Category: Republicans

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 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, 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.”

Rockville, Maryland, March 10 – More people with disabilities in Maryland continued to gain new jobs last year, continuing a trend from the year prior.

The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows Maryland is currently 16th out of 50 states with 141,870 of the 335,461 working-age (18-64) people with disabilities being employed. This gives the state an employment rate of 42.3 percent for people with disabilities. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that in 2017, the employment rate was at 41.1 percent. From 2017-2018 Maryland’s employment rates increased for people with disabilities as 4,353 Marylanders with disabilities found new employment opportunities.

In the weeks prior to his re-election, Gov. Hogan made new commitments on jobs for people with disabilities in a proclamation sent to RespectAbility in October in honor of Disability Employment Awareness Month. “Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities,” said Hogan in the proclamation. “Through local and national campaigns we create greater awareness of the talents and skills individuals with disabilities bring to their employers.”

Washington, D.C., March 8 – During the 2019 National Governors’ Association winter meeting, Gov. Matt Bevin made a strong commitment to empowering people with disabilities in Kentucky. “One of the most powerful things we could do is to elevate the awareness level of the need and the numbers of people who are affected with disabilities,” he said, adding that his stated “goal is to destigmatize” disability.

Bevin also said, “Kentucky’s environment needs every single person that has any capacity and desire to be part of the solution for our workforce.”

The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 430,265 working-age people (ages 18-64) with disabilities living in Kentucky. Out of that number, only 129,954 have jobs. That means the Bluegrass State only has a 30.2 percent disability employment rate. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that Kentucky ranks 47th out of the 50 states for disability employment and that more than 3,900 people with disabilities left Kentucky’s workforce last year.

Washington, D.C., March 7 – During the 2019 National Governors’ Association winter meeting, newly elected Idaho Gov. Brad Little said disability employment is benefiting the entire economy of his state. “Our employment rate for the disabled is going way up,” the governor said. “That’s the old rising tides raises all ships.”

The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 125,743 working-age people (ages 18-64) with disabilities living in Idaho. Out of that number, only 54,948 Idahoans with disabilities have jobs. That means the Gem State has a disability employment rate of 43.7 percent. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that Idaho ranks 13th in the country for disability employment and that more than 4,800 people with disabilities entered the workforce last year.

“There’s so many jobs,” added Gov. Little. “We’re getting more and more and encouraging people with disabilities [through] our Department of Labor.”

Washington, D.C., March 7 – Gov. Kim Reynolds pointed out Iowa’s dedication to the disability community during the 2019 National Governor’s Association winter meeting in Washington, D.C. She also stressed the importance of including people with disabilities in the workforce.

“They’re some of our best workers, they absolutely are,” she said. “We’re at the lowest unemployment rate in the country and so we want to make sure that every Iowan has the opportunity to be successful and that’s a key piece of it.”

The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows there are 170,186 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in Iowa. Out of that number, only 77,746 have jobs. The Hawkeye State currently has a 45.7 percent disability employment rate. Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that Iowa ranks 9th out of the 50 states. However, 2,670 Iowans with disabilities exited the workforce last year.

Phoenix, Arizona, Nov. 7 – Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Ducey won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger David Garcia in the election for Arizona’s governorship. In the weeks prior to the election, Ducey issued a proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness Month. He emphasized the importance of people with disabilities’ impact on the economy…

Austin, Texas, Nov. 7 – Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez for Texas’ governorship. In the weeks prior to the election, Abbott made new commitments on jobs for people with disabilities in a proclamation sent to RespectAbility in October in honor of Disability Employment Awareness…

Columbia, South Carolina, Nov. 7 – Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger James Smith Jr. for South Carolina’s governorship. In the weeks prior to the election, McMaster made new commitments on jobs for people with disabilities in a proclamation sent to RespectAbility in October in honor of…

Concord, New Hampshire, Nov. 7 – Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger Molly Kelly for New Hampshire’s governorship. In the weeks prior to the election, Sununu made new commitments on jobs for people with disabilities in a proclamation sent to RespectAbility in October in honor of Disability…

Montgomery, Alabama, Nov. 7 – Republican gubernatorial candidate Kay Ivey has won re-election for the Alabama governorship, defeating Democratic challenger Walt Maddox. In October, Ivey issued a proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness. She emphasized the importance of people with disabilities’ impact on the economy while highlighting a need for a break…

Little Rock, Arkansas, Nov 7 – Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson has won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger Jared Henderson for Arkansas’ governorship. Leading up to the election, Hutchinson issued a proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness Month. He emphasized the importance of people with disabilities’ impact on the economy while highlighting a need…

Rockville, Maryland, Nov. 7 – Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger Ben Jealous for Maryland’s governorship. In the weeks prior to the election, Hogan made new commitments on jobs for people with disabilities in a proclamation sent to RespectAbility in October in honor of Disability Employment…