Currently in the United States unemployment rates are high – and even higher for those with disabilities. Its really difficult for anyone to find a job, and even more so difficult for those with disabilities. Official unemployment rates for those with disabilities are over 17 percent, and that does not count those who have given up looking for a job and are on SSI or disability assistance.
21 million out of 26 million disabled people are not even in the labor force according to the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Thats an unemployment rate of over 80 percent!
Barriers
There are many barriers for those with disabilities in finding a job. Some employers have stigma’s of those with disabilities, or fear opening themselves to a lawsuit. In other situations with the economy down, cutbacks in social services for those with disabilities has been significant – even those that help those with disabilities find and keep jobs.
What do you think needs to be done about the high unemployment rate for those with disabilities?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Wish I had the magic answer there. I’m part of that 80%. Aside from the AS that went undiagnosed for 24 of my 26 years, I have a lifelong visual impairment.
Employers aren’t supposed to take disability into consideration, but they do.
And God help those who seek help from state run disability agencies, because they can’t be as effective helping their clients with all the budget cuts. Almost three years ago, I went to a facility, Zach I’m wondering if you may have heard of it as it’s in Kalamazoo, called the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center. I’d like to say some good did come out of it, I did learn some things, but overall with the state suffering as it is, and was when I was there, well, I wasn’t as well prepared as I needed to be before concluding, but hey, I looked better on paper, so they concluded me. One of the things they teach you is travel skills, getting from point A to point B…planning routes, getting there. I wasn’t nearly where I needed to be with that to function in the ‘real world’ when released, actually my instructor had to watch me almost get hit by multiple vehicles when I initiated a very unsafe street crossing…no way with my current skills in travel (called Orientation and Mobility, or sometimes we’d jokingly call it Disorientation and Immobility) do I trust myself to get around independently, still rely on family, so even if there was someone that would hire me, I am by no means work ready.
I might have done a bit better, but I think my then undiagnosed Asperger’s was also causing some issues. So I can’t say that it is all on MCB and the economy that is at play in my not being job ready (or independent travel ready), but, well, I can’t say I’m much farther along than I would have been had I not spent four months there, and it may have turned out better had the economy been better.
Sorry for the ramble, and I guess it wasn’t ‘totally’ employment related…but on the other hand I guess it is, because if disability agencies cannot help clients to be able to get themselves from point A to point B efficiently and safely, well, how are said clients going to get to work?
Yea, I’ve heard of the Commission for the blind’s training center. As far as people with disabilities being unemployed I think there is plenty of blame to go around from overprotective parents, to societies misconceptions, to even the disabled’s themselves and some of the attitude I see people having (I’m on disability, i don’t need to do anything)
Agreed.
High unemployment amongst the disabled is a worldwide problem. I think the reasons may slightly differ from country to country, because it depends on local law and the local system.
In Australia, the Commonwealth Medical Officer has a great deal of power when it comes to full time and part time employment – especially with the public service (working for the government, whether it be federal, state or local). For me that was a two edged sword – whilst the CMO made getting disability here easier, it also shut me off from full time and part time work. I can only do casual and even that has a limit of 15 hours a week, or $50 a week. (I was under both whilst umpiring in 2009).
I hate that and the only way I can fix it up is to have the CMO report removed. Not quashed (already tried that) – removed.
I know this is different to the US.
Another difference is disability law. We’re better protected here, but at the same time it also has a downside – no one wants to make the commitment required, and they can claim what’s called “unjustifiable hardship” to get around it. That also annoys me and that also has to change because it is being abused.
We can talk theory, but like Lurking Aspie said – there is no magic answer. It requires a long term education effort, and IMO that has to start with shutting up those who press the negatives about disability. It shouldn’t be about what we can’t do. It should be about what we can do.
Actually, I am a member of the national organization of APSE, who advocate for competitive employment for people with disabilities. I am as well a board member of the Missouri branch of the organization, APSE-MO and chair of thier Public Relations committee. I am currently looking for sucess stories of people with disabilities who transferred sucessfully into competitive employment when the proper supports were in place. We are going to collect stories from each district, and send each state senator and representives a packet of these stories from thier own districts, as well as explain how supporting and funding projects that help us become gainfully employed will help the finacial well being of the state. WIth more of us in employment, less money will have to be spent on SSI and Medicaid. Not to mention the revenue in taxes going up as we become employed and are able to pay taxes. And with more money from these jobs, we are able to kick start the econmy by buying consumer goods, and perhaps even investing some day. And it looks as though things are going our way. We are also taking a stand at long last against sub-minamum wage, my committee is working on a position paper on the topic. It’s an exciting time for us. THe poverty rates amongst those with disabilities is appalling. Especailly when there is so much potential in us! So to speak, we are working hard.
Sounds great, Theo! You should promote that in my forum!
I shall. I managed to get my friend over last night to fix my computer after somebody sent a hacking virus through net to me. I am quite glad to have fellow nerdy friends.
Of course, I happen to celebrate nerdiness so…. lol
Anyway, APSE-MO is on facebook, and also on the web at http://www.apsemo.org . There you will find all kinds of cool info. With a link to the national site as well as helping you find your state’s chapter. I’m sure they would love partnering with you Zack, or with any of my fellow advocates here. They are a powerhouse.
We are on a joint venture here in the Southwest part of the state to create a new system through VR to help those on the Spectrum get jobs. We are talking new requirements, such as those who are the job developers must have experience with those on the Spectrum. They must understand were key diffuculties lie so we don’t get stuffed into jobs that will ultimaly be unsucessful for us.
The job coaches as well are to be trained on how to communicate with someone on the spectrum, and also taught how to instead of taking the general approach with everyone, how to create and design a plan according to the individual person, as the spectrum is so wide.
This is rather new in the state, so it’s a very exciting time for us! And with the backing of APSE, I get the feeling something really cool could happen. We are piloting the project in the Joplin area first probably in 2010, and watch the sucess rate. If it works the program will be implemented around the state.