Case Study: U.S. Department of Labor achieves faster, more inclusive policymaking with IdeaScale

Department of Labor Solving problems and raising awareness

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) faced the challenge of engaging a broad, diverse set of stakeholders—including people with disabilities—across the country to inform policy on employment barriers. ePolicyWorks aimed to increase participation, gather actionable ideas, and make the policymaking process more inclusive, efficient, and accessible.

Using the IdeaScale platform and an adaptable seven-step process (from articulating the challenge to implementation), ODEP ran more than ten two-week online dialogues with targeted outreach, active moderation, and data analysis. The effort produced 600+ ideas, 13,000 votes, and participation from over 5,000 community members in every U.S. state, earned internal awards for innovation, and delivered hundreds of implementable suggestions—improving accessibility, employer education, veterans’ transportation access, and overall policy efficiency.

U.S. Department of Labor

Michael Reardon

Policy Advisor Team Lead for EmploymentRelated Support Policy