Agreement Establishing an Alliance 

between the 

U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy

and the 

American Staffing Association

The Partners

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is a sub-cabinet level federal 

policy agency that develops and influences policies and practices that increase 

the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with 

disabilities. 

The American Staffing Association (ASA) is the voice of the U.S. staffing, 

recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance 

the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, 

education, and the promotion of high standards of legal and ethical standards,

and professional practices. 

The Alliance 

ODEP and ASA recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to 

promote the employment of individuals with disabilities. ODEP and ASA 

hereby form an Alliance to provide ASA members with information, technical 

assistance, and access to resources that will enable members to promote and 

create workplaces that include the talents of employees with disabilities. In 

developing this Alliance, ODEP and ASA recognize that they are an integral part 

of a national effort to promote workplaces that include all workers including 

those with disabilities. 

Alliance Activities 

ODEP and ASA agree to work together to carry out activities in some of the 

following areas: 

• Share expertise and information on hiring, advancing, and retaining workers 

with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities.

• Promote and disseminate information about ODEP resources, such as the Job 

Accommodation Network (JAN), the Employer Assistance and Resource 
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Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), and the Partnership on 

Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT), to ASA members.

• Build awareness and use of the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) as a 

hiring tool for ASA members and its state affiliates.

• Develop and publicize resources on the value of hiring and retaining talented 

workers with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities. Such resources 

might include, but are not limited to, how-to-guides and other educational 

materials, success stories, and case studies developed collaboratively or by 

individual parties.

• Identify emerging issues to which the Alliance should direct particular 

attention and resources, and determine how best to communicate relevant

and useful information related to these issues.

• Speak, exhibit, and/or appear at mutually agreed upon ODEP and ASA

events. 

• As appropriate, convene and/or participate in membership meetings focused on 

forging innovative strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining, and 

promoting job candidates and employees with disabilities. 

• Provide technical assistance to employers and employees regarding replicable 

disability employment strategies, policies, and effective practices.

• Participate in meetings and/or discussions with representatives from other ODEP 

Alliances to exchange information on various disability employment issues 

that are being addressed and to explore opportunities for additional 

collaborative activities.

• Carry out other activities, as mutually agreed upon, that promote the hiring, 

advancement, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Alliance Implementation 

An implementation team made up of representatives of ODEP and ASA will 

meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the 

roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least 

three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in 

achieving the goals and objectives of the Alliance. The points of contact for the 

respective parties are as follows: 
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ODEP: Carol Dunlap, Business Development Specialist, Policy, 

Communication, and Outreach Division, dunlap.carol@dol.gov; and

ASA: Michelle Snyder, Director of Public Relations, 

msnyder@americanstaffing.net.

General Alliance Provisions 

ODEP's Alliances provide parties with an opportunity to participate in a 

voluntary, cooperative relationship that supports shared goals and furthers the 

national dialogue on employing workers with disabilities. In accordance with 

that understanding, the following provisions apply:

• This Alliance agreement will remain in effect for two years.

• By entering into an Alliance with a party, ODEP is not endorsing any 

products or services of that party; nor does the Agency enter into an 

Alliance with the purpose of promoting particular products or services of 

any party. 

• This agreement may be modified in writing at any time with the 

concurrence of all signatories.

• All disputes arising under this agreement will be resolved by consultation

between the parties.

• Any signatory may terminate this agreement for any reason at any time, 

provided they give 30 days’ written notice.

• This agreement is not intended to legally bind the parties, nor is it 

intended to confer any right upon any private person.

Nothing in this agreement shall be interpreted as limiting, superseding, or 

otherwise affecting each party’s normal operations or decisions in carrying out 

its statutory or regulatory duties. This agreement does not limit or restrict the 

parties from participating in similar activities or arrangements with other 

entities.

This agreement does not itself authorize the expenditure or reimbursement of 

any funds. Nothing in this agreement obligates the parties to expend 

appropriations or enter into any contract or other obligations.
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Signatures

In signing this Alliance, ODEP and the ASA demonstrate their commitment to 

the employment, retention, and advancement of people with disabilities and to 

the goals and objectives described above. 

_____________________________ _______________________________ 

Jennifer Sheehy

Deputy Assistant Secretary 

Office of Disability Employment Policy

Richard Wahlquist 

President and CEO 

American Staffing Association