The “Disability Employment Gap”: U.S. Employment Rates

1. Assistive Technology CollaborativeRoadmaps II for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities through Accessible Technology

2. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability and Employment Policy (ODEP)Contract: Cherry Engineering and Support Services, Inc.Lead Agency: National Disability Rights Network Partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Policy; U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; and The Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs; CESSI; Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation; Job Accommodation Network; National Assistive Technology Project of Neighborhood Legal Services; National Disability Rights Network; and the Rehabilitation, Engineering, and Assistive Technology Association of North America.

3. The “Disability Employment Gap”: U.S. Employment Rates • 36.9% of working age individuals (ages 21 to 64) who report a disability are employed. • 79.7% of working age individuals (ages 21 to 64) who report no disability are employed. • A 42.8% gap exists between the employment rate of individuals with a disability and those without a disability. Source: Cornell University, 2007 Annual Disability Status Report.

4. Unemployment Rates (Feb. 2009) National Unemployment Rate (not seasonally adjusted) • 14 % with a reported disability. • 8.7% without a reported disability. • 5.3% difference. Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

5. Goals of the AT Collaborative • Enhance the employment of individuals with disabilities through more effective use of Assistive Technology (AT). • Generate ideas to increase the collaboration among various federally funded programs related to assistive technology. • Identify the barriers in the use of assistive technology in employment by individuals with disabilities. • Make recommendations on AT policy related to employment.

6. Assistive Technology Act Program Funding * Includes the State AT Grant Program and Alternative Finance Program, and a National Activities Program. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration

7. PAAT Program Funding Source: U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration

8. AT Collaborative Members • Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) • Cherry Engineering Support Services Incorporated (CESSI) • Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) • Job Accommodation Network (JAN) • National Assistive Technology Project of Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) • National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) • Rehabilitation, Engineering, and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) • Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)

9. Business Dialogue on Accessible Technology and Disability Employment • Prepared by the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) and the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN). • Funded by ODEP. • Roadmaps for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology.

10. AT Collaborative Process and Report • Funded by ODEP. • Roadmaps II for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology.

11. Report and Recommendations (Roadmaps II) • Identified Barriers to the Use of AT and Employment. • Specific Recommendations to: • Programs related to AT funded by the federal government. • The Federal Government. • Employers and Businesses.

12. Barriers Impacting the Use of AT Related to Employment • Barriers to AT Use at the Workplace (Hiring, Retention/Advancement, Throughout Employment) • Barriers to AT Use Regarding Workforce Readiness and Access (Acquisition/Financing, Transportation, Education, Awareness Issues)

13. Recommendations toFederally Funded Projects Related to AT • Eleven separate recommendations. • Recommendations focus upon: • Raising Awareness. • Developing Partnerships and Collaborative efforts among federally funded programs, employers, and professional organizations. • Resource Development.

14. Recommendations to the Federal Government • Thirteen separate recommendations. • Recommendations focus upon: • Research • Interoperability Problems. • Measuring work around AT and employment. • Creating a centralized AT accommodation fund within public and private sector employers. • Develop • Materials on AT and employment. • AT payer of last resort program.

15. Recommendations to theFederal Government • Recommendations focus upon: • Encourage/Promote • Better use of Social Security Work Incentives to fund AT. • Development of resources. • Better training and dissemination of information. • Development of small business mentor programs. • Improve • Implementation of IDEA/Rehab. Act transition requirements.

16. Recommendations to the Federal Government • Recommendations focus upon: • Fund or Encourage ways to use existing funds for: • Outreach and training programs targeting employers on AT matters. • Other • Identify effective practices to increase use of tax credits as a way to purchase AT. • Inventory, organize and disseminate federal resources available on AT and employment.

17. Recommendations toEmployers and Business Community • Ten separate recommendations. • Responses to Business Dialogue Roadmaps for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology. • Recommendations focus upon: • Education and use of available information on AT. • Flexibility and creative thinking in allowing and purchasing AT. • Dealing with interoperability, internet, and other issues related to electronic information technology devices.

18. Recommendations to Employers and Business Community • Responses to the Business Dialogue Roadmaps. • Suggest that programs funded under the AT Act assist with supporting “forums and other opportunities to spread the word” about accessible technology as recommended by the Business Dialogue. • Recommends that business organizations provide or support training on how to approach and talk with business. • Strongly supports the Business Dialogue recommendation to the federal government to support efforts to educate and empower youth with disabilities.

19. Recommendations toEmployers and Business Community • Responses to the Business Dialogue Roadmaps. • Along with strengthening enforcement of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, recommends strengthening enforcement if Section 504 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. • Recommends that various research initiatives suggested by the Business Dialogue to expand the use of accessible technology in the workplace and the employment of individuals with disabilities “be conducted and reported so it is usable by different stakeholders and will have real-world applications.”

20. State Projects on AT and Employment • National AT Collaborative Partners selected four states to create short-term projects to obtain information and ideas about state activities involving both AT and employment. • Projects were to involve, at minimum, collaboration between the statewide AT programs and the state Protection and Advocacy agency. • Projects were to target certain industries, disability populations, and/or professional populations.

21. State Projects on AT and Employment • Four States provided $15,000 grants: • Delaware • Florida • Pennsylvania • Illinois

22. Questions and Answers