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!

One of the issues that faces young adults with developmental disabilities as they transition out of school is finding and keeping a job so they can become more self-reliant.  In Utah, not quite 1 in 4 people with disabilities holds a job in their community.

Employment is an essential part of becoming financially independent and provides many opportunities for personal growth.  In addition, it provides a sense of purpose each day and the opportunity to learn new skills and gain more knowledge. It is also a valuable source of social interaction, especially for those with developmental disabilities.

The Utah Alliance for Full Participation project, under the direction of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council, is offering an Employment Workshop this coming week to help young adults and their parents learn about the employment issues facing Utahn’s with disabilities in 2010.  If you have questions about jobs or self-employment or ideas for others, this workshop will help answer them.

This workshop is part of a national movement called the Alliance for Full Participation (AFP) that is a formal partnership of leading developmental disabilities organizations with a common vision—to create a better and more fulfilling quality of life for people with developmental disabilities

For more information about this workshop, you can email bmartin@utah.gov or call 801-533-3965.

Today is a great day of celebration for persons with disabilities, their families and advocates.  It is a time to join with others in proclaiming a recommitment to the vision and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act–full inclusion of people with disabilities into American life!

The Center for Persons with Disabilities has joined the “2010 by 2010 Campaign,” sponsored by the National ADA Symposium in recognition of the passage of this landmark civil rights legislation, by signing the “Proclamation of Recommitment” to the spirit of the ADA.

A version of the Proclamation follows:

Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

A Proclamation of Recommitment to Full Implementation of the ADA

On July 26, 1990, President George H. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. This legislation established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions, increasing full participation in community life. However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if public entities remain committed in their efforts to fully implement the ADA.

On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we (_name of public entity_) celebrate and recognize the progress that has been made by reaffirming the principals of equality and inclusion and recommitting our efforts to reach full ADA compliance.

NOW THEREFORE, the ______________ (County Board of Commissioners/City Council/Mayor/President) do hereby reaffirm our commitment to work toward full ADA compliance in _________________(name of public entity). 

The CPD is proud to be one of the 2010 and will continue to work toward full ADA compliance. You and your organization can also sign this recommitment to the ADA and become one of the 2010 this year.

The CPD Blog is beginning a new weekly feature titled “CPD Legacy Story.”  These personal stories share the impact that the people and projects at the CPD have had on individual lives and families’ lives.  All stories will be archived and available to view at any time.  If you or someone you know would be willing to share their CPD impact story with us, please contact Connie Pehrson.

Our first Legacy Story is from our own Mary Ellen Heiner who is the Administrative Staff Assistant & Office Manager for the Early Intervention Research Institute (EIRI) at the CPD.

My Home Away From Home

By Mary Ellen Heiner

How can mere words express the impact the Center for Persons with Disabilities, specifically Dr. Glendon Casto, have had on my life?  The CPD made me feel at ease and appreciated from the first moment I entered its doorway. None of its staff ever treated me as a person with a disability—they became my family and friends.  In particular, Dr. Casto was (and will always be) my hero.

When I moved to Logan, I was alone and scared—it was the first time I had been away from home and completely on my own.  I had been here a month and hadn’t been successful in finding a job and my money was running near the empty mark and I was worried I was going to have to move back home and admit that I was not capable of living on my own—that I was a failure.  Then a member of the CPD administrative staff called me in for an interview and offered a part-time secretarial job working with the Early Intervention Research Institute (EIRI), which was the Research and Evaluation Division of the CPD.  Even though I needed more than a part-time job to meet my personal expenses, I accepted the position—after all, it was better than no money at all.

I was a working disaster! This was “back in the day” when computers were just becoming affordable (so) that smaller organizations could actually afford to have one. I had graduated from college a couple years prior to this time and had only had minimal experience working on a computer of any kind. I was continually deleting things—important and very time-consuming things.  After two weeks, I was called into the director’s office and was told that things were not working out; however, Glen Casto was able to convince the powers that be into giving me a second chance.  They agreed to put me on a one-month probationary period and then changed me to full-time status; thus, giving me more time for hands-on experience with the office equipment—particularly the computer.  I took the manual home at nights and I read it and then I would go in early and stay late so I could become familiar with the equipment.

Now, 25 years later, I’m still here and feel very comfortable with a computer and often help others with their computer problems! I owe it all to Glen for giving me a second chance—something he frequently did with many he worked with.

I thank the CPD for taking a chance on hiring a young, inexperienced girl and making me feel right at home and comfortable with my disability.  I extend a very special thanks to Dr. Glen Casto for being my mentor and teaching me the importance of valuing myself as a productive member of society and trusting in my abilities rather than my disabilities.