U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Disability Employment 

Policy

November 2020
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TAB 1: AGENCY ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW ........................................................ 1

TAB 2: STATE OF PLAY ...................................................................................................... 5

TAB 3: CALENDAR ............................................................................................................ 13

TAB 4: BUDGET.................................................................................................................. 14

TAB 5: AGENCY PERFORMANCE................................................................................... 18
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

1

TAB 1: AGENCY ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Mission

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) mission1 is to develop and influence 

policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for 

people with disabilities. ODEP is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies 

and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for 

people with disabilities. 

Authorizing Legislation

ODEP was created in Fiscal Year 2001 when Congress “...established in the Department of 

Labor an office of disability employment policy which shall, under the overall direction of the 

Secretary, provide leadership, develop policy and initiatives, and award grants furthering the 

objective of eliminating barriers to the training and employment of people with disabilities. 

Such office shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary” (emphasis added). See Pub. L. 106-554

§ 1(a)(1) [title I], Dec. 21, 2000. 

Organizational Structure

ODEP is led by an Assistant Secretary who is a non-career appointee nominated by the President 

and confirmed by the United States Senate, is delegated authority and assigned responsibility by 

the Secretary of Labor, and reports directly to the Secretary. The Office of the Assistant 

Secretary (front office) includes a Chief of Staff (non-career), an Executive Officer (career), a 

Senior Advisor (career), and a Special Assistant (career). The Assistant Secretary manages the 

Deputy Assistant Secretary (career SES), who supports the Assistant Secretary in carrying out 

his/her duties and accomplishing priority goals, elevates policy and organizational issues, and 

develops strategies and recommendations to improve employment outcomes for people with 

disabilities. The Deputy Assistant Secretary serves as ODEP’s chief operating officer and 

manages its four divisions: the Division of Policy Development, the Division of Policy Planning 

and Research, the Division of Administrative Systems and Financial Services, and the Division 

of Policy Communication and Outreach. 

In addition to leadership and management positions, ODEP’s current workforce includes Policy 

Advisors, Program Analysts, Management Analysts, Business Development Specialists, 

Economists, an Administrative Officer, Administrative Assistants, Confidential Assistants, and 

Fellows and Interns on temporary assignments. ODEP capacity is augmented by contractors and 

grantees that manage multiple research projects and policy centers under the direction of ODEP, 

and provide staffing support in certain areas.

 1 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/about.
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

2

Organizational Chart

Chief of Staff

Patrick Mannix

(Non Career GS)

Deputy Assistant 

Secretary

Jennifer Sheehy

(Career SES)

Senior Advisor

John Tambornino

(Career GS)

Assistant Secretary 

Vacant

(PAS)

Executive Officer

Bryan Ballman

(Career GS)

Division of Policy Communication 

and Outreach

Supervisory Program Manager

Renee Tajudeen

(Career GS)

Division of Policy Planning and Research

Program Management 

Director

Myriam Myer

(Career SES)

Research and Evaluation 

Supervisory Research Analyst

Savi Swick 

(Career GS)

Division of Policy Development

Workforce Systems

Supervisory Policy Advisor

Christopher Button

(Career GS)

Youth

Supervisory Policy Advisor

Kirk Lew

(Career GS)

Employment Related Supports

Supervisory Policy Advisor

Michael Reardon

(Career GS)

Employer

Supervisory Policy Advisor

Lou Orslene

(Career GS)

Special Assistant

Melissa Turner

(Career GS)

Division of Administrative Systems 

and Financial Serves

Supervisory Program Manager

Michelle Fox

(Career GS)
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

3 

Workforce At-A-Glance 

Organizational Changes During the Past Four Years

In January 2017, ODEP added the Program Management team, led by a Senior Executive 

Services (SES) career staff member, to the Division of Policy Planning and Research. This 

change integrated information technology, procurement management, and grants management

functions. 

Key Leaders 

• Vacant, Assistant Secretary

• Jennifer S. Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary 

• Patrick M. Mannix, Chief of Staff
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

4

• Bryan Ballmann, Executive Officer

• John Tambornino, Senior Advisor

• Melissa Turner, Special Assistant 

• Myrian M. Myer, Director of Program Management
TAB 2: State of Play

5

TAB 2: STATE OF PLAY 

Key Meetings, Decisions, and Announcements

ODEP is the federal agency responsible for spearheading the annual National Disability 

Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) activities. In January 2021, ODEP will engage key 

stakeholders (including employers, service providers, and federal, state, and local agencies) to 

develop an NDEAM theme. By March 2021, ODEP will provide a list of potential themes to the 

Office of the Secretary for approval. The Department announces the official NDEAM theme in 

early May. 

ODEP leadership was scheduled to travel to China in April 2020 to exchange information on 

disability hiring practices, as part of ongoing work organized by the U.S. Department of State 

and coordinated with the Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). This 

engagement is considered a successful example of U.S./China cooperation, and disability is the 

only human rights topic that Chinese officials have been willing to discuss with the U.S. The 

meeting was postponed due to COVID-19 and is likely to be rescheduled for April 2021.

Policy and Regulatory Issues 

ODEP does not have regulatory authority, yet it serves as a critical resource for Department 

agencies and other federal agencies to ensure that the potential impact on people with disabilities 

is considered early in the development of policy and regulations. ODEP should be included 

early in policy discussions, and can review draft regulations and policy and provide advice 

regarding disability employment issues. Our most intensive engagements have included 

assisting and partnering with the Department’s Civil Rights Center (CRC), Employment and 

Training Administration (ETA), Office of Federal Contract Compliance Policy (OFCCP), and 

the Wage and Hour Division (WHD). 

ODEP policy work focuses on eliminating barriers that prevent people with disabilities from 

achieving full employment. This involves coordinating federal policy on disability employment, 

and exploring how federal, state, local, provider and employer policies, programs, and practices 

can improve employment outcomes. ODEP policy development involves collaboration with 

other Department agencies and multiple federal agencies outside the Department, along with 

state and local governments and a breadth of stakeholders, in order to identify, develop, validate,

and scale successful policies and practices. A number of key policy issues and initiatives are 

described below.

The Retaining Employment and Talent after Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) 

Demonstration Project is designed to develop, implement, evaluate, and bring to scale promising 

stay-at-work and return-to-work early intervention strategies to support injured or ill workers in 

employment. The project is a collaboration with ETA and the Social Security Administration 

(SSA). During Phase 1, eight states (California, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, 

Ohio, Vermont, and Washington) received a total of $26 million to launch pilot projects to 

develop and test project designs. During Phase 2, a subset of these states will receive grants to 

scale their projects and participate in an evaluation. In October 2020, ODEP issued the RETAIN 
TAB 2: State of Play

6

Projects Phase 2 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Consistent with the President’s 

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget, the FOA announced the availability of approximately $108 million in 

cooperative agreement funds. ODEP expects to announce the winners of the Phase 2 

competition in early calendar year 2021 and to launch projects shortly thereafter.

WHD administers Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which permits 

employers and service providers with certificates issued by WHD to pay persons with disabilities 

subminimum wages. Historically, stakeholders opposing the 14(c) program have sought the 

support of the Secretary, including requesting that he or she support legislation that would 

abolish the program, and refrain from taking certain administrative actions such as issuing new 

certificates that allow organizations to participate. Supporters of the program have requested that 

the Secretary publicly support "choice,” which refers to the option of working in facilities 

operating with a 14(c) certificate rather than in integrated jobs paying minimum wage or 

higher. Nevertheless, ODEP has provided extensive technical assistance to help states and 

service providers promote competitive integrated employment for workers with significant 

disabilities as an alternative to subminimum wage work in segregated settings. ODEP 

anticipates continuing stakeholder attention to the 14(c) program, especially given the U.S. 

Commission on Civil Rights’ September 2020 report, which called the program “antiquated” 

and “discriminatory,” and recommended that it be phased out.

Mental health in the workplace has received heightened national attention and is a major 

interest of stakeholders, including its potential relationship to workplace violence and individual 

experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this demand, ODEP’s employer 

technical assistance center, the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability 

Inclusion (EARN), created the award-winning Mental Health Toolkit.

2

 In addition, ODEP’s Job 

Accommodation Network (JAN) continues to add resources to support workplace 

accommodations for workers with mental health conditions. ODEP has also incorporated mental 

health issues into its youth technical assistance center, the RETAIN demonstration, and 

initiatives promoting competitive integrated employment.

The Fiscal Year 2021 President’s Budget includes a legislative proposal to transfer SSA’s Ticket 

to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program to the Department in order to improve program 

structure, coordination, and employment outcomes. Under this proposal, ETA would administer 

the program, and ODEP would provide policy guidance. The Ticket program was established in 

1999 to assist adult disability beneficiaries in becoming employed, yet relatively few disability 

beneficiaries have successfully participated in the program. The proposal is intended to better 

integrate the Ticket program into the public workforce system and to better serve disability 

beneficiaries who are seeking employment. Program transfer and redesign could have major 

consequences for disability beneficiaries and service providers, and present complex challenges 

in program administration. In order to allow stakeholders and experts to provide critical input 

into these proposed changes, in September ODEP published a request for information (RFI), and 

is seeking additional opportunities for public input. 

 2 https://askearn.org/mentalhealth/.
TAB 2: State of Play

7

Major Grants and Contracts

ODEP’s largest grant program is the Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness 

Network (RETAIN)3 demonstration project, noted above, which is designed to improve 

employment retention of workers after an illness or injury and reduce their need for public 

benefits. RETAIN is jointly funded and administered by ODEP, ETA, and SSA and involves 

two Phases: Phase 1 grants were awarded to eight states to plan and pilot a care coordination 

model for early intervention; Phase 2 grants will expand the strongest pilots for additional 

development and evaluation. In Phase 1, eight states received $11 million in ODEP funds in 

addition to nearly $15 million in ETA funds, and SSA invested over $12 million to prepare 

Phase 1 grantees for a formal evaluation during Phase 2. Up to five Phase 2 grantees will receive 

approximately $20 million each for expansion of Phase 1 pilots. For continuous support of the 

RETAIN grants, ODEP has invested $7.1 million (combined with $2.8 million from ETA) in 

technical assistance to provide expert advice on an array of topics, including adapting pilots to 

the COVID-19 pandemic. 

ODEP also manages several policy and technical assistance centers through competitivelyawarded cooperative agreements and contracts, including the following: 

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN): provides free, expert, and confidential information 

and guidance regarding workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.

The West Virginia University Research Corporation manages JAN through a contract 

funded for $2.8 million per year, which extends until March 2022. 

• Employer Assistance and Resource Network for Disability Inclusion (EARN): a 

technical assistance center that provides resources, confidential assistance, and training to 

guide employers in the public and private sectors to recruit, hire, retain, and advance 

individuals with disabilities. EARN is managed under a four-year cooperative agreement 

with Cornell University, with base funding of $8 million. EARN received an additional 

$2 million to research and respond to employer-identified COVID-19 policy issues. The 

cooperative agreement extends through September 2023.

• Leadership for Employment and Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) 

Center: a policy development center that assists states and service providers to support 

implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Social 

Policy Research Associates was awarded a $2 million contract in September 2019 to 

manage LEAD through September 2021, with three additional option years. 

• Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth): a policy 

development center that conducts research, develops viable policy solutions, and delivers 

training and resources to support national, state, and local capacity to improve 

employment outcomes for youth with disabilities, including through promoting youth 

leadership and development. In FY 2019, the Council of State Governments received $5 

million in funding to manage the Center under a five-year cooperative agreement; the 

 3 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics/saw-rtw/about.
TAB 2: State of Play

8

grantee also received an additional $1 million to research and develop solutions for new 

issues that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT): a project that fosters 

collaborations to make emerging technologies accessible and to support workplaces in 

using inclusive technologies that engage the skills of employees with disabilities. PEAT 

is in the first option year of a multi-year contract awarded to the Wheelhouse Group, 

funded at $1.5 million for the current year, which extends until July 2021.

• State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED)4: an initiative launched in 2015 to 

support state and local governments in developing and implementing disability-inclusive 

policies. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Council of State 

Governments, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors 

Association, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, SEED develops and disseminates 

resources designed to address state and local priorities. SEED is managed under a $3.4

million contract with Concepts, Inc. which extends through June 2021. 

• Apprenticeship Inclusion Models (AIM): a collaboration with ETA’s Office of 

Apprenticeship launched in 2018 to help working-age youth and adults with disabilities 

participate in apprenticeships. AIM is part of a two-year, $2 million initiative to develop 

and evaluate innovative practices to expand inclusive apprenticeship opportunities, 

education, and occupational skills training in high-growth/in-demand occupations such as 

information technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.

• SSI Youth Recipient Employment Transition Research: a project to cultivate the next 

generation of policy and program development and evaluation to promote successful 

employment and education transitions for youth participating in the Supplemental 

Security Income (SSI) program. In Fiscal Year 2018, ODEP awarded a contract to 

Mathematica Policy Research to review evidence-based strategies to support transitionage youth with disabilities. In Fiscal Year 2019, ODEP awarded a $1.1 million contract 

to Mathematica to build upon this work by helping ODEP competitively select twelve 

policy, program, and service proposals to promote successful transitions of youth SSI 

recipients. ODEP and Mathematica are providing technical assistance to authors, and 

plan to publish a collection of papers in early 2021. The White House Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) has expressed strong interest in this project.

Enforcement 

ODEP does not have enforcement authority, but will continue to provide technical assistance to 

key federal partners with this authority, including the Department’s CRC, ETA, OFCCP, and 

WHD, and also the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Equal Employment Opportunity 

Commission (EEOC). 

 4 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/state-exchange-on-employment-and-disability.
TAB 2: State of Play

9

Key Agency Stakeholders

ODEP accomplishes its mission through collaboration within the Department, and with 

numerous federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit policy and advocacy 

organizations, major employers and employer associations, and universities and research 

organizations. ODEP has formal alliances with several key non-governmental stakeholders 

critical to its mission, along with formal partnerships and informal working relationships with an 

array of stakeholders relevant to this mission. 

Formal Alliances with Non-Governmental Partners 

• American Staffing Association: a membership organization that supports the staffing, 

recruiting, and workforce solutions industry through advocacy, research, education, and 

by promoting high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. 

• Association of University Centers on Disabilities: a membership organization that 

coordinates university-based interdisciplinary programs and community resources in the 

U.S. that focus on the employment and well-being of persons with disabilities.

• Disability:IN: a non-profit organization that promotes disability inclusion in the 

workplace, supply chains, and marketplace.

• National Industry Liaison Group: a non-profit organization founded to improve 

communication between OFCCP and independent Industry Liaison Groups (ILGs).

• Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society: an educational resource for the Major 

League and Minor League Baseball athletic trainers to improve understanding of sports 

medicine in order to promote the health of professional baseball players.

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): the largest human resources 

professional society supporting human resources professionals. 

National Disability Organizations 

• ACCSES: a national network of more than 1,200 organizations that serve people with 

disabilities that advocates individual self-determination.

• American Association of People with Disabilities: a national non-profit organization 

that works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

• The American Network of Community Options and Resources: a national, non-profit 

association representing service providers for people with disabilities.

• The Arc of the U.S.: a national community-based organization representing people with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities and serving them and their families.

• Association of People Supporting Employment First: a national non-profit 

membership organization dedicated to the “employment first” vision that all people with 

disabilities have a right to competitive employment in an inclusive workplace.
TAB 2: State of Play

10

• Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: a national organization promoting civil rights, 

inclusion, and equality of persons with mental disabilities through litigation, public 

policy advocacy, coalition building, education, media outreach, and technical assistance.

• Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities: a coalition of national consumer, advocacy, 

provider, and professional organizations that advocates federal legislation and policy to 

fully integrate children and adults with disabilities into mainstream society. 

• Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation: a national organization 

comprised of administrators of state rehabilitation agencies and constituting the state 

partners per the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

• Mental Health America: a national community-based organization that addresses the 

needs of persons living with mental illness and promotes the mental health of all persons.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness: the largest grassroots mental health organization 

dedicated to improving the lives of persons affected by mental illness.

• National Disability Institute: a national organization focused on the financial health 

and wellness of people with disabilities.

• National Disability Rights Network: a network of organizations dedicated to 

improving the lives of people with disabilities by guarding against abuse, advocating for 

rights, and ensuring accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, 

transportation, and juvenile and criminal justice systems (also serves as the federally 

mandated Protection and Advocacy Systems and the Client Assistance Programs for 

individuals with disabilities).

• National Federation of the Blind: the largest organization of the blind in the U.S., 

dedicated to the full and equitable integration of the blind into society.

• National Organization on Disability: a national non-profit organization that promotes 

the full participation and contributions of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. 

Federal Partners Outside the Department 

In pursuit of its mission, ODEP engages and partners with numerous federal agencies outside of 

the Department, including through interagency agreements to leverage funding, managing joint 

projects, leading workgroups established in response to Administration priorities or Government 

Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations, conducting analysis on cross-cutting issues, 

providing expert consultation, serving as Department liaisons for critical projects, coordinating 

relevant activity, and exchanging information.

In recent years’ ODEP’s most extensive engagements with federal agencies outside of the 

Department have included the following:

• AbilityOne Commission

• Access Board
TAB 2: State of Play

11

• Council on Economic Mobility: Interagency council established in 2017 under 

Executive Order, encompassing 10 agencies and led by the Department of Health and 

Human Services.

• Department of Defense (DOD): Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Diversity 

Operations Center (DMOC) 

• Department of Education (ED): Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation 

Services (OSERS), Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)

• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Administration for Children and 

Families (ACF), Administration for Community Living (ACL), Assistant Secretary for 

Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National 

Institutes on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDLRR)

• Department of Justice (DOJ): Civil Rights Division

• Department of State (State)

• Department of Transportation (DOT): Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy 

(OASP), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), National Highways and Transportation 

Safety Administration (NHTSA)

• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Office of the Secretary (OST), Veterans Health 

Administration, Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 

• General Services Administration (GSA)

• National Council on Disability (NCD)

• Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

• Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

• Social Security Administration (SSA): Office of Research, Disability and Employment 

Services (ORDES), Office of Research, Evaluation and Statistics (ORES)

• White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Division of Education, 

Income Maintenance, and Labor (EIML)

State and Local Partners

ODEP has worked with 49 states in recent years to develop new administrative and legislative 

policy options that support the employment of people with disabilities. Last year, 25 states

enacted more than 150 state and local policies to increase employment for persons with

disabilities. ODEP also worked with 27 states to support competitive integrated employment for 

persons with disabilities, with a focus on veterans and persons with mental health disabilities. 

ODEP often supports state and local policymaking through state and local intermediary 

associations, including the following:

• Council of State Governments: represents the three branches of state government.
TAB 2: State of Play

12

• National Council of State Legislatures: represents state legislatures and encourages 

interstate cooperation regarding key public policy challenges. 

• National Governors’ Association: collaborates with state governors to advance shared 

policy priorities and innovative practices on a range of issues.

• Women in Government: represents the increasing number of women state legislators.

• U.S. Conference of Mayors: represents mayors of more than 1,400 cities across the 

U.S.

• National Association of Counties: represents more than 40,000 county officials and 

promotes innovative public policy at the county and federal level.
TAB 3: Calendar

13

TAB 3: CALENDAR

Event Date

Public announcement of grant awards to states under the RETAIN 

Demonstration

February 2021

Travel to China to participate in international disability convening 

organized by the Department of State and coordinated with DOL’s Bureau 

of International Labor Affairs (June 2020 convening was cancelled as a 

result of COVID-19 travel restrictions).

April 2021 

(tentative)

Announce Theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month May 2021

Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) Awards, hosted by Department of 

Defense (ODEP leadership is usually invited to speak)

July 2021

Anniversary of Passage of Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 July 26, 2021

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) October 2021
TAB 4: Budget

14

TAB 4: BUDGET

BUDGET AUTHORITY AND FTE SUMMARY

(Dollars in millions)

FY 2017

Enacted

FY 2018

Enacted

FY 2019

Enacted

FY 2020

Enacted

FY 2021 

Request

Budget 

Authority 

$38.2 $38.2 $38.2 $38.5 $27.1

FTE 50 46 49 46 46

At-A-Glance

• The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was authorized by Congress in FY 

2001. ODEP develops and influences policies and practices to increase the number and 

quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. 

• Between FY 2010 and FY 2018, ODEP received funds each year for the Disability 

Employment Initiative (DEI) and worked closely with the Employment and Training 

Administration (ETA) to use those funds to build the capacity of American Job Centers 

(AJCs) to serve people with disabilities and improve their employment outcomes. In FY 

2018 the DEI was replaced by the Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness 

(RETAIN) Demonstration Projects, in which states are developing and testing early 

intervention strategies to support stay-at-work or return-to-work for persons who have 

experienced illness or injury, and is a joint collaboration with ETA and the Social 

Security Administration.

Budget and FTE Trends

• ODEP’s appropriation is currently funded at $38.5 million. The FY 2021 request level 

for ODEP is $27.1 million and 46 FTE.

• ODEP is funded at $38.5 million in FY 2020, an increase of $0.3 million from FY 2019. 

• FY 2018 was the first year of the RETAIN Demonstration Projects. The project is 

currently in Phase 1; due to COVID-19 Phase II was delayed until FY 2021.

• In 2020 Congressional action, the House passed legislation that would fund ODEP at 

$38.8 million in FY 2020, while the Senate funded the agency at $38.2 million; the 

enacted amount was $38.5 million (neither funding bill included the specific 

appropriations language regarding the RETAIN demonstration projects). 

• Regarding FY 2021 funding, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other 

Extensions Act of 2020 provided continued, level funding for ODEP through December 

11, 2020. In addition, the House passed legislation that would fund ODEP at $38.5 

million for the full fiscal year; the Senate has not yet enacted funding legislation.
TAB 4: Budget

15

• Since FY 2010, ODEP’s authorized FTE has ranged between 48 and 52. In FY 2019, 

ODEP’s FTE level was 49, an increase of three FTE compared to the FY 2018 level. In 

FY 2020, the enacted FTE level is 46, which is the same as FY 2019 actuals. 

• ODEP’s budget authority was reduced by $2.0 million in FY 2013 due to sequestration. 

ODEP was able to avoid furloughing employees, and instead reduced spending in grants 

and contracts.

• With the exception of variations in funding, ODEP’s appropriation language has 

remained unchanged since FY 2012.

Staff Contacts

Michelle Fox, Supervisory Program Manager, Division of Financial & Administrative Systems,

Fox.Michelle@dol.gov, (202) 693-7862.
TAB 4: Budget

16

*The Inflation Adjusted amounts indicate the level of funding that would be required, in theory, to sustain the same level of 

activity as the base year (FY 2012) , given the effects of inflation in reducing the value of the dollar.
TAB 4: Budget

17
TAB 5: Agency Performance

18

TAB 5: AGENCY PERFORMANCE

ODEP supports and educates public and private employers to adopt and implement policies and 

practices that will increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. ODEP tracks 

policy outputs, which include interpretation of current policy or recommendations to change 

policies. Based on research and evaluation, ODEP develops or identifies effective policy and 

practices, conducts outreach to share this critical information, and provides technical assistance to 

all levels of government and employers to aid them in adoption and implementation. 

ODEP conducts numerous technical assistance and outreach events annually to share information 

and raise awareness. ODEP also tracks the number of implementation tools, which include 

products that aid in the adoption and implementation of practices and policies such as toolkits, 

program models, and publications. 

In FY 2020, ODEP developed 51 policy outputs to assist state legislators with strategies for 

addressing disability employment in their respective states and issued 98 implementation tools to 

aid entities in adopting and implementing proven practices. Results for the same measures in FY 

2019 were 66 and 110 and in FY 2018 were 63 and 136, respectively.5 

 5 ODEP refined the policy output measure calculations using the Six Sigma process improvement model and also added 

the implementation tools measure in FY 2017.

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020

Number of Implementation Tools 147 136 110 98

Number of Policy Outputs 43 63 66 51

ODEP Priority Measures

FY 2017 - FY 2020