Oct
30
2014

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Panel Discussions

10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT
FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC

Washington, D.C. – In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the FCC’s Office of Workplace Diversity, in coordination with the agency’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau and Office of Managing Director, hosted two panel discussions on October 30, 2014. This year’s NDEAM theme is “Expect. Employ. Empower.” The primary goal of the panel discussions was to heighten awareness of issues and challenges bearing on employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, as well as to highlight certain FCC and government-wide efforts currently underway to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in the federal workforce.

The NDEAM program kicked-off promptly at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly also provided remarks during the program. The event was open to the public.

Panel I focused on the impact of FCC efforts to implement regulations requiring access to advanced communications services on employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Panel was comprised of representatives from Gallaudet University, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, AT&T, and the American Foundation for the Blind. Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, opened the panel discussion with a brief overview of relevant laws and FCC regulatory actions. Gregory Hlibok, Chief of the Disability Rights Office of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, moderated this panel.

Panel II addressed ongoing efforts of the FCC, and the federal government, to increase the participation of persons with disabilities in its workforce. Panelists included representatives from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, The Arc, St. John’s Community Services and an FCC employee recently hired as part of an FCC effort to increase employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cynthia Bryant, Attorney Advisor of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau moderated this panel.

For additional information about this event, please contact Kelly Jones by email at Kelly.Jones@fcc.gov or by telephone at (202)418-7078.

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