2. Overview
Introduction
US Demographics-Employment
Employment-MA
US Demographics-Education
Education-MA
Responses
Questions/Comments
3. Introduction
The disability community is often faced with challenges not only due to
personal ones but also external difficulties due to societal prejudices and
varying levels of discrimination
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to ensure
disabled persons living in the United States are enabled access to
employment, transportation, public services, accommodations, and
residential living. It was made first in public law format, but then later
published in the United States Code Source: ada.gov
4. Introduction
Education and employment are particularly relevant
issues within the disability community due to the larger
gaps in achievement as well as the number of
unemployed persons (see further slides)
Both issues intertwine with one another
5. US Demographics-Employment
In 2013, 17.6% of those who have a disability were employed
The unemployment rate for disabled persons was 13.2%, as opposed to
7.1% for non-disabled persons
Disabled persons aged 16-64 had an employment-population ratio of
26.8%, but for those 65 and older, very little had changed
6. US Demographics-Employment
Persons with disabilities who had higher levels of education were more
likely to be employed as opposed to those without, but across all groups,
non-disabled individuals with higher levels of education were employed
Those with disabilities were less likely to be employed in
management, and professional fields as opposed to their able-bodied
peers
Sources: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Persons with a Disability: Labor Force
Characteristics Summary
bls.gov
7. US Demographics-Employment
The rate of employment in private and salaried jobs was lesser for those who
were disabled and higher for non-disabled in 2013
Disabled persons were more likely to be self-employed as opposed to their
non-disabled peers
The unemployment rate for men with a disability was 13% and for women it
was 13.5%
The unemployment rates were much higher fro Blacks and Hispanics as
opposed to Whites and Asians
In 2013, 8 out of 10 people with a disability were more likely to not be in the
labor force as opposed to 3 out of 10 people without a disability
Sources: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Persons with a Disability: Labor Force
Characteristics Summary
bls.gov
8. Employment-MA
In Massachusetts where 391,000 individuals are listed with a
disability 32.4% are employed (16-64)
242,000 are unemployed (ages 21-64)
Source: disabilitystatistics.org
9. US Demographics-Education
According to the 2013 Report on National Disability Policy: Strength in
Our Differences by the National Council on Disability, despite the passage
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students are still
struggling within the US education system.
Exclusion practices limit progress for broader interaction with others,
and personal growth
Seclusion and restraint is still performed in classroom environments
across the US
Sources: 2013 Report on National Disability Policy: Strength in Our Differences, National Council on Disability
Public Policy (Education Issues)
http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/public-policy/policy-issues/education
10. US Demographics-Education
Based on 2008-09 student data, students across many categories in
numerous states failed to achieve similar closeness to non-disabled
students when it came to high school graduation
According to the letter, 2012 postsecondary education access became
worse for students with disabilities after federal legislation prohibited
the acceptance of Pell grants and federal student loans for students who
earned modified diplomas, even including for trade and career programs.
Under the new law only students with regular diplomas and GEDs can
receive financial aid
11. US Demographics-Education
IDEA requires transition services for youth with disabilities
By the student’s 16th year an IEP must be fashioned to meet
reasonable postsecondary goals, career plans, and a field of
study, and coordinated activities
Source: 2013 Report on National Disability Policy: Strength in Our
Differences, National Council on Disability
12. US Demographics-Education
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that local education
agencies make accommodations to those who qualify under section
504 but otherwise would be excluded from IDEA services.
There are still numerous land blocks and barriers that prevent
individuals from succeeding in higher education such as failure to
make student accommodations, snow removal delay, lack of
participation, inaccessibility, and lack of essential learning
materials for students who have blindness and other sensory
disabilities
13. US Demographics-Education
Disabled veteran also constitute apart of the disabled student population in
higher education
According to the survey called AHEAD conducted by the Disability Service
Offices (DSO) of the US, many veterans had numerous emotional and
physical disabilities
According to a 2009 journal, pressing issues for veterans with disabilities
include delays in proper documentation, failure to disclose disabilities, and
the lack of accommodations provided in a timely manner
Source: 2013 Report on National Disability Policy: Strength in Our Differences, National
Council on Disability
14. MA-Education
According to 2012 data, approximately 22.9% of disabled persons
between the ages of 21-64 were without a high school education
32.8% of the 361,800 disabled persons in Massachusetts had attained a
high school diploma or GED, 28.9% had an associates degree or some
college experience, and 15.3% had a bachelors or higher
Source: Erickson, W., Lee, C., von Schrader, S. (2014). Disability Statistics from the
2012 American Community Survey (ACS). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University
Employment and Disability Institute (EDI). Retrieved Jul 27, 2014 from
www.disabilitystatistics.org
15. Responses
State government must make be more compliant to enforce Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Employers need to be willing to accommodate disabled employees
as well as new hires
Massachusetts lawmakers need to unite to allow the passage of
HB136 enforcing ADA federal regulations for those seeking
employment
16. Responses
IDEA must be enforced on the state as well as the federal level
Educators within the state as well as across the nation need to work
closely with students in developing IEPs and adhering to specific
long-term goals
Understanding and recognizing titles II and III under the ADA, and
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act , students as well as employees
must take action against public, private and even federal entities for
acts of neglect and discrimination
17. Responses
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
Disability Law Center
Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities
Disability Policy Consortium
Architectural Access Board
