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Month: March 2019

As Gov. Laura Kelly Takes Office, Kansas Becomes 7th in the Nation for Employment of People with Disabilities

Washington, D.C., March 29 – Amid a trend of nationwide job growth for people with disabilities, Kansas is outperforming far bigger states like California and Texas. According a new report by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility, the Sunflower State now ranks 7th in the nation for employment of people with disabilities,…

Bad News: 4,173 West Virginians with Disabilities Lose Jobs; Ranks Worst in Country

Washington, D.C., March 29 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 4,173 people with disabilities in West Virginia exited the workforce last year. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 188,696 working-age (18-64) people with disabilities living in West Virginia. Out of that number, only…

Great news: Minnesota Stands 5th in the Nation on Jobs for People with Disabilities as Gov. Tim Walz Takes Office

Washington, D.C., March 28 – Amid a trend of nationwide job growth for people with disabilities, Minnesota is outperforming far bigger states like California and Texas. According a new report by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility, the North Star State now ranks 5th in the nation for employment of people with disabilities.…

Bad News: 9,887 Oregonians with Disabilities Left the Workforce Last Year

Washington, D.C., March 28 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 9,887 people with disabilities left Oregon’s workforce last year. Oregon now ranks 26th in the nation in terms of the state’s employment for people with disabilities. Out of the 288,493 working-age (18-64) Oregon residents disclosed living…

1,014 Massachusetts Residents with Disabilities Lose Jobs, Bay State Drops to 27th in Nation

Washington, D.C., March 27 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 1,014 Massachusetts residents with disabilities exited the workforce last year. Said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, “After strong job growth for people with disabilities in the state, this is a very troubling development. People…

Great news: 5,760 New Jobs for Arizonans with Disabilities Last Year

Washington, D.C., March 27 –Nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 5,760 of which went to Arizonans with disabilities. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 428,198 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in Arizona. Out of that number, only 156,194 have jobs. That means the…

Expansion of Best Practices leads to 10,471 new jobs for Virginians with Disabilities

Washington, D.C., March 27 – Nationwide 111,804 people with disabilities got new jobs last year, including 10,471 new jobs for Virginians with disabilities. Virginia now ranks 18th among the 50 states in terms of the Commonwealth’s employment rate for people with disabilities. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there…

708 Delawareans with Disabilities Left the Workforce Last Year

Washington, D.C., March 24 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 708 people with disabilities in Delaware exited the workforce last year. “After strong job growth for people with disabilities the year before, this is a troubling development,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility. “People with disabilities…

Maine Gains 3,067 Jobs for People with Disabilities, Ranks 36th in the Nation for Disability Employment

Washington, D.C., March 24 – Nationwide 111,804 people with disabilities got new jobs last year, including 3,067 new jobs for Mainers with disabilities. Maine now ranks 36th in the nation in terms of the state’s employment rate for people with disabilities. Overall, there are 112,442 working-age (18-64) Maine residents living with…

As Mississippi Loses 2,875 Jobs for People with Disabilities, Gov. Phil Bryant Wants More Opportunities

Washington, D.C., March 23 – While nationally 111,084 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 2,875 people with disabilities left Mississippi’s workforce last year. Mississippi now ranks 48th in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities. Out of the 265,344 working-age (18-64) Mississippi residents living with a disclosed disability,…

810 Hawaiians with Disabilities Leave the Workforce

Washington, D.C., March 23 –While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 810 people with disabilities left Hawaii’s workforce last year. Said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, “After strong job growth for people with disabilities in the state, this is a troubling development. People with disabilities want the income…

2,473 Arkansans with Disabilities Gain Jobs

Washington, D.C., March 22 –Nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities; 2,473 were Arkansans with disabilities who entered the workforce last year. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 285,023 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in Arkansas. Out of that number, only 87,920 have jobs.…

3,769 Alabamians with Disabilities Lose Jobs; Ranks 49th out of 50 States

Washington, D.C., March 22 –While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 3,769 people with disabilities in Alabama exited the workforce last year. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 418,429 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in Alabama. Out of that number, only 112,030 have…

4,725 new jobs for Ohioans with disabilities as Gov. DeWine takes office

Washington, D.C., March 21 – Last year, 4,725 Ohioans with disabilities found new employment opportunities, increasing the Buckeye State’s disability employment rate. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows that 840,199 working-age (18-64) people with disabilities live in Ohio and 309,665 of them have jobs. Ohio ranks 33rd for employment rates…

Utah Becomes 3rd in the Nation for Employment of People with Disabilities

Washington, D.C., March 21 – Amid a trend of nationwide job growth for people with disabilities, Utah is outperforming far bigger states like California and Texas. According a new report by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility, the Beehive State now ranks 3rd in the nation for employment of people with disabilities.…

Tennessee Gains 4,679 Jobs for People with Disabilities

Washington, D.C., March 20 – 4,679 Tennesseans with disabilities entered the workforce last year, part of a national trend of jobs gained among people with disabilities. Tennessee now ranks 44th in the nation based on the employment rate for people with disabilities. Out of the 538,061 working-age (18-64) Tennessee natives with disabilities,…

Rhode Island Gains 7,758 Jobs for People with Disabilities, Jumps From 47th to 19th in Disability Employment Rate

Washington, D.C., March 20 – Amid a nationwide trend of job growth for people with disabilities, Rhode Island has overcome great challenges to become 19th in the nation in terms of disability employment. According to the 2018 Disability Statistics Compendium, out of 75,806 working-age (18-64) Rhode Islanders with disabilities, 30,787 have…

904 South Dakotans with Disabilities Lost Jobs

Washington, D.C., March 20 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 904 South Dakotans with disabilities exited the workforce last year. Said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, “After strong job growth for people with disabilities in the state, this is a very troubling development. People…

New Mexico Gains 7,921 Jobs for People with Disabilities, Yet Ranks 43rd in the Nation for Disability Employment

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham smiling in front of an American flag
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Washington, D.C., March 17 – Nationwide 111,804 people with disabilities got new jobs last year, including 7,921 new jobs for New Mexicans with disabilities. New Mexico now ranks 43rd in the nation in terms of the state’s employment rate for people with disabilities. Overall, there are 169,264 working-age (18-64) New Mexico natives with disabilities and out of that number, 57,005 have jobs. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows New Mexico has an employment rate of 33.7 percent for people with disabilities. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that job gains for New Mexicans with disabilities have dramatically increased compared to the prior year.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been quick to signal her deep commitment to support the disability community in New Mexico. Among her first actions as Governor was to appoint a disability rights lawyer to lead the state’s Department of Aging and Long-Term Services. So far this year, Gov. Lujan Grisham has also pushed hard to expand “funding for services to individuals with developmental disabilities.”

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has made a special effort to celebrate this March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The Department’s goal is to promote respect for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as building awareness of the challenges faced by New Mexico’s citizens with disabilities. Public awareness and support are crucial to ensuring that people with disabilities are welcome in their communities and in the workforce.