The National Disability Institute (NDI) will receive $8 million over four years for a center that concentrates on increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor announced recently.
Funding for the policy-development center comes from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and will be administered by the DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), according to the DOL's Aug. 26 announcement. The center will be managed by the NDI and Social Policy Research Associates (SPRA), the announcement reports.
Taryn Williams, assistant secretary for Disability Employment Policy, said the initiative "will raise awareness about disability employment data collection and improve financial empowerment and career pathways," the announcement records.
"By doing so, we can help create more competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities,” Williams said in the announcement.
The policy-development center will focus on promoting better and more equitable access to federal programs, improved employment opportunities and economic advancements for those with disabilities, the DOL states. The center will complement complement the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities, according to the DOL.
“Working with the National Disability Institute and Social Policy Research Associates," WIlliams said in the announcement, "we look forward to ensuring people with disabilities have equal and inclusive access to opportunities to succeed."
