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Welcome to National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2026. We hope you’re as excited as we are! This year’s theme is “America at Work: Making America Skilled Again Through Registered Apprenticeship,” and ODEP has brand-new, targeted resources and information for all Americans with disabilities. Whether you’re a young person just graduating from high school, a job seeker, an employer, or apprenticeship intermediary, we can help make apprenticeship accessible and impactful for you.
Apprenticeship Accommodations Toolkit
ODEP’s newest toolkit is full of tips, strategies, and resources for a wide audience, including apprenticeship sponsors, employers, apprentices and career seekers with disabilities, workforce system professionals, service providers, and community organizations. Start here for guidance on using accommodations and supports to make workplaces and work-based learning environments accessible for Americans with disabilities.
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Why Early Paid Work and Training Matter
We know the first stages of a person’s career can hold great importance. Our early experiences with paid work and job training help us build competence, confidence, and the know-how to navigate the world of work. Apprenticeship provides job seekers with exactly the kind of early earn-and-learn work experience that leads to real jobs and lasting success. That’s why the Trump Administration is committed to making sure apprenticeships across the country are accessible to all Americans, including Americans with disabilities. Hear more from Assistant Secretary Julie Hocker in a new Department of Labor post celebrating NAW 2026.
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Video: JAN, Your Partner in Accessible Apprenticeships
Are you graduating from high school and trying to figure out how to get a job? An apprenticeship can prepare you for a well-paying career in high-demand industries like artificial intelligence (AI), health care, and transportation. If you have a disability, ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network can also help make sure you have the accommodations and support you need to succeed in your apprenticeship. Tune in to our new video from Assistant Secretary of Labor Julie Hocker and Assistant Secretary of Labor Henry Mack of the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to learn more.
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Webinar: Accessible AI Makes Apprenticeship Work for Everyone
Join ODEP’s Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) to learn how AI-powered tools can help make apprenticeship programs accessible for people with disabilities, support accessible on-the-job training and classroom instruction, and help career seekers with disabilities build their AI literacy. We’ll also talk about federal policies connecting AI and apprenticeship and make the business case for employers to adopt AI and accessible apprenticeship practices. Job seekers, apprenticeship sponsors and employers, and workforce system professionals are invited to attend on April 29 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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Webinar: Unlocking the Power of American Workers with Disabilities Through Apprenticeship
Hosted by JAN and the ODEP-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN), this session will focus on helping businesses leverage apprenticeship programs to meet talent needs and boost productivity. Join us on April 30 at 2:00 p.m. ET for the webinar “Supporting Apprentice Success: Unlocking the Power of American Workers with Disabilities Through Apprenticeship” to learn how your organization can engage and support workers with disabilities in apprenticeship programs, build strong talent pipelines, and meet your business needs.
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Thanks for sticking with us to the end! For more information on apprenticeship, check out the Department of Labor’s comprehensive Apprenticeship.gov site, ODEP’s apprenticeship page, and EARN’s apprenticeship resource. And don’t forget to follow us on social media!
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