Want to help people with disabilities get better jobs? Now’s your chance!
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has just started an app challenge. If you’ve got some technical skills, they want to hear from you — specifically, how you would turn job recruitment resources, job training tools, and skill-building resources into a handy mobile app.
“I am thrilled to announce the Labor Department’s first disability employment app challenge. Using today’s technology, we hope to inspire creative and innovative solutions to the pressing employment-related problems faced by people with disabilities,” said Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy.
Did you know that people with disabilities have a harder time finding jobs, getting the training they need, and even getting to and from a job? Sadly, people with disabilities are employed at much lower levels than people who aren’t disabled. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 offer lots of protection in the workplace, but people with disabilities need help actually finding jobs in the first place.
What should your app look like?
– You’ll need to offer a variety of important employment information and tips that people with disabilities can benefit from.
– You’ll need to target workers at a variety of skill levels and pay grades.
– You’ll need to make sure your app is compatible with assistive technology that’s commonly used by people with disabilities — like screen reading and speech recognition software.
– You’ll need to target more than just people with disabilities. You’ll also need to make sure that people like teachers, career counselors, and workplace professionals can benefit from your information.
– You’ll need to attract interest from potential business partners that can help make sure the app is around for years to come.
Aside from doing something to help others, what else can you get out of this challenge?
The top three apps will earn cash prizes that total $10,000!