Held each October since 1945, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

This year’s theme is “Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities.” The theme honors the contributions of workers with disabilities and reminds the public that they represent a highly skilled talent pool that can benefit the work force.

Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy said, “Workers with disabilities represent all skill sets and are ready to get the job done. This year’s theme focuses on improving employment opportunities that lead to good jobs and a secure economic future for people with disabilities and the nation as a whole.”

The CPD values the many employees with disabilities that are on staff.  As well as being highly skilled, they are a daily reminder of the importance of the work that is being done here.

This CPD Legacy Story is from Karen Robinson.  Karen volunteers at the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center, part of the Center of Technical Assistance in Excellence in Special Education (TAESE) at the CPD.

By Karen Robinson as told to Connie Pehrson.

When I was looking for a part time job over twenty years ago, little did I know I would find the perfect job!

I have worked at the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center at the CPD for the past 23 years. I started out working in the MPRRC Library with Julia Burnham (now retired), doing some filing. I now work a day or two each week for a couple of hours shredding papers, helping with the recycling, book binding, and whatever else they need done.  I like working here because they allow me to be flexible with my schedule. I have recently decided to continue to work here as a volunteer so that I can stay in touch with all of the great people that have become my friends through the years.

Having cerebral palsy hasn’t slowed me down much.  The Cache Valley Transit buses help me to get to and from work because I am able to get my electric scooter on it easily.

The buses also help me get to the activities offered by the local Options for Independence Center in Logan.   I have made some great Halloween costumes for their annual Halloween Party, and have had my picture in the Herald Journal showing them off a couple of times.  Most of the time I win first place!  I have also come in first place a few times in their 3K scooter/power chair races held each year.

I like my job, and I like to work.  Coming to work each week gets me out of the house and gives me a feeling of satisfaction.  I want to thank all of the great people at the MPRRC for letting me come and helping me to be productive and independent.

Here's a selection of photos showing Karen in her Halloween costumes.

The Utah Developmental Disabilities Council is a CPD partner agency that supports and advocates for individual with developmental disabilities.  They have recently completed their new 5 year plan for 2012-2016.

Their goals for supporting people with disabilities are focused on the following areas:

Goal 1: Support the development of opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue a range of post public school  education experiences.

Goal 2: Support the development of networks of self- and community-advocates in becoming effective change agents.

Goal 3: Support self- and community-advocates in leadership opportunities.

Goal 4: Support the evolution of community resources and supports that empower people with disabilities and their families to lead independent lives in their communities.

Goal 5: Support the development of opportunities for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs.

You can read the 5-Year Plan in its entirety online.

We applaud the DD Council for the valuable work that they are doing to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Utah.

Nine training grants have been funded for 2011-2012 by the Interagency Outreach Training Initiative (IOTI), an initiative that is intended to improve the lives of people with disabilities by supporting training for consumers and agency personnel.

Three of the IOTI grants were awarded to CPD staff members.

Since 1995, the CPD has coordinated the funding which comes from the Utah State Legislature for training in Utah.  IOTI has funded more than 100 projects conducted by over 30 public and private agencies and organizations through the years.

IOTI training grants funded for this upcoming year include the following:

Guardianship Training- for families with children who have special needs and the professionals and educators who support them to help them understand the process of obtaining guardianship.

ABC’s of Autism (CPD project)-training for families of young children in Utah with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Training-for parents of children with sensory processing problems and providers working with these children.

Justice, Equity, and Access (CPD project)-training for people with disabilities, law enforcement and legal advocates on preventing violence and increasing justice, equity, and access for people with disabilities.

AT Training (CPD project)-for assistive technology specialists at the Centers for Independent Living Centers, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, DSPD staff, and Area Agency on Aging staff.

IDEA Part C/Part B Transition Training-for parents/families of young children with disabilities and developmental delays being served in Early Intervention programs, EI professionals, special educators, administrators, etc.

Provider Education Training-for mental health providers and state agencies who work directly with individuals with severe and persistent mental disabilities/brain disorders.

Family Preservation Training-for families and care givers of people with disabilities to assist them in meeting the stress associated with supporting people with developmental disabilities.

Supported Employment Training-web-based training for community rehabilitation providers, secondary transition teachers, and parents.

The U.S. Department of Labor has released the latest Disability Employment Statistics for June 2011.

The percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.3.  By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 70.2.  The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 16.9 percent, compared with the 9.0 percent for persons with no disability.

In the CPD’s latest Survey about discrimination for people with disabilities, 42 percent of those who responded felt that employment was the area where people with disabilities were discriminated against the most.

What do you think? 

Are people with disabilities the last to be hired?  Do employers subtly find ways to not hire a person with disabilities?  Have you ever not been hired because you have a disability?

Most importantly, what do you think can be done to decrease and/or eliminate this kind of discrimination?

Share your thoughts and stories with us on this  month’s Let’s Talk! topic.

Ready, set…Let’s Talk!