The assistant secretary for disability employment policy at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy will be the featured speaker at an Oct. 14 luncheon sponsored by the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties.

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. today announced that Neil Romano will speak at the session.

Workforce Investment Board Executive Director Alice Savino said the luncheon is part of the board’s annual celebration of National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month. The theme for this year’s celebration is, "America’s People, America’s Talent ... America’s Strength!"

The event will be held at noon at the Hotel Utica. Cost is $10. Reservations are required, and may be made by contacting Tanya Flihan at 798-6462.

Picente said his friendship with Romano, who took office in June, helped bring the high-level federal official to Oneida County. Upon taking office in June, Romano said, "I believe that within a generation, people with disabilities in the workplace will trigger one of the greatest advancements in American society since the industrial revolution. People with disabilities in the workplace are the next great wave of diversity in this country. Their diversity will foster innovations that will produce new products, procedures and systems that will be the exports of tomorrow and will drive our economy and our nation into the future. But working to employ people with disabilities is not just important to America’s economy — it is at the very core of who we are as a people."

As Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, Romano advises Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and works with all DOL agencies to lead a comprehensive and coordinated national policy regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Romano’s extensive professional background includes tenure as director of communications for the White House Office of Drug Abuse Policy.

Savino noted that the Workforce Investment Board operates a Disability Services Navigator Program at all four local Working Solutions One-Stop Career Centers, and that the board has operated Customized Employment and Work Incentive projects that helped bring partners together to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

For more information call Savino at 793-6037.