Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
January 6, 2004, Vol. 04-01

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY TO CONDUCT FORT LAUDERDALE MEETING WITH EMERGING WORKFORCE CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

The National Council on Disability (NCD) will conduct its next quarterly meeting at the Wyndham Bonaventure Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 8-9, 2004. As part of the meeting, NCD has invited those participating in the First Annual Emerging Workforce Conference and the Third Anniversary of the President's New Freedom Initiative (February 8-10) to present issues relating to the employment of people with disabilities. Those attending will have the opportunity to address NCD board members who are appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The NCD forum will take place on Monday morning, February 9, 2004, at the Wyndham Bonaventure.

The Emerging Workforce Conference will provide a unique opportunity for people with disabilities, families, federal policy makers, and service providers to work with business around enhancing employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Sponsors include the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor.

The theme for the Emerging Workforce Conference is "We Are.We Can.We Will." In an effort to draw attention to this untapped labor pool of people with disabilities that is 54 million strong, personal invitations were extended to President George W. Bush and Governor Jeb Bush. Also, the conference will bring together NCD, the Social Security Administration Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Advisory Panel, and invited representatives from the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, the Access Board, and the President's Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, as well as many additional federal, state, and international partners. For more information on the Emerging Workforce Conference, go to http://www.fgse.nova.edu/workforce/ For more information contact Mark Quigley at 202-272-2004 or 202-272-2074 (TTY).

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.