Disability Emphasis Program

Welcome to the North Dakota NRCS Disability Emphasis Program webpage.  More than ten percent of the American population has a disability. Someone you know, a family member, a friend, or a co-worker may have a condition that limits their participation in some of life's most common activities.

• October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

President's National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2006 Proclamation
President's White Cane Safety Day (October 15, 2006) Proclamation
 

Disability Emphasis Program Manager (DEPM)

The DEPM encourages hiring, placement and advancement of employees with disabilities and helps to ensure that qualified persons with disabilities receive equal treatment in all aspects of employment and program delivery.  The DEPM also provides guidance, oversight and training to employees and outreach to customers, while working closely with other special emphasis program managers and the Civil Rights Action Committee.

North Dakota Disability Emphasis Program Manager

Karri Springer, Cultural Resources Specialist, Bismarck SO, 701-530-2060
Email: karri.springer@nd.usda.gov
 

North Dakota DEPM Responsibilities

• Evaluate and report the impact of recruitment, selection, placement, promotion, training, counseling and career development policies and practices;

• Develop and/or coordinate the development of DEP business plan of operations;

• Analyze and evaluate statistical reports of the workforce in areas such as awards, workforce distribution, training, attrition, under representation and under utilization to identify barriers to the recruitment, employment and advancement of persons with disabilities; and recommend corrective action, if needed;

• Participate in the development and implementation of Affirmative Employment Program plans; and

• Support the national DEPM in implementing a viable DEP Agency-wide
   

Other Related Links

• Disability Etiquette
  Conversational courtesies and other common courtesies to extend to persons with disabilities – from the Easter Seals website
• Making Meetings Accessible
  Improving meeting accessibility as smart business with useful tips and guidelines by Kristin Clarke, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
• Disability Resources on the Internet
  Generalized website with hundreds of disability-related topics
• NRCS Disability Emphasis Program
  National DEP contact information
• USDA Section 508 Accessibility
  Requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology (EIT) is accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public
• Association for Persons with Disabilities in Agriculture
  Organized by employees in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who encourage awareness of issues relevant to people with disabilities
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
  Provides reasonable accommodation information for managers and employees - A free service of the US Labor Department
• USDA TARGET Center
  Ensure that all USDA employees have safe and equal access to electronic and information technology by assessing, educating and advocating for the integration of assistive technology and worksite accommodations
• EEOC Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship
  Detailed policy guidance with legal cases from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

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