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

Assistive Technology Assistive Technology CollaborativeCollaborative

Roadmaps II for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities through

Accessible Technology

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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.

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

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.

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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.

Unemployment Rates (Feb. 2009)

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Goals of the AT CollaborativeGoals 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.

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Assistive Technology Act Program Funding

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Fiscal Year Appropriations

2000 $27.2 Million

2001 $23.4 Million

2002 $21.6 Million

2003 $22.2 Million

2004 $21.5 Million

2005 $25.3 Million

2006 $26.1 Million*

* Includes the State AT Grant Program and Alternative Finance Program, and a National Activities Program.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration

PAAT Program Funding

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Fiscal Year Appropriations

2000 $2.6 Million

2001 $2.6 Million

2002 $2.6 Million

2003 $4.5 Million

2004 $4.4 Million

2005 $4.3 Million

2006 $4.3 Million

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration

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)

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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.

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AT Collaborative Process and Report

Funded by ODEP.

Roadmaps II for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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State Projects on AT and Employment

Four States provided $15,000 grants:

◦Delaware◦Florida◦Pennsylvania◦Illinois

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Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

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