1. U.S. Department of Labor DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Challenge.gov

2. DOL Disability Employment App ChallengeBackground Nearly twenty-two years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and thirty-nine years after the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - two of the most significant disability employment-related pieces legislation in American history - people with disabilities continue to be employed at much lower levels than people without disabilities/the general population. Not only do people with disabilities have a significantly higher unemployment rate than the general population, they also have a much lower labor force participation rate.

3. DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Background According to the most recent statistics from the Bureau of Labor statistics (April 2012), people with disabilities had a 20.3% labor force participation rate compared to 69.1% for their non-disabled peers. 20.3% vs. 69.1% 12.5% vs. 7.6% People with disabilities had an unemployment rate of 12.5% compared to 7.6% for their non-disabled peers. For minorities with disabilities, these disparities are even greater. This represents a loss of significant willing and able talent to the American workforce, a loss of income for people without jobs, and an economic loss to the American economy.

4. DOL Disability Employment App Challenge Contest Overview • Launch Date: May 23rd, 2012 • Event: First ever disability-related app challenge/code-a-thon of its kind at DOL. • Partners: Department of Education and Social Security Administration. • Supporters: FCC, Craigslist, IBM, Microsoft and the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA). • Mission: DOL launched the Disability Employment App Challenge to promote the development of innovative tools to improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities. • Each submission was asked to achieve at least one of the following goals: • Promote Recruitment Resources for Employers • Develop Job Training and Skill-Building Tools for Job Seekers • Facilitate Employment-Related Transportation Options • Expand Web and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility

5. DOL Disability Employment App ChallengeBy The Numbers

6. DOL Disability Employment App ChallengeContest Winners Innovation Award: Access Jobs • Prize: $5,000 & Showcase Application at 2012 FCC Developing With Accessibility Expo • People’s choice Award: VoisPal – Speak As Your Think! • Prize: $3,000 & Showcase Application at 2012 FCC Developing With Accessibility Expo • Above and Beyond Accessibility Award: AccDC Accelerated Dynamic Content • Prize: $2,000, showcase Application at 2012 FCC Developing With Accessibility Expo & 1 hour session hosted by leaders from government to showcase the winning app.