Brian S. Parsons

Meeting of October 25, 2005, Washington D.C. on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities:
Is the Workplace Ready?

In August 2003, Brian Parsons assumed the position of Advisor for Employer Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). In his role at ODEP, Mr. Parsons leads the work of a policy team that examines the issues and barriers facing employers as they seek to hire, accommodate, and advance employees with disabilities. His team monitors and evaluates federal and state disability employment laws, develops initiatives that advance the federal government as a model employer, documents effective employer practices, and articulates the unique perspectives of businesses regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Currently, building upon his team's expertise on emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities, Mr. Parsons chairs the Interagency Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace, under the President's Executive Order 13347.

In his previous capacities, Mr. Parsons served seven years as the Director of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and President of the National Consortium of Developmental Disabilities Councils from 2000-2002. In January 2003, in recognition of his many years in policy and leadership roles with state government, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 623 commending Mr. Parsons for his service to Virginians with Disabilities. Mr. Parsons holds two graduate degrees from the University of Virginia - Master of Public Administration and Master of Urban Planning. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science from Mary Washington College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

This page was last modified on October 25, 2005.