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Testimony of RespectAbilityUSA

Contact: JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.orgJanuary 29, 2015

New York State Employment First Commission

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New York State 73.3% of persons without disabilities aged 18 to 64 are employed.3

32.2% of PwDs aged 18 to 64 are employed.3

68,800 persons aged 16 to 20 have a disability.1

997,500 persons aged 21 to 64 have a disability.1

2,171,581 civilians with a disability live in the community in NY.3

The Employment Gap between PwDs and people without disabilities has decreased 0.7 % pts between 2010 and 2011.3

601,407 people ages 18-64 received SSDI or SSI benefits in the year 2012.3

In 2012, NY’s total expenditure on SSDI benefits for PwDs was $8,018,808,000.3

Voc. Rehab. received 36,015 general applicants and 1,099 blind applicants in NY in 2012.3

Voc. Rehab. obtained 12,386 jobs for PwDs in NY in 2012.3

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)

1. 2012 Disability Status Report: New York, disabilitystatistics.org2. StateData: The National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes, 20133. Annual Disability Statistics Compendium

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New York Data

People with Disabilities (%) People without Disabilities (%)

2012 2013 2012 2013

Poverty 1 US 29.2 28.7 13.6 13.6

NY 29.8 30.3 13.0 13.1

Smoking 1 US 26.0 25.4 16.9 16.2

NY 23.5 22.6 14.2 14.9

Obesity 1 US 39.1 40.1 24.5 25.0

NY 36.8 37.9 20.3 21.8

Employment 1 US 32.7 33.9 73.6 74.2

NY 30.9 32.2 72.7 73.31.Annual Disability Statistics Compendium. Pg 53, 54, 72, 73, 29

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Challenges and Opportunities

• Approximately 70% of working-age Americans with disabilities don’t have jobs. No improvement in the 24 years since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• Indeed, the gap between % of people with and without disabilities in the workforce INCREASED!

• Section 503 creates new opportunities for Inclusive federal contractors (7% of workforce to be people with disabilities)

• WIOA was bipartisan - passed Senate 95-3, House 416-6, now law. EVERY STATE must produce a unified strategic plan for providing training, employment services and vocational education in a coordinated way. Opportunity to break down silos and fund best practices. Need to leave failed practices in the past.

• Governors prepared through NGA “Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities”

• Disability organizations RespectAbility, NACDD, PVA, Best Buddies, NCIL, NOD have prepared a tool to help by showing best practices. See http://respectabilityusa.com/resources/for-policy-makers

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While Women and Minority Groups Have Been Able to Enter the Workforce, the Employment Gap Between Americans With and

Without Work Limitations has Expanded (Civilians aged 16-64)

Trend line based on a “work limitation” measure of disability --- “Do you have a disability or health condition that limits the kind or amount of work you can do?”

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Prevalence of Disability Among Non-Institutionalized People Ages 16 to 20 in New York in 2012

Source: Cornell University

(68,800)

68,800*

8,900* 7,400* 12,500*

49,500*

11,300*24,500*

Prevalence Rates of Disabilities in Percent- Age 16 to 20 Years (%)

*Total Numbers Reported

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Poll: 3,800 People in Disability Community

PwDs, Friends, Family, Professionals and VolunteersSee http://respectabilityusa.com/america-at-risk-job-crisis

What do you think would make the most impact in helping people with disabilities to find a job?

PWD COMB

F/F/P/VCOMB

Change in attitudes so that employers see the positive value of hiring people with disabilities

40% 38%

More training for employers on successfully recruiting, hiring, and accommodating employees with disabilities

37% 34%

A change in disability benefits so that recipients could work without risking losing them all together

41% 30%

Better school based training and transition services to prepare people with disabilities for work

20% 29%

More internship and early work opportunities for young people with disabilities

20% 26%

More and better programs that assist people with disabilities with finding work 23% 25%

More government incentives and laws for companies to hire people with disabilities

21% 19%

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What one Word or Phrase Sums up the Biggest Obstacle to People with Disabilities Finding and Succeeding in a Job?

(answer included, but not limited to) See http://respectabilityusa.com/america-at-risk-job-crisis

Word Clouds are generated from the text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

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False Stereotypes of PwDs Hold Employers Back

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• Princeton study shows that while people with disabilities are seen as warm, they are not seen as competent.

• Study published by Cornell Hospitality Quarterly analyzed results from a survey of employers at 320 hospitality companies in the United States. It found that all of the companies share a concern that those with disabilities could not do the work required of their employees. Another top concern was the potential cost of unspecified accommodations they might need to provide for a person with a disability under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is despite the fact that the record shows that most accommodations are not exceptionally costly. Anecdotally, there is also evidence that employers fear legal action should they terminate an employee with a disability. It is far more difficult to prove discrimination for not being hired in the first place. So, given that that the perception is that people with disabilities aren't competent, and could potentially be costly, why would an employer take the risk of hiring them

• It's time to change the narrative of how we see people with disabilities so employers can see the ABILITIES they have and the positive impact that can have on their business's bottom line. It's amazing that such small change can have such a big impact. It can - if it is done in a focused and strategic way.

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Poll: Messages that Work to Inspire Inclusive Employment

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Bi-partisan survey conducted by the Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner and the Republican polling firm North Star Opinion Research conducted in the Senate Battleground. The survey of 1,000 likely 2014 voters was conducted from September 20-24, 2014, in the Senate Battleground.

The Senate Battleground is comprised of AK, AR, CO, GA, IA, KY, LA, MI, MT, NH, NC, and WV.

Unless otherwise noted, margin of error= +/-3.10 percentage points at 95% confidence.

We reached 40 percent of our respondents by cell phone, in order to account for ever-changing demographics and trying to accurately sample the full American electorate.

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People with disabilities should be able to work, Total, 58 percent; Disability Community, 62 percent. Successful companies like Walgreens, EY and AMC already hire employees with disabilities, Total 47 percent; Disability Community, 48 percent. People with disabilities bring unique characteristics and talents to the workplace, Total 41 percent; Disabilities Community 42 percent.

Use messages that are PROVEN to work!

© Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

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Government policies that help people with disabilities help grow the economy and save taxpayer money, Total, 41 percent; Disability Community, 40 percent. We can not afford to exclude people with disabilities from the workforce, Total 38 percent; Disability Community, 38 percent. Technology, progress and better access to education have made Americans with disabilities more qualified to work and the workforce should adapt, Total 32 percent; Disabilities Community 34 percent.

American Dream Strongest Message (continued)American Dream Strongest Message (poll cont.)

© Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

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Use a Jackie Robinson Strategy for Early Wins

Dramatic improvements in employment outcomes will take massive changes in attitudes, so we need to start with cohorts who will add maximum value for employers and taxpayers alike. Start first by reviewing state specific data on the talent pipeline of PwDs ages 14-19. Ensure your capacity matches your demographic needs. Enable them to have high expectations, early work experience, skills and supports. Focus on those transitioning from school to work, people with recently acquired disabilities who have previous work experience, and those who otherwise are SUPER motivated to work!

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NY Project SEARCH Sites

Beechwood Continuing Care, Getzville City of Rochester, Rochester Finger Lakes Health, Geneva Good Samaritan Hospital, New York Medford Multicare Center, Medford New York Presbyterian Hospital Westchester Division, White Plains Sound Shore Medical Center, New Rochelle University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester Upstate Medical University, Syracuse Wegmans, Rochester Westchester Institute for Human Development, Valhalla

Project SEARCH: www.projectsearch.usContact Erin Riehle at Erin.Riehle@cchmc.org

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Example: Braid and blend funding to have final year in school for non-diploma bound students be a Project SEARCH type program. This offers 3 different internships on one worksite to 10-12 young adults over the course of a school year. Employment outcomes in integrated employment are fantastic (68%) and save massive tax dollars over time.

Cohorts of 18 – 21 years old young adults with disabilities. Last year of school eligibility or DD eligible adult. Eligible for services. Appropriate hygiene, social, and communication skills. Ability to take direction and change behavior. Access to public transportation. Pass drug screen and background check. Desire to work!

Project SEARCH: Successful Example

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The Project SEARCH Definition of a Successful Outcome:Competitive employment in an integrated settingYear-round work16 hours per week or moreMinimum wage or higher273 programs in 44 states2,500 young people per year

60% healthcare, 40% broad mix of business types

68% employment 88% employee benefit

eligible 35% take employee benefits,

usually at 5 years Benefits alone save roughly 1

million dollars over a lifetime Family involvement

curriculum to drive familial change in attitude

Project SEARCH: Outcome of Employment

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Annual Project SEARCH Schedule

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Lessons Learned from Project SEARCH

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Students in New York County Receiving Special Education Services in Public Schools Ages 4-21

Disability Source: Cornell University

2020

Ages 6 to 21 IEPs by Category NY

2011 2012All Disabilities 388,237 385,763 Specific Learning Disability 154,533 149,694Speech or Language Impairment 86,049 87,445Intellectual Disability 11,545 11,745Emotional Disturbance 29,484 27,566Multiple Disability 17,291 16,959Hearing Impairment 4,291 4,225Orthopedic Impairment 1,866 1,720Other Health Impairment 58,367 59,616Visual Impairment 1,243 1,259Autism 22,427 24,439Deaf-Blindness 17 14Traumatic Brain Injury 1,124 1,081Developmental Delay ------ 0

Source: Annual Disability Statistics Compendium

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Civilians 18-64 in NY Living in the Community

Total % in total population

% in population with disabilities

No Disability 11,358,599 91.3 ------

Disability 1,081,376 8.7 ------Hearing 187,210 1.5 17.3Vision 191,075 1.5 17.6Cognitive 440,394 3.5 40.7Ambulatory 552,893 4.4 51.1Self-Care 189,295 1.5 17.5Independent Living 381,464 3.1 35.3

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Employment: NY 18-64 Living in the Community

Category Total Number of Employed PercentNo Disability 11,358,974 8,260,790 72.7Hearing 187,210 91,634 48.9Vision 191,275 74,431 39.0Cognitive 440,314 97,291 22.1Ambulatory 552,893 133,397 24.1Self-Care 189,295 28,865 15.2Independent Living 381,464 61,728 16.2

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With a disability Without a disability

Total Raw numbers % Raw numbers %

Employed 825,647 22,772 30.38% 802,875 74.53%

Unemployed 67,383 6,159 8.22% 61,224 5.68%

Not in labor force 259,220 46,030 61.41% 213, 190 19.79%

Total 1,152,250 74,961 100% 1,077,289 100%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2012 American Community Survey. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_3YR_B18120&prodType=table

(This link takes to the US data. The PDF contains the Montgomery County Data)

New York County-Employment Data (2010-2012)

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Which Employers in Your State Must Meet 503 Rules (Hire PwDs)?

Top contractors: Northrop Grumman Corp. Lockheed Martin Corp. Brookhaven Science Associates LLC Harris Corp. The Interpublic Group of Companies INC

-Complete list sp n n w s tfed e di g eb i ehttp://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?stateCode=NY&sortp=r&detail=-1&datype=T&reptype=p&database=fpds&fiscal_year=2012&submit=GO

- Complete federal lists of 2006-2013r l Pro ur m nt t PPst m w s tFede a c e e Da a e eb i e

https://www.fpds.gov/fpdsng_cms/index.php/en/reports/62-top-100-contractors-report3.html

- How to get started: Job Accommodation Network https://askjan.org/ US Business Leadership Network http://usbln.org/

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Jobs in New York

Six major industry groups: Construction, manufacturing, financial activities,

professional and business services, educational services, and health care.

Source: http://workforceinvestmentworks.com/workforce_board_info.asp?st=NY

2013-2016 Workforce development plan http://labor.ny.gov/workforce/swib/swibplan.shtm

Workforce development board site http://labor.ny.gov/workforce/swib/SWIBAbout.shtm

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Resources

StateData: The National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes, 2013 (data from 2012)

2012 Disability Status Report United States, Cornell University, 2012: www.disabilitystatistics.org

Fedspending: www.fedspending.org Project SEARCH: www.projectsearch.us Job Accommodation Network: https://askjan.org/ State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency:

http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_cd=SVR

RespectAbilityUSA: www.respectabilityusa.org

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Let Us Know If We Can Help!

We have many resources for policy makers and employers on our website and are ready to help!

RespectAbilityUSA4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 1100

Bethesda, MD 20814

www.RespectAbilityUSA.orgCell: (202) 365 – 0787

Jennifer Laszlo MizrahiPresident

JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.org