Come explore the great research we have done for the past 5 years and engage with like minded audience members in meaningful discussion with an emphasis on looking towards the future of disability research and policy to advance employment for working age adults with disabilities.

Join us for the joint Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center and the Employer Disability Practices Rehabilitation Research and Training Center State-of-the-Science Conference. During this two-day online event leading researchers, policymakers, employers, and advocates will share insights on employment trends, workplace practices, and policies that support disability employment. Over two days, we will explore key topics such as evolving job structures, employer strategies, small business engagement, and economic factors shaping work opportunities. This conference provides a platform to bridge research and practice, fostering meaningful discussions that drive disability employment and economic empowerment.

Sessions include: Link

• • Session 1: Advancing Disability Employer Practices – Monday 1:30pm to 3:00pm
    • Project 1: Spanning the Employment Life Cycle
    • Project 2: Building Trust in Job Seekers and Employees with Disabilities
    • Project 3: Wellbeing as Workplace Culture: A Brief Examination of One Firm’s Approach to Changing its Landscape of Wellbeing
  • Session 2: Emerging Employment Trends: Opportunities and Barriers – Monday 3:00pm to 4:30pm
    • Project 1: Disability, Job Satisfaction, and Workplace Accommodations: Evidence from the Healthcare Industry
    • Project 2: Telework: Work from Home as Rising, Universal Accommodation
    • Project 3: Expanding Employee Status: Gig Workers as Employees or Contractors
  • Session 3: Driving Disability Employment in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses – Tuesday 1:30pm to 3:00pm
    • Project 1: Employer Practices to Increase Employment of People with Disabilities in Small to Medium Sized Businesses
    • Project 2: The Social and Economic Impact of Disability- Owned Business Enterprises
    • Project 3: Apprenticeship: Rediscovering an Ancient Path to Sustainable Skilled Careers.
  • Session 4: Trends and Insights into Disability Employment Growth – Tuesday 3:00pm to 4:30pm
    • Project 1: Understanding the Post-COVID Disability Employment Surge
    • Project 2: Unemployment Insurance Income Support as Facilitator of Return-to-Work
    • Project 3: Expanding Employee Wages: Minimum and Sub-minimum Wages
  • Closing Remarks—Peter Blanck, Doug Kruse, Lisa Schur, Nicole Maestas to 5:00pm

Developed with funding under NIDILRR Grant #90RTEM0006-01-00.
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Disclaimer Link

The contents of this webpage were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTEM0006-01-00 &  #90RTEM0008-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this announcement do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.