The awardee will work across the full range of workforce systems to develop policies and provide technical expertise that increases CIE services, opportunities, and outcomes for individuals with…

The National Disability Institute Inc. was awarded a $4 million cooperative agreement by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Solicitor under the Reentry Employment Opportunities program (CFDA 17.270) for the period of September 1, 2022 through September 30, 2026.

Under the award, the National Disability Institute will work across the workforce development system to develop policies and provide technical expertise that increases competitive integrated employment services, opportunities, and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Key deliverables will include policy research, recommendations, technical assistance, and demonstration projects to promote equity, program integration, and adoption of inclusive practices. Approximately $2 million of the funding will support subrecipient activities to expand services for underserved communities and further goals of the Reentry Employment Opportunities program.

The awardee will work across the full range of workforce systems to develop policies and provide technical expertise that increases CIE services, opportunities, and outcomes for individuals with disabilities and focus its work across three priorities related to wioa and the workforce development system: advancing economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities, creating career pathways to CIE, and increasing data reporting on disability through wioa programs. The lead wioa PDC will conduct outreach on the specified priorities to state and local workforce systems, including american job centers, wioa-required partners, and other essential but non-mandated partners (such as mental health, medicaid, and others), to help those entities create inclusive programs and policies to promote employment and economic advancement of individuals with disabilities and to promote collaboration, cooperation and leveraging of resources across these systems. Activities performed the center will develop resources that meet the needs of all states and territories, and design and implement a promotion and dissemination plan that ensures materials are available through multiple avenues. This includes activities such as maintaining a fully accessible website, conducting innovative and accessible webinars, participating in national conferences, conducting successful social media outreach, collaborating with similar organizations to accomplish the center's mission. Will provide research, policy products, and other assistance to improve wioa data collection and reporting on service to individuals with disabilities through workforce development programs. Expand financial literacy and economic advancement through activities such as pilot programs, research, and resource development to address the various barriers to financial literacy and stability for people with disabilities, including in historically marginalized communities that may have large numbers of individuals who have limited or no connection to formal banking institutions. Deliverables policy research and recommendations, technical assistance, and demonstration projects that promote equity, program integration, and adoption of inclusive practices in the workforce system. Intended beneficiary individuals with disabilities of all types, and those organizations which serve them, inclusive of the department of labor. Subrecipient activities yes - approximately 1/2 of the budget is allocated to subrecipient activity.