“At the heart of the ADA is freedom. And for Americans, freedom is not just an abstract ideal—it’s lived every day through work,” writes our Assistant Secretary Julie Hocker in a recent blog post celebrating the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. She reaffirms ODEP’s commitment to upholding the ADA and the promise of a nation where every American with a disability has a clear path to a good job, is valued for their talents, and has the opportunity to work, save, and invest in a secure future.

Driving a truck is a physical job. It involves climbing in and out of a large vehicle, moving cargo, securing loads, and performing maintenance, among other tasks. For drivers with motor impairments that limit their ability to reach, bend, or lift, an accommodation can help. A swiveling seat can ease entry and exit for a driver with a hip impairment, for example. A lift gate can raise or lower boxes to the ground for a delivery driver with a back condition. ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network has many other suggestions for administrative adjustments, equipment, or assistive technologies that can make work possible. Check out JAN’s new resource now.

Let’s talk about the tech industry. Join us on Aug. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, for the third installment of ODEP’s industry spotlight webinar series, hosted by our Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability. This time we’re focusing on new workforce demands in tech and the innovative approaches that employers are using to build talent pipelines, support employee growth, and address emerging skills gaps. Our free webinar “The Future of Tech Talent: Strengthening Workforce Pipelines Through Apprenticeships, Skills-Based Hiring, and Disability Employment” will feature special guests from the apprenticeship nonprofit Apprenti.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requires memorandums of understanding, or MOUs, between local workforce development boards and partners that make up the one-stop delivery system. Join ODEP on Aug. 18, at 3 p.m. ET, for a webinar on best practices for designing and implementing MOUs that streamline service delivery, reduce redundancy, improve communication and alignment among partners, and help job seekers with disabilities find work. These approaches align with Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling’s talent strategy to prepare the workforce for America’s Golden Age.

All workforce partners—including human services, vocational rehabilitation, and community organizations—share responsibility for ensuring accessibility in the public workforce system. Learn more in a new brief featuring success stories from Missouri and Virginia, where workforce partners have collaborated to improve American Job Center certification tools, enhance service delivery, and help put Americans with disabilities in good jobs. “Cross System Collaboration: Ensuring Accessibility in American Job Centers” provides states with actionable steps toward strengthening accessibility and customer experience for all.

ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability recently chatted with Megan Delp, director of workplace mental health at the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Check out EARN’s Q&A for her insights on supporting American employers to prioritize mental health in the workplace. Delp lays out practical strategies for reducing stigma, equipping managers to recognize early warning signs of mental health conditions, and fostering a workplace culture that supports employee well-being.