Increasing Disability Inclusion in the Workplace Through Business to Business NETworking Beth Butler, JD Executive Director, NCBLN USBLN, GFG - Team

New Regulations: Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act Section 503 prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment against individuals with disabilities (IWDs), and requires these employers to take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain these individuals. Presenters:

Highlights of the New Regulations Utilization goal: Established a nationwide 7% utilization goal for qualified IWDs. Contractors apply the goal to each of their job groups, or to their entire workforce if the contractor has 100 or fewer employees. Data collection: The new regulations require applicant/hire tracking. Having this data will assist contractors in measuring the effectiveness of their outreach and recruitment efforts. The data must be maintained for three years to be used to spot trends. Presenters:

Invitation to Self–Identify: Require contractors to invite applicants to self–identify as IWDs at both the pre–offer and the post-offer phase of the application process and every five years after that. Outreach and Recruitment Efforts: Create partnerships with disability organizations to assist in finding and recruiting qualified job applicants with disabilities. All outreach, partnerships, and recruitment efforts should be documented and records should be kept for three years. Presenters:

Compliance Challenges Ability to recruit individuals with disabilities Source talent with disabilities on college and university campuses Obtain voluntary self-identification data to demonstrate progress toward 7% goal

Solutions: US BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK (USBLN) NC BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK (NCBLN) CSAVR’S NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT TEAM (NET)

US Business Leadership Network The US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®) is a national non-profit that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace. The USBLN® serves as the collective voice of nearly 50 Business Leadership Network affiliates across the United States, representing over 5,000 businesses. It is the nation's leading third party certification program for disability-owned businesses, including businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. The USBLN Conference is the premier event for business and provides the best and brightest in disability inclusion with cutting-edge educational sessions, enhanced networking, exciting interactive programming plus high-profile speakers:

NC Business Leadership Network NCBLN provides businesses access to education and training opportunities – Spring/Fall Conferences, Access to resources – Connecting business with trusted community partners for recruitment/retention support Networking – Foster collaboration among businesses to share best practices for disability strategies

National Employment Team (NET) Pre-employment services – connecting future employees with companies through internships, mentoring opportunities and training that is customized to the business need or delivered on-the-job. Educate consumers on self-identification Recruitment and referral of qualified applicants. (TAPS) Staff training on disability etiquette and awareness. Consulting, technical assistance and support Workplace accommodation and assistive technology

Beth Butler, JD exec@ncbln.org Contact: Beth Butler, JD exec@ncbln.org Presenters: