| November 13, 2020 Inclusive Apprenticeships Carolyn Jones and Lydia Parenteau, Policy Advisors in the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), wrote a blog on "Inclusive Apprenticeships: Connecting Employers and Career Seekers" in recognition of National Apprenticeship Week. Jones and Parenteau highlighted the ODEP-funded Apprenticeship Inclusion Models initiative, which focuses on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs that provide skills training to youth and adults with disabilities in high-demand, high-wage industries. They also discussed Universal Design for Learning principles, workplace accommodations, and inclusive workplace technologies. EARN Newsletter The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) released its November newsletter. EARN's publication on "COVID-19 and Job Applicants and Employees with Disabilities: Emerging Practices to Employ and Protect Workers" is featured, as well as two articles EARN wrote for DIVERSEability magazine's National Disability Employment Awareness Month issue in October. PEAT Future of Work Newsletter The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) published its November Future of Work newsletter. Updates include details on how to vote for a PEAT-led panel on "Disability-Led Innovation in Future Workplaces" at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, information on inclusive apprenticeship programs in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, a new resource on how to make data visualizations accessible, and more. Pre-Employment Transition Services Funding The Employment First Community of Practice will host a webinar on "Pre-Employment Transition Services Flexibility Regarding the Use of Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Funds" on November 18 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET. This session will provide an overview and background of the Notice of Interpretation (NOI) published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2020, by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services about the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. The NOI addresses questions and comments about reserve funds' allowable use for auxiliary aids and services and other VR services listed in the Rehabilitation Act. Disability Perspective in State Policymaking The Council of State Governments and the State Exchange on Employment & Disability will present a webinar on "Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy" on November 19 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET. This session will highlight how states can ensure a disability perspective in state policymaking and include individuals with disabilities in broader decision-making. HIRE Vets Medallion Award Ceremony U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia, Veterans' Employment and Training Service Assistant Secretary John Lowry, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston hosted a virtual ceremony recognizing the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Award recipients. This year, 675 employers were honored with the award for their commitment to recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans. Public Sector Apprenticeships The Council of State Governments (CSG) and the Urban Institute hosted a webinar on "Utilizing Public Sector Apprenticeships to Improve Employment Outcomes," in collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED). Panelists, including representatives from the Office of Workforce Development for Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities state agency, shared the benefits of public sector apprenticeships and examples of inclusive apprenticeship policies and programs in state and local government. The webinar is the first in a series of SEED collaborations produced by CSG as part of their 2020 National Conference Reimagined through December 18. | 
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