Opportunities for All: Learning Lab

Individuals with disabilities represent a robust, yet often underutilized talent pool ready to learn, earn and contribute to local economies. Yet too often people with disabilities face barriers to gainful employment and experience higher rates of unemployment and earn lower incomes than those without disabilities. 

Over the past year, NLC and the U.S. Department of Labor’s State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED) engaged city leaders to develop the strategies and actionable steps any city can implement to enhance support for workers with disabilities, within city hall and across communities. These strategies, published as part of Expanding Opportunity for All: How to Increase Employment for People with Disabilities are informed by in-depth interviews and listening sessions with elected officials and city staff from cities across the country. 

This day-and-a-half learning lab will introduce these research-based strategies and help participating cities: 

• Identify existing barriers to employment, both within and beyond city hall 
• Create an action plan leading to a pilot or scale of a specific strategy for enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities under one of four core areas:  
• Leverage City Policymaking to Promote Success 
• Leverage the City as a Model Employer 
• Build Citywide Private-Sector Impact 
• Develop Programs with Community-Wide Impact 

Who Is This Learning Lab For?

This Lab is for up to eight cities, towns, and villages to come together for a day and a half or learning, planning, and peer-to-peer networking in Washington D.C on May 6-7, 2026. alongside the National League of Cities (NLC) and the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) to address workforce challenges and talent development opportunities for residents with disabilities.   

Important Information 

• To be considered for this initiative, applicants must submit a fully completed online application by Tuesday, March 24, 2026 by 11:59 PM.
• The support of your city, town or village’s chief executive is required. 
• Cities will be expected to participate in the day and a half convening May 6-7 2026, with all travel Costs covered by NLC.