$15M Federal Grants Boost Disability Employment Access
Author: U.S. Department of Labor
Published: 2014/09/25 - Updated: 2026/01/14
Publication Type: Announcement
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications
Synopsis: This announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor details nearly $15 million in federal grants distributed to California, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and South Dakota through the Disability Employment Initiative. The information comes directly from a government source, making it particularly valuable for job seekers with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and workforce development agencies seeking reliable data about employment programs. These grants specifically target the expansion of American Job Centers to better serve both youth and adult populations with disabilities by hiring Disability Resource Coordinators, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and businesses, and integrating accessibility requirements into workforce systems. The initiative also connects participants to the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work Program, helping SSI and SSDI beneficiaries transition into sustainable employment while maintaining their benefits during the process.
Introduction
The U.S. Department of Labor announces $14,837,785 in grants to six states to improve employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities. The grants to California, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota and South Dakota are being awarded as part of the Disability Employment Initiative, funded by the department's Employment and Training Administration and Office of Disability Employment Policy.
"Breaking down barriers to employment for people with disabilities is important in order for our country to field a full team and ensure that no worker is left behind," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "The federal grants we're awarding today will help open many more doors to opportunities, providing people with disabilities with skills they need to achieve economic self-sufficiency."
Main Content
These grants will help expand the capacity of local American Job Centers to improve employment outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities by increasing their participation in existing career pathway systems and programs that build on partnerships among local educational institutions, businesses and disability advocates.
This is the fifth round of funding through the Disability Employment Initiative, which now supports 37 projects in 26 states.
Grantees will use the funds to:
- Hire or designate a Disability Resource Coordinator, an expert in workforce and disability issues, to achieve program goals;
- Foster partnerships and collaboration at the state and local levels;
- Integrate resources and services; and
- Ensure that local American Job Centers comply with physical, programmatic and communications accessibility requirements.
This initiative also expands the public workforce system's participation in the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work Program by requiring participating state workforce agencies or local workforce boards to become active Employment Networks. Many Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries use the mainstream workforce system to seek employment opportunities. By serving as Employment Networks, grantees will build upon the workforce system's capacity to serve these groups.
These grants align closely with the Obama administration's job-driven training principles by requiring multiple workforce and disability service providers, educational institutions and businesses in each state to collaborate extensively with each other.
| Grantee | Amount |
|---|---|
| California Employment Development Department | $2,500,000 |
| Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | $2,499,573 |
| Kansas Department of Commerce | $2,495,294 |
| Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development | $2,500,000 |
| Total | $14,837,785 |
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The fifth round of Disability Employment Initiative funding represents a significant step toward addressing the persistent employment gap that affects Americans with disabilities, who historically face unemployment rates nearly double those of the general population. By requiring grantees to become active Employment Networks and collaborate with multiple stakeholders - from community colleges to private employers - this program builds sustainable infrastructure rather than offering temporary solutions. The focus on career pathways and job-driven training principles reflects a shift from simple job placement to long-term economic self-sufficiency, potentially creating lasting change in how the American workforce system serves one of its most underutilized talent pools.Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by U.S. Department of Labor and published on 2014/09/25, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.