The Power of Self-Reliance

When I was a student at Ball State University many years ago, there were few people with disabilities that I could turn to for advice, particularly when it came to securing a job once I graduated. In fact, I graduated from college and earned masters and legal degrees – all before the ADA became law. I’ve written before how the ADA allowed me as a young lawyer to meet with nearly all of my clients without concerns about accessible accommodations.

More than 20 years later, people with disabilities are able to physically access the proverbial meetings with clients, thanks in large part to the ADA. However, people with disabilities are unemployed – and underemployed – at a rate that is disproportionately higher than people without disabilities. Looking for and maintaining a job has proven more challenging and complex for all Americans, and people with disabilities are particularly feeling that pain.

That’s one of the many reasons why the team at the Bowen Center is helping the students we serve as part of The Disability Project step up their game. This semester, we will be offering a series of forums that will assist students with disabilities learn how to make themselves marketable to future employers. We will teach them how to compete for and secure internships. We will connect them with the University’s Career Center. We will spend time helping them prepare a compelling resume. We’ll also explore and share strategies for succeeding in interviews.

Simply put, we’re going to help them learn how to help themselves find a job.

The students we work with, by the very nature of their circumstances, already are self-reliant and have proven their mettle in overcoming the obstacles of daily living. I have no doubt that they will continue to not just meet, but exceed, expectations. I’m looking forward to sharing more about their progress as they continue to make their way on the road to graduation, and ultimately, self sufficiency.

The Meaning of Labor Day for People with Disabilities

Earlier this week, the National Organization on Disability recognized nine U.S. companies for their work in hiring and engaging people with disabilities. You can read more about why the NOD selected these companies as the “Fine Nine” on their website.

Two things really stood out about the NOD’s announcement of the Fine Nine, which was wisely timed to coincide with Labor Day, a holiday dedicated to the American worker. First, the NOD cited some alarming statistics from a 2010 Harris survey that they sponsored with the Kessler Foundation. The survey found that employment remains the biggest gap between people with and without disabilities. Among working-age people with disabilities, only 21 percent reported that they are employed full or part time, compared to 59 percent of people without disabilities. That’s a gap of 38 points.

The second was the headline in the article the United Press International published about the study. “Disabled workers always in recession,” accurately sums up the situation that people with disabilities – many of whom are educated and eager to work – face throughout their lives. Unfortunately, when people with disabilities are denied access to employment opportunities, they are forced to rely on government assistance. In today’s economic climate of austerity and frugality, particularly on the state and local levels, people with disabilities may lose these critical safety nets they have come to rely on.

So, where do we go from here? We must continue to encourage people with disabilities to get an education, and challenge them to use that education in non-traditional ways. We must continue to educate businesses about the potential for people with disabilities to help boost their bottom line. We must continue an open and candid dialogue, especially as Baby Boomers reach retirement age – everyday.