Time to Take Action on Disability Employment
With Disability Pride Month in full swing and the 33rd anniversary of the ADA coming up in a few weeks, we as people with disabilities (PWD) have made strides in improving employment outcomes in the United States, but we still have a long way to go!
Congress had an opportunity to make a significant impact on the inequity PWD face in the workplace but failed by not including a 1% AbilityOne utilization goal in the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).?This utilization goal, supported by the Department of Defense (DoD) and recommended by the “898 Panel” would establish an AbilityOne set aside ?goal, along with a mechanism to monitor and measure performance similar to that of Small Business, Women Owned, 8A and other set aside programs.
It is time for Congress to take a stand and support Americans with disabilities. Seven out of ten working age people who are blind are not participating in the Great American Work Experience.?This equates to $139 billion estimated annual economic burden of vision loss and eye diseases in the U.S., and it’s not going to get better.?an estimated?2.2 million?Americans will be blind by 2030.
As constituents, you can become part of the disability community at any time.?disabilities cross lines of age, ethnicity, sex, race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
I urge you to reach out to your Representative/Senator on the Hill and let them know that PWD matter and we have the right to become self-reliant and live a full and inclusive life through careers in the AbilityOne Program. #awareness #ADA33 #Inclusion #DisabilityPride #blindness #DisabilityEmployment #AbilityOne #careers #DisabilityMatters #Equity #advocacy