Government Technology
Government Technology: State & Local Government News Articles

U.S. Department of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award Goes to Ernst & Young



Print
Comment

Oct 9, 2008, News Report

Ernst & Young received the U.S. Department of Labor's prestigious New Freedom Initiative award this week, which honors corporations, non-profits, individuals and small businesses for their efforts to further the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities.

The Office of Disabilities Employment Policy (ODEP) coordinates the annual New Freedom Initiative Awards program which was introduced by President George W. Bush in 2001. The New Freedom Initiative is a government-wide effort to accelerate the full inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream American life.

"The examples and best practices that we highlight today will hopefully provide insight and ideas for different strategies to help Americans with disabilities become fulfilled, contributing members of our workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Ernst & Young has a long legacy of integrating people with disabilities into its workplace. One of the firm's founders, Arthur Young, was deaf. Today, the organization understands that a diverse, inclusive workforce is critical to attracting and retaining top talent, particularly in the highly competitive professional services industry. To promote inclusiveness of people with disabilities, Ernst & Young established the AccessAbilities network, which aims to foster a disability-aware corporate culture and an empowering environment in which every individual can reach his or her full potential.

"We are honored to receive Secretary Chao's New Freedom Initiative award and to be considered a leading organization around disability inclusiveness," noted Billie Williamson, Ernst & Young's Americas Inclusiveness Officer. "It seems especially fitting, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, that we were able to come together with other leading companies, non-profits, and individuals to not only celebrate the work being done to support people with disabilities, but to continue to advance these important efforts."

Through Ernst & Young's AccessAbilities network, the firm has nearly 300 people dedicated to promoting disability inclusiveness. It has also gone above and beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance by improving existing office accessibility and incorporating accessibility into standards for new construction. The AccessAbilities network provides coaching and mentoring and members distribute quick-guides for all Ernst & Young people on topics such as disabilities etiquette and how to be inclusive. The firm also provides leading-edge technology and communications solutions to help employees with disabilities to perform their jobs more efficiently.

To promote awareness of opportunities at the firm for qualified people with disabilities , Ernst & Young capitalizes on the services of disability organizations, including the Employee Assistance and Recruitment Network (EARN) and disability-oriented Web sites. It also supports several internship programs for students with disabilities.


-cmm


If You Liked This Article, You May Also Like...

Related Products and Services


Latest Government Technology News


Industry Solutions for Government

Read real world deployments of technology in government from our sponsors.

View All Industry Solutions

Marketplace



This section
brought to you by:


Communications and Interoperable Technology Survey

Emergency Management magazine invites you to participate in our Communications and Interoperable Technology Survey. Our 11 questions are very brief and should only take 5 minutes of your time.

Complete our survey now, and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Dispatch Operations and Interoperability

Webinar: A New Era in Public Safety Wednesday, December 10, 2008 from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PST/2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST


A New Era in Public Safety BlackBerry® smartphones running on Sprint networks deliver a wide range of applications that are transforming public safety operations.


Hurricane Preparedness Tips When a hurricane hits, are you prepared to keep in touch?


Case Study - Morris County, New Jersey The Morris County Communications Center upgraded to a new trunked radio system with the benefits of a cellular network, extending coverage beyond county lines


Case Study - Iredell County, North Carolina Spanning over 570 sq miles, it became imperative that the Iredell County Emergency Communications, Operations and Management extend it's communications systems to enhance reliability, security, and coverage.


Case Study - City of Anaheim, California The City of Anaheim saw an opportunity to leverage existing GST and partner with nearby cities to enhance safety operations through data interoperability.


Case Study - Charlottesville, Virginia Fire Department Taking advantage of a range of interoperability solution, the Charlottesville Fire Department has achieved a network that can serve as backup to their existing public safety network.


Sprint ERT Go-Kit with GST Optima Rapid, interoperable communications for emergencies, drills and field exercises.


Optimal Interoperability Until recently it was not possible to cost effectively connect commercial networks to LMR systems. Improvements in communications technology have resulted in greatly enhanced operational capability and have reduced the log-term cost of communications system ownership.


Multi-agency interoperability for Public Safety Establishing cross-agency, real-time situational awareness is critical to effective incident management as well as daily resource management.


Video


DHS Grant Links

DHS Grants and Assistance Programs Link to overview of available grants administered by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)


Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2008 Preparedness Grants Major changes in funding and focus for 2008 DHS grant programs


Remarks on 2008 Homeland Security Grant Guidance DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison


$1.8 billion in DHS Homeland Security Grant Program Awards


Funding Public Safety Communications Whether you are a law enforcement agency, looking for funding to support an interoperable communications solution or a school, seeking to improve communications between building administrators, grants may provide the funding you need to implement a robust, scalable communication system.


Yes! I would like more information about Sprint's dispatch operations and interoperability solutions.