July 26, 2017 (Raleigh, NC) The signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law on July 26, 1990 changed the world for people with and without disabilities. Curbs grew cuts for wheelchairs and buses learned to kneel. Doors widened and opened with the push of a button. ATM machines became fluent in Braille and traffic signals gained a voice. In the process, we discovered that an accessible society is good for everyone, not just people with disabilities.

This powerful legislation established a framework to measure progress for people with disabilities, based on four goals: full participation in society, equal opportunity in education and jobs, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Across the country and around the state of North Carolina, a great deal of progress has been made, but many people with disabilities still struggle to achieve meaningful employment and economic self-sufficiency.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind, and the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities are marking the 27th anniversary of the ADA by highlighting one of the most important factors in supporting full participation of people with disabilities in our society: competitive, integrated employment.

Employment Opportunities

Workers with disabilities comprise less than four percent of the civilian labor force and have a much higher unemployment rate than other workers. This means that people with disabilities are far more likely to live in poverty, depend on government programs, and remain socially and economically segregated from their community.

North Carolinians with disabilities have the capacity and desire to excel in their chosen careers, and to earn competitive wages and benefits. This type of work leads to economic self-sufficiency, expands social capital, and facilitates active participation in their community, allowing people with disabilities to positively impact the economy by earning wages, purchasing goods and services, and supporting themselves.

For a growing number of companies, including major corporations like Amazon, Pepsi and Walgreens, hiring people with disabilities is part of a larger strategy to build an inclusive workforce. Employing people with disabilities is not about corporate responsibility, but about the value they bring to business operations, brand reputation, and the bottom line.

North Carolina’s workforce partners are prepared to meet the needs of employers, now and in the future, by connecting businesses to a pool of untapped talent. Through a statewide network of VR offices and NCWorks Centers, they provide education, training, and ongoing support to ensure that talented job-seekers – with and without disabilities – are a great match for your needs. Business services consultants recruit and pre-screen qualified new hires and can help identify tools and technology to keep high-value employees on the job if they acquire a disability.

The ADA and Beyond

As we celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it’s important to remember the progress made because of this legislation. The ADA provided a mechanism to challenge – and change – how and where people with disabilities live, learn, work and play. Instead of institutions and segregated environments, people with disabilities can choose their own community and where they live. Higher expectations for young people have expanded opportunities for students with disabilities to move from school into competitive, integrated employment. Inclusive post-secondary education programs allow students with disabilities an opportunity to pursue higher education and better prepare for a lifetime of employment.

There is a well-qualified, largely untapped pool of talent in North Carolina and business leaders have a lot to gain by recruiting job-seekers with disabilities. These potential employees are skilled, innovative, and highly motivated to contribute to the success of their employer. The promise of economic and social independence promulgated by passage of the ADA will be realized through wide acceptance that people with disabilities can flourish in the workplace and improve businesses’ bottom line.

Employers across the state, this is a call to action. The productivity and talent that people with disabilities can bring to your business is limited only by the perception of what is possible. Contact a state workforce expert to learn how disability-inclusive business strategies can reduce costs and expand your customer base.

Find your local VR office: tiny.cc/vrlocal or visit NCWorks online: ncworks.gov

About the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities:

The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) works to assure that people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, integration, independence, productivity and inclusion in all areas of community life. Through its Five-Year Plan, the Council identifies and funds innovative projects and initiatives that promote the goals of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) for all North Carolinians.

3125 Poplarwood Court, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27604, www.nccdd.org
[email protected], 919-850-2901 (voice/tdd), 800-357-6916 (TTY), 919-850-2915 fax