New York City – The benefits of hiring people with disabilities were highlighted at the Enable America Community Connection Forum in New York City on Monday, September 25th. More than 100 people came to hear the inspirational messages of several speakers. Their stories showed that people with disabilities have a way of making up for physical limitations with determination, dedication and desire.
The numbers are staggering. 70-percent of people with disabilities want to work, but don’t have jobs. “That is unacceptable, and we must work to change it,” said Enable America Chairman and Founder Richard Salem. He added, “We’re out to shatter the myth that people with disabilities can’t do a job as well as an able bodied person.”
Speakers included Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office on People with Disabilities Matt Sapolin. Matt said persistence is the key to success and urged people with disabilities to have the courage to keep trying. “You can’t just send a resume once. You have to try again and again and again,” he said, adding, “What are you afraid of? The worst thing they can say is ‘no,’ and that’s just a two letter word.”
Network Coordinator for the Disabilities Network of New York City Lawrence Carter-Long was the keynote speaker. Lawrence has cerebral palsy and jokingly calls himself a “poster brat,” because he was the poster child for the United Way’s local fundraising campaign when he was just 5 years old.
Lawrence’s dynamic and blunt speaking style was a crowd pleaser. He talked about addressing a person’s disability head on as a way to educate the public and help people and employers feel more comfortable around those with disabilities.
Lawrence also said he would never change the fact that he has cerebral palsy. He challenged others to think about that. “Everything you experience makes you who you are,” he said. Lawrence also stressed these are issues no one can ignore. “Eighty-percent of Americans will have a disability at some point in their lives, and twenty-percent of those will become permanent,” he said.
Paul Feuerstein, President of Barrier Free Living in New York City, addressed the issue of barriers to people with disabilities looking for employment. Paul said, “We’ve had a lot of successes with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but now the challenge is addressing the attitudinal barriers blocking employers from hiring people with disabilities.”
Technology is one way to break down those barriers. Incredible technology was on display to show how innovation is helping to level the playing field in the workplace for people with disabilities.
More than a dozen technology and service providers had exhibits at the Forum to offer information to people with disabilities and employers. Technology like JAWS computer software which offers “talking email” for the blind, the iCommunicator which is a machine that converts a person’s voice into sign language and text for the hearing impaired and the iBot, a wheelchair that can climb stairs were amazing attractions.
Enable America Founder Richard Salem emphasized that now more than ever it’s time for businesses to discover the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. The national unemployment rate is near historic lows and baby boomers are beginning to retire, so there is a growing shortage of skilled and dedicated employees.
“The positive attitude, determination and retention rate for people with disabilities are all major benefits to having us in your workplace,” Mr. Salem said. He offered these statistics on Americans with disabilities:
- People with disabilities are 70-percent more likely to stay at a job five years or longer than an able bodied person
- People with disabilities are 50-percent less likely to be absent or late for work
- More than 70% of working aged adults with disabilities nationwide want to work, but don’t have jobs, that’s a potential job pool of 18-million people.
Enable America will return to New York City in November for a Business to Business Breakfast where local employers will enjoy a power session to learn more about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. “It’s time to break down the barriers and build a bridge between people with disabilities and the workplace,” said Mr. Salem.
For more information visit our website at www.enableamerica.org, or you can call Enable America at 813-222-3212 or toll free at 1-877-ENABLED.
#### Enable America is a national, non-profit organization based in Tampa, Florida dedicated to helping the 54 million Americans with disabilities find gainful employment and live independently.
