Employment of People with Disabilities

1. Employment of People with Disabilities • Total number of people with disabilities aged 16-64 is 33,153,211. • Of those, total number employed is 18,525,862. • The percent of people with disabilities aged 16-64 employed is 55.8%. • Of the 18.6 million people with disabilities employed aged 16-64, 60.1% of men with disabilities are employed, and 51.4% of women with disabilities are employed. Office on Disability Employment Policy

2. National Trends • In five years, the first of the 83 million-strong wave of “boomers” will start to retire. (representing ⅓ of the workforce) • There will be 10 million more jobs than people to fill them. • Losing an employee costs 100% of annual salary. • By comparison, 70% of accommodations cost less than $500. Cornell University 2007

3. National Trends • 3,269,000 in the labor force, 460,000 people with disabilities not employed say they want to work, are able to work, have the skills needed and are looking for jobs. • People with disabilities represent the largest untapped source of talent in the country. Cornell University 2007

4. Business Case • The Realities- In order to have a competitive advantage, businesses have to recognize….. • Workforce shortage • Skills shortage • Aging workers • Younger workforce • Returning veterans • Serving a diverse customer base • retaining talent will become a source of competitive advantage

5. The Public Agrees • American companies that hire people with disabilities are perceived by 93% of the public as more favorable than companies that do not hire people with disabilities. • 88% of Americans agree they would prefer to give their business to companies that hire people with disabilities.

6. Discretionary Spending Power • People with disabilities have $175 billion in discretionary spending power, which is four times the spending power than teenagers • Travelers with disabilities spend $13.6 billion annually • $35 billion in restaurants (people with disabilities frequent them at least once a week) • International rates of spending — Britain £80 billion pounds, Canada $25 billion dollars (Steinmetz, 2008)

7. Employment Resources for Idahoans with Disabilities • ERID is a committee of 20 disability and employment organizations whose gole is to: • Change employment policy with barriers • Educate employers to reduce misperceptions and myths • Educate people with disabilities in work incentives and overcoming fear or barriers to employment

8. ERID • Employer Education Committee • Workgroup Goals • Assist in organizing Idaho’s first Business Leadership Network (BLN) • Advocacy and disability organization are not BLN members

9. www.usbln.org

10. USBLN Vision Every employer recognizes and benefits from the best practice of including people with disabilities in their workforce and marketplace.

11. USBLN Mission The USBLN utilizes a business to business approach to educate, promoting the business imperative of including people with disabilities in the workforce and marketplace.

12. USBLN Why They Exist • The Business resource for employers by employers • Present opportunities for national networking • Promote best disability practices • National career fair for high school and college students with disabilities • Annual conference • National partnerships

13. Business Leadership Network BLN Building a BLN Chapter Lead Business Name, CEO, President or Director

14. Business Leadership Network BLN is an organization utilizing a business to business approach to educate, promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce.

15. Local Chapter • Business Leadership Network and USBLN identity • Mission consistent with business to business • Lead Employer and a business steering committee with employer members • Provide education and outreach to employers • Serve as an employer resource clearinghouse • Seek alignment with Vocational Rehabilitation and other service providers

16. Lead Employer Role • Lead Employer must have CEO or senior management support • Leadership role in employer outreach and education • Event host • Walks the talk • Corporate sponsorship • Seeks in-kind sponsorship

17. Members • Small, medium, large employers • Colleges and universities • Staffing firms • Human Resource professionals • Diversity managers • Recruiters • Partners - not members (service providers, Vocational Rehabilitation, labor and disability organizations)

18. Member Commitments • Commit to share experiences • Participate in surveys • Participate in training programs, business forums and mentoring • Serve on a committee or join the Steering Committee • Share BLN news/training internally • Become a participating sponsor/host

19. Benefits to Participating Employers • Employers who participate in BLN activities: • gain access to a pool of qualified candidates with disabilities, • obtain pertinent disability information, • share information with other employers, • contribute to human resource training and employment issues, and • gain access to an untapped market for goods and services.

20. Resulting in • Improved retention strategies • Reduced turn over • Improved morale and diversity • Education on ADA and disability awareness

21. ERID Start-up Support • Phase I • Find lead employer (CEO, Director, President) • Assist lead in recruiting executive committee • Fund kick-off event • Lead employer invitation to breakfast • Fund 5 registrations ($395 each) USBLN annual conference October 5-8 2008 Portland OR

22. BLN Start-up Support • Phase II • Fund facilitated meeting of the Executive Committee to: • USBLN accredited • Action plan to increase employer membership • Training action plan

23. ERID FY 2008

24. ERID FY 2008

25. Learn More USBLN Annual Conference & National Career Fair October 5-8, 2008 Portland OR Web address: www.usbln.org