In the 25 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, architecture has improved but attitudes and opportunities have not.
Sadly, less than a third of Florida’s 1.17 million working-age people with disabilities are employed. This lack of opportunity creates poverty, powerlessness and can even increase the likelihood of developing a mental health condition.
Fully 1-in-5 Americans have a disability. A recent Kessler Foundation survey shows that the majority of working-age people with disabilities are seeking work. While persistent stigmas remain an obstacle, the evidence shows that people with disabilities can be highly successful workers. For example, Virgin Airways founder Sir Richard Branson and finance wizard Charles Schwab are dyslexic. Scientist Stephen Hawking, like Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, and President Franklin Roosevelt before them, are wheelchair users.
Today in Florida, 58,700 youths with disabilities, between the ages of 16 and 20, are preparing to enter the labor market. They have high expectations and deserve the same opportunities to achieve the American dream as anyone else.
Young people with disabilities may simply need some thoughtful help to transition into the workforce. People who are blind, deaf or non-verbal frequently use assistive technology. Similarly, people with intellectual disabilities can benefit greatly from internship opportunities and job coaches. Comcast, Ernst & Young LLC, Lockheed Martin, Sprint and other companies have seen that people with disabilities can be extremely capable and loyal workers.
The U.S. Business Leadership Network, a group of companies that focuses on building their bottom line through diverse talent, can be a real resource to the private sector. Federal contractors are also vital because of new regulations requiring that they be inclusive employers of people with disabilities. A new rule creates a 7 percent hiring goal for people with disabilities in all job categories.
Vocational rehabilitation programs in Florida helped 7,000 people with disabilities find work in 2012. However, they can do even more in the future. Under the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act, Gov. Rick Scott can increase collaboration between each branch of government so that education, transportation, workforce development, health care and other departments can align their systems to better serve all job seekers.
Already Florida is taking steps to confront the employment gap. In 2011, Florida adopted the Employment First Initiative, which prioritizes employment for people with disabilities.
Hopefully Florida will continue to expand proven and cost-effective programs such as Project SEARCH, which achieve exceptional results for employers, people with disabilities and taxpayers alike.
People with disabilities deserve the opportunity to achieve the dignity, friendships, income and purpose that jobs and careers provide.
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi is the president of RespectAbilityUSA.org.
