Washington, D.C., April 2 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 275 people with disabilities in Alaska exited the workforce last year. Alaska now ranks 12th in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities with 23,815 of the 53,087 working-age (18-64) Alaskans 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,…
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…
Washington, D.C., March 14 – Last year, more than 1,700 Vermonters with disabilities entered the workforce, propelling the Green Mountain State to join the ranks of the top states with the best employment rates for people with disabilities. Part of a nationwide trend of job growth for people with disabilities, Vermont stood out for a dramatic increase in its overall disability employment, now ranking sixth in the nation. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows Vermont has a 47.2 disability employment rate. That number is up from only 39.6 percent employment for Vermonters with disabilities.
To put that in a larger perspective, there are 47,113 working-age (18-64) Vermonters with disabilities. Out of that number, 22,234 have jobs. Nationally, the disability employment rate of all Americans with disabilities is only 37 percent. What that means is that Vermont consistently outperforms other, bigger states like California and Texas.
Vermont’s disability community has benefitted from the leadership shown by Gov. Phil Scott. When he was running for election back in 2016, Scott spoke publicly about his commitment to support and expand job opportunities for more and more Vermonters with disabilities. “Disability issues are very personal for me, and are critical to address,” he wrote in response to a nonpartisan candidate questionnaire from the advocacy group RespectAbility. “As a Vermonter, I will always support the rights of all people to live with dignity and independence.”
Washington, D.C., March 14 – As nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 578 people with disabilities in Wyoming were part of this gain in the workforce. Wyoming now ranks 10th in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities with 19,063 of the 41,825 working-age (18-64) Wyomingites with disabilities being employed. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows Wyoming has a 45.6 disability employment rate.
Among newly sworn-in Gov. Mark Gordon’s first actions as Governor was to select Erin Johnson as his Health and Human Services Policy Advisor, signaling a firm commitment to working on “key Wyoming issues and advocating on behalf of…those with disabilities and Wyoming youth.”
Gov. Gordon’s administration is well positioned to continue supporting its citizens with disabilities. Wyoming’s Employment First Initiative has become a key policy program to enable people with disabilities to secure employment rather than just receiving government benefits. The initiative brings together job seekers with disabilities, employers who need talented workers and community service providers to facilitated connections.
Washington, D.C., March 14 – As nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 4,040 people with disabilities in Oklahoma were part of this gain in the workforce. Oklahoma now ranks 29th in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities with 127,608 of the 339,773 working-age (18-64) Oklahomans with disabilities having jobs. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows Oklahoma has a 37.6 disability employment rate.
Newly-elected Gov. Kevin Sttit is well positioned to support further job gains among Oklahomans with disabilities. In 2018, Oklahoma’s Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), the state agency primarily responsible for helping job seekers with disabilities, reported they had successfully taken “more than 3,400 people [with disabilities] looking for work off wait lists and placed them in jobs.”
DRS also has a special commitment to supporting youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a model program called Project SEARCH, a proven business-led program where students with disabilities get hands on real-world job skills in their final year of high school. Nationwide, SEARCH already had served more than 3000 young adults with disabilities by 2015 and 78 percent of them found jobs. The businesses that participate are un-subsidized and incorporate the talents of the students with disabilities fully into their office. As reported on DRS’ website, they currently support “three young adult programs in Oklahoma City, one young adult program in Yukon, and one high school transition program for seniors in Enid.”
Washington, DC., March 13 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 2267 people in North Dakota exited the workforce last year. Despite these losses, North Dakota still ranks 1st in the nation for employment rates with 21,019 of the 37,320 working-age (18-64) North Dakotans with disabilities being employed. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows North Dakota has a 56.3 disability employment rate.
The job losses experienced by North Dakotans with disabilities reflects a slowing state economy starting to see significant shifts in employment patterns. However, North Dakota’s state government has made an effort to recognize key employers who have played a vital role in ensuring economic inclusivity. Last year, for example, “The Dollar Tree received an Employer of the Year Honorable Mention from the Department of Health for their work with people with disabilities.” Recognizing inclusive employers is crucial to shining a light on the abilities of people with disabilities.
Washington, DC., March 13 – More people with disabilities in Nebraska continued to gain new jobs last year, continuing a trend from the year prior.
The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows that Nebraska has a 49.3 disability employment rate. That puts Nebraska fourth in the nation for employing people with disabilities. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that in 2017, 2,068 Nebraskans with disabilities entered the workforce. That means that out of 112,418 working-age (18-64) Nebraskans with disabilities, 55,391 have jobs.
Under Gov. Pete Ricketts, the state has paid particular attention to diversity and the talent of working-age population with disabilities. Programs such as Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation have worked hard to screen and prepare job seekers with disabilities by identifying their strengths, addressing their weaknesses and matching them with appropriate jobs. The program crucially “offers customized and individualized services that are tailored to your specific needs and job goal.”
Washington, D.C., March 13 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 16,355 people with disabilities in North Carolina exited the workforce last year. North Carolina now ranks 42nd in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities with only 232,875 of the 689,612 working-age (18-64) North Carolinians with disabilities having jobs. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows North Carolina has a 33.8 disability employment rate.
Despite these challenges, Gov. Roy Cooper has been a vocal supporter of his state’s disability community. Last year, in recognition of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Gov. Cooper wrote: “We must focus on helping North Carolinians with disabilities pursue opportunities for education and careers, and encourage employers to make our state a national model for diverse workplaces.”
Cooper also reiterated, “We’ve made progress since this landmark legislation was signed into law 28 years ago, but we have more to do to assure equal and full participation in community life for North Carolinians living with disabilities.”
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, RespectAbility’s president who is originally from Durham, North Carolina, said: “Last year we saw an improvement in jobs for people with disabilities in North Carolina. Thus, for thousands of people with disabilities in North Carolina to lose their jobs – especially at a time when other states are improving – is deeply disappointing. I know that Carolinians are capable of doing much better on these issues. I look forward to future progress.”
Washington, D.C., March 12 – 23,953 Floridians with disabilities entered the workforce last year, part of a national trend of jobs gained among people with disabilities.
According to the newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows Florida has a 34.1 disability employment rate. Florida now ranks 39th in the nation for employing people with disabilities. In total, 428,638 of the 1,258,361 working-age (18-64) Floridians with disabilities have jobs.
Among newly sworn-in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ first actions as Governor was to reappoint Barbara Palmer as the leader of the state’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The Agency, which “works with local communities and private providers to assist” Floridians with disabilities, was first created back in 2004. Palmer has systematically broken down silos and bridged gaps across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
The continuing success of job seekers with disabilities finding jobs in Florida’s economy reflects the critical policies and programs supported by DeSantis’ predecessor, the newly elected Senator Rick Scott. When Sen. Scott was Governor, he made serious budgetary commitments to reduce wait lists for services as well as “funding to provide job coaches and internships to additional people with disabilities will help them compete in the job market.”
Washington, DC., March 12 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 1,484 people with disabilities Montana exited the workforce last year. Montana now ranks 8th in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities with 31,935 of the 69,553 working-age (18-64) Montanans with disabilities being employed. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows Montana has maintained a 45.9 percent disability employment rate.
Gov. Steve Bullock has highlighted his continuing commitment to his constituents with disabilities for the past several years. From ongoing efforts to strengthen “public schools instead of privatizing them” to reimagining programs “to better serve Montanans with disability in living the lives they choose and deserve,” Gov. Bullock has been a vocal and active supporter of the disability community.
In honor of Disability Employment Awareness Month this past October, Gov. Bullock’s released a proclamation renewing his state’s commitment to advancing opportunities for people with disabilities. “Welcoming the talents of all people, including people with disabilities, is a critical part of our efforts to build an inclusive community and stronger economy,” said Bullock in the proclamation. “This month, and every month, we celebrate the many and varied contributions people with disabilities have given to our state.”
Washington, D.C., March 10 – While nationally 111,804 jobs were gained by people with disabilities, 676 people with disabilities in New Hampshire exited the workforce last year. New Hampshire now ranks 15th in the nation for employment rates of people with disabilities with 36,069 of the 84,234 working-age (18-64) New Hampshirites with disabilities being employed. The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows New Hampshire has a 42.8 disability employment rate.
In the weeks prior to his 2018 re-election, Governor Christopher Sununu made new commitments on jobs for people with disabilities in a proclamation sent to RespectAbility in October in honor of Disability Employment Awareness Month. RespectAbility is a nonpartisan, nonprofit national organization working to end stigmas and advance opportunities for people with disabilities.
“People with disabilities bring a diverse array of talent, vision, and skill to their place of work, their communities, and our state,” said Governor Sununu in the proclamation. “With a growing economy, businesses need talented employees to meet their needs and workplaces that welcome the talents of all people, including people with disabilities, and help to create more inclusive workplaces and a stronger economy.”
Washington, D.C., March 7 – During the 2019 National Governors’ Association winter meeting, newly elected Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pledged to “forge relationships” with her state’s disability community. She said people with disabilities are “a strong, vocal, powerful community in the state of Michigan” and “everyone needs a path to prosperity and dignity in work.”
The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows that there are 727,451 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in Michigan. Out of that number, only 246,196 Michiganders with disabilities have jobs. That means the Great Lake State has a disability employment rate of only 33.8 percent. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that Michigan ranks 41st out of the 50 states for disability employment. Census Bureau data also shows that more than 8,000 people with disabilities lost jobs in the state of Michigan last year.
Washington, D.C., March 7 –During the 2019 National Governors’ Association (NGA) winter meeting, Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey spoke about his commitment to serve “the entire disability community.” In New Jersey, he added, “we rise or fall as one family.”
Gov. Murphy pointed to his own cabinet, which includes a newly created Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, as a testament to his commitment to serve New Jerseyans with disabilities and vowed, “we’ve got a lot of elements in our budget” that will positively impact people with disabilities.
The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 428,932 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in New Jersey. Out of that number, only 161,729 have jobs. That means the Garden State has a 37.7 disability employment rate. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that New Jersey ranks 28th out of the 50 states for disability employment. More than 2,100 people with disabilities entered New Jersey’s workforce last year.
