producing an educational kit; through media, reach consumers in 40 states in order to promote the employment of people with disabilities; and generate 50,000 visits to our Web site to educate visitors and expand the resource base available to users. By FY 2001, the President's Committee will: educate the general public and generate activities which in turn educate others on disability employment issues by producing an educational kit; through media, reach consumers in 45 states in order to promote the employment of people with disabilities; and generate 55,000 visits to our Web site to educate visitors and expand the resource base available to users. By FY 2002, the President's Committee will: educate the general public and generate activities which in turn educate others on disability employment issues by producing an educational kit; through media effort, reach consumers in 30 states in order to promote the employment of people with disabilities; and generate 60,000 visits to our Web site to educate visitors and expand the resource base available to users. ' ! Rev l, June 27, 1997 13 I 11 Objective 3.3 Influence the collection of national monthly disability employment data. By FY 1998 the President's Committee will: assist the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the development of disability employment questions on its survey instruments. IV. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOALS IN THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN AND IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN The President's Committee enlists a corps of volunteers with expertise in all areas to assist the Committee in developing the strategic and operating plans of the agency. These individuals represent employers, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, disability related government agencies, and families and individuals with disabilities. The Chairman has appointed an Executive Board drawn from these volunteers to provide guidance and advice to our Chairman on how the President's Committee can impact the high unemployment rate of people with disabilities. Additionally, the President's Committee has established a Strategic Plan Task Force and an Operating Task Force made up of members of the Executive Board; their task is to develop the strategic plan and the operating plan. The Operating Task Force also develops performance measures for each project based on the strategic plan. The Chairman insures these plans address pressing employment-related issues and further employment opportunities for people with disabilities. V. AGENCY STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE GOALS .. . The President's Committee accomplishes its goals and objectives through a series of ongoing projects and programs designed to impact on the employment rate of people with disabilities. These projects are long-term ongoing initiatives which further the agency's mission. Programs and projects are designed to serve the diverse population of people with disabilities and the Committee's various stakeholder. The Committee attempts to design projects that often address more than a single goal or objective. Projects such as the Workforce Recruitment Program and the cognitive disabilities initiative are designed not only to break down attitudinal barriers, but also to prepare people with disabilities for the workforce. The Committee's Strategic Plan Task Force carefully reviews all programs and projects to insure they further the goals and objectives adopted by the Executive Board and the Chairman. Rev I, June 27, 1997 14 ! VI. EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES External factors play a large and critical role in the President's Committee's ability to achieve its goals and objectives. The President's Committee acts largely as a facilitator, bringing together individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The Committee forms partnerships with other government agencies and private organizations to further its goals. Virtually all of the projects designed to carry out the agency's mission rely at least in part on the cooperation and support of individuals and agencies outside of the President's Committee. For example, the Cultural Diversity Initiative, Travel Conference, Workforce Recruitment Program, Perspectives Conference, Cognitive Disabilities Project, Business Leadership Network, Self-Employment and Small Business Project, High School/High Tech program, Youth Leadership Forums, and Statistics Initiative depend on the support, in terms of expertise, time commitments and financial resources, of outside organizations. Even with the continued support of President's Committee partners, external factors in society as a whole greatly impact on the Committee's ability to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities. The economic condition of the nation and the business climate are critical. When employment rates for the general population fall, the rates for people with disabilities also follow this trend -- sometimes at a greater rate because many are affected by the first-hired, first-fired principle. Public policy also impacts the Committee's ability to insure equal opportunity for people with disabilities. For example, targeted tax credits provide businesses a financial incentive to hire people with disabilities. Currently there also are programs in place that are disincentives for people with disabilities to enter the workforce. For example, the guarantee of health care benefits to social security recipients, but not to those who leave the SSI and SSDI rolls for employment, is an enormous disincentive to individuals with disabilities. Changing public policy could have a dramatic effect on the number of people entering the workforce. Finally, while the President's Committee attempts to change public attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities and their employability, discriminatory attitudes and actions are external factors that affect the employment of people with disabilities and which, ultimately, the Committee cannot control. ! { VII. STAKEHOLDER The President's Committee's stakeholder consist of business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, disability advocacy and veterans organizations, families and individuals with disabilities, as well as federal, state and local agencies. To insure these various constituencies are included when developing strategies to meet strategic goals, the President's Committee has established six subcommittees (Employer, Labor, Disabled Rev 1, June 27, 1997 15 I Veterans, State Relations, Employee Disability Concerns and Communications). Members of the Executive Board and the Strategic Plan, Operating and Budget Task Forces also are drawn from these various constituency groups. This blending of backgrounds, ideas and focus gives the Committee a balanced and well-informed approach to attacking the issues surrounding the high unemployment rate of people with disabilities. The President's Committee's ability to work with outside agencies on cross-cutting programs is demonstrated in this strategic plan. For example, the Committee co-sponsors the Workforce Recruitment Program with the Department of Defense and the Perspectives Conference with ten other federal agencies. The President's Committee works closely with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the Department of Education on the Cultural Diversity Initiative. These interagency programs are facilitated by the Executive Board membership of representatives from these agencies. Other Executive Board members include officials from the National Council on Disability, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Justice. The President's Committee works cooperatively with all of these agencies, as well as with private sector representatives on the Executive Board, to further its mission. Rev l, June 27, 1997 16 ---------- End of Document -- This mailing list is sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind, NFB. For more information about the NfB, please call (410) 659-9314, point your internet browser to http://www.nfb.org or Telnet to nfbnet.org. .