The Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce Launches to Increase Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
The new Alliance will focus on modernizing federal procurement policies and direct hiring initiatives
WASHINGTON (September 12, 2023) — Today, the Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce (AEAW), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organizationlaunched with a focus on modernizing federal procurement processes to increaseinclusive, equitable employment for people with disabilities.
Founded by Didlake, GCE, Melwood, ServiceSource and TVS, the Alliance seeks to leverage the purchasing and hiring power of the federal government to increase employment opportunities for disabled people across the federal government landscape.
“By advocating with a unified voice, we will create greater opportunities for people with disabilities and expand America’s workforce,” said Dwight Davis,President of AEAW and President of Global Connections to Employment (GCE).
AEAW is built on three overarching objectives:
● Modernize and expand the AbilityOne program. TheAbilityOne program should be modernized to align with contemporary disability policy and employment models. Mechanisms need to be put into statute to expand use of the program, all while ensuring the program remains an employment option for people who have encountered systemic barriers to employment.
● Strengthen and expand additional levers within federal procurement policy, including implementation of Sections 501 and 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Explore opportunities for collaboration between nonprofits, federal agencies, and private sector contractors to achieve additional opportunities and advancement for people with disabilities. Promote the expertise of nonprofits in supported and accommodated employment to mentor and advise other federal contractors in best practices as they look to employpeople with disabilities through these policies.
● Advocate for disability-owned businesses to be recognized under the Small Business Administration as a disadvantaged group.
“The Alliance is different from other organizations in the disability advocacy space because we have a complete issue focus – federal procurement and federal hiring,”explained Larysa Kautz, President and CEO of Melwood and Treasurer of AEAW. “Federal procurement is a powerful socio-economic tool that can maximize employment opportunities for people with disabilities and increase economic stability. To fully realize the employment potential for adults with disabilities, greater coordination across government programs and policies is essential. AEAW seeks to lead that coordination.”
AEAW’s current members consist of nonprofit agencies experienced in providing support, employment training, benefits counseling, career counseling, and employment resources for people with disabilities. The Alliance is seeking members interested in employment issues, federal procurement, and the greater disability community. For more information on the Alliance and the application process, please visit www.expandingamericasworkforce.org.
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About Alliance for Expanding America’sWorkforce
The Alliance for Expanding America's Workforce (AEAW) is dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities by modernizing the federal government’s procurement process, direct hiring practices, and policies.Federal procurement is a powerful socio-economic tool that can maximize employment opportunities for people with disabilities and increase economic stability. To fully realize the employment potential for adults with disabilities, greater coordination across government programs and policies is essential.