Category Archives: Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

The Latest news about what is effecting those with Disabilities in North America, These PR articles, bring the newest technologies, initiatives and helpful tools to those who need them.

National Telecommuting Institute Announces 200 Work-from-Home Jobs Available Exclusively for Disabled Individuals


Amidst national peak unemployment levels and a global pandemic that has shifted the conventional nature of work, National Telecommuting Institute (NTI) today announced that it currently has nearly 200 openings in full- and part-time work-from-home positions available exclusively to the 61 million Americans with disabilities.

Working directly with the Social Security Administration, NTI recruits disabled persons, then trains, supports and matches them with work-from-home jobs in companies across the U.S. Positions currently available include work such as monitoring patients taking specialized medicines; staffing IT help desks; contact tracing for COVID-19; supporting long-term care teams; and customer service call center positions.

Since the start of the pandemic, dozens of businesses have turned to NTI because of its history recruiting, training, and placing work-from-home employees. New NTI employer partners include companies such as ISPN, Tetra Tech and DisplayToGo.

“The pandemic forced a lot of businesses to change the way they operate. Before COVID-19 access to telecommuting wasn’t nearly as commonplace – limiting opportunities for disabled workers or those with chronic illnesses that just can’t work outside the home,” said Alan Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer of NTI. “Now people are talking about remote work as the norm going forward. We’ve been in the work-from-home space for 25 years. We know how to do it, and companies are reaching out to us because of our strong track record.”

“The fact is, our employees are well-trained, fully invested, and have less turnover than most home-based employees,” Hubbard continued. “We work with people who want to work. We have the jobs, and we need more candidates.”

Since 2005, NTI has placed nearly 5,000 individuals with disabilities in remote work positions at some of the nation’s leading employers, including Celgene, Meijer, and the Internal Revenue Service. NTI currently has 533 disabled agents working in 45 states. The nonprofit recently expanded its mission to serve the 1 in 4 Americans with invisible disabilities and chronic health conditions like asthma, COPD, cancer, and others, regardless of their SSDI benefits status.

This growth comes on the heels of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a time to “fulfill the promise of the ADA,” as Hubbard has publicly stated.

For more information on the free training and job placement provided by NTI, visit http://www.ntiathome.org and register for an upcoming training webinar.

Businesses interested in hiring individuals with disabilities should contact Alan W. Hubbard at AHubbard@NTIcentral.org or by phone at 857-772-7611.

About NTI

Founded in 1995, National Telecommuting Institute (NTI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and places disabled Americans in work-at-home jobs. NTI has successfully matched work-at-home employees with some of the largest U.S. government agencies and Fortune 500 to expand their customer service and technical support operations. NTI@Home is an approved Employment Network (ENs) in the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program. Visit http://www.ntiathome.org for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jayda Leder-Luis

jlederluis@denterlein.com

914-643-1963 (cell)

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Gallaudet University Research Study Finds Language Deprivation, Communication Neglect Increase Deaf Children’s Risks for Heart Conditions, Depression, and Other Diseases


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Our research very clearly shows the significant health risks associated with language deprivation and communications neglect, and we hope will help accelerate critically needed prevention and remediation.

In the first nationwide National Institutes of Health-funded study of its kind, led by the Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University, scientists and researchers found that adverse childhood communication experiences are associated with increased risks for multiple chronic diseases in deaf and hard of hearing adults.

The Gallaudet study, in collaboration with researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and the University of Texas at Austin, on early life communication experiences is the first to gather and utilize patient-reported outcome data from a large U.S. deaf and hard of hearing adult sample exploring the association of childhood communications experiences with adulthood health outcomes. The study was recently published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University is a deaf-led research center that conducts rigorous research that lays the foundation for better health-related quality of life among deaf and hard of hearing people who use American Sign Language (ASL). Gallaudet University is the premiere institution in the world for deaf and hard of hearing students.

The study’s authors are Poorna Kushalnagar, Ph.D., Gallaudet University Professor and Center for Deaf Health Equity Director; Sanjay Gulati, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Boston Children’s Hospital; Raylene Paludneviciene, Ph.D., Professor, Gallaudet University; Claire Ryan, M.A., Ph.D. student, Educational Psychology Program, University of Texas at Austin; and Arielle Spellun, M.D., Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital.

“Even with the best intentions among parents and other family members, communication neglect and language deprivation do happen and can have serious health consequences,” said Poorna Kushalnagar, Ph.D., director of the Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University and professor of psychology at Gallaudet University. “This is especially true for deaf children, the vast majority of whom are born to hearing parents. Our research very clearly shows the significant health risks associated with language deprivation and communications neglect, and we hope will help accelerate critically needed prevention and remediation.”

Among the study’s key findings:


  • Direct Child-caregiver Communication/Language Deprivation. Poor direct communications between a child and primary caregiver is significantly associated with an increased risk for several chronic conditions. Specifically, if one-on-one communication between a child and their caregiver is nearly nonexistent, this increases the child’s risks for heart conditions by 61 percent, diabetes by 12 percent, and hypertension by 10 percent.
  • Indirect Family Communication/Inclusion/Communications Neglect. Poor indirect family communications and ongoing exclusion from incidental family communication and conversation are associated with increased risks for specific medical conditions. Specifically, if a child reports always feeling left out or not included in family communication, this increases the child’s risks for depression/anxiety disorders by 34 percent and lung disease by 19 percent.

Toxic Stress of Early Childhood Language Deprivation and Communication Neglect

The study notes that two forms of early life toxic stress that can potentially impact the health of individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing are language deprivation (insufficient access to direct child–caregiver communication during the critical period of language development) and communication neglect (ongoing or recurrent exclusion from indirect family communication and incidental learning).

According to the study, even when caregivers are successful in isolated one-on-one conversations with their children, they may lack the communication abilities to fully include the child in all family and group interactions. This can be referred to as communication isolation, exclusion, or neglect, and forms another potential source of early life toxic stress for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. A deaf child may attempt to remind family members to include him/her in conversations but may be told to wait or simply be ignored. Many people who are deaf and hard of hearing recall family members saying, “It wasn’t important” or “I’ll tell you later,” where “later” is often forgotten. These concerns for children who are deaf and hard of hearing remain regardless of parents’ intention, awareness, or conscious efforts to ensure that their child who is deaf or hard of hearing has full communication access in their immediate environment.

Need for Prevention and Remediation

Kushalnagar and colleagues note that a better understanding of these adverse communications experiences as contributors to chronic disease is needed so that interventions and policy can better support accessible, language-rich, and inclusive environments for all children, including deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. The medical and education community, they said, needs to consider developing and utilizing screening measures to spot possible language deprivation and communication neglect and work to remediate.

Methodology

The study’s researchers surveyed 1,524 deaf and hard of hearing adults who were born deaf, or who became deaf in both ears prior to age 13. The one-hour online survey, conducted from May 2016 to May 2019, collected data about early life communications experiences with caregivers and family members.

Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01DC014463. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

For more information please visit the Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University and Gallaudet University.

For additional information and to arrange interviews, please contact:

The Durkin Agency

Alana Cowan

alanacowan5@gmail.com

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ASHA Commemorates 30th Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act


The ADA challenged the routine, and generally accepted, practices of discrimination against people with disabilities—in the workplace, in the classroom, and in just about every setting in America.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) today commemorates and reflects on 3 decades of progress under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The landmark civil rights legislation, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by then-President George H. W. Bush.

“The ADA challenged the routine, and generally accepted, practices of discrimination against people with disabilities—in the workplace, in the classroom, and in just about every setting in America,” said Theresa H. Rodgers, MA, CCC-SLP, ASHA 2020 President. “Since it became law, the ADA has positively impacted the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities, including those with communication and related disorders. This important anniversary strengthens our resolve to continue the work that remains to make our society just, fair, and truly inclusive for those with disabilities. While recognizing this has not yet been fully achieved, we also celebrate the tremendous strides that have occurred because of the ADA.”

An early supporter of the ADA, ASHA has been active on several fronts over the last 30 years because of the landmark law.

ASHA received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to develop free technical support and informational materials—such as training information on effective communication and accessibility for people with communication disorders—in various types of public facilities and services. That effort included contributing to the development of the McDonald’s restaurant picture menus, an advancement that made ordering more accessible for people with disabilities at the then-largest fast food chain in the nation.

ASHA has also actively contributed comments, testimony, and support for a host of other ADA rules and guidelines that have helped make society more accessible for those with communication disorders. These rules and guidelines have included the provision of Next Generation 9-1-1 emergency services, movie theater captioning, web accessibility, and data collection regarding disability status.

Examples of current areas of focus include further supporting individuals with disabilities who are interested in entering the communication sciences and disorders professions and developing additional consumer and ASHA member information as it relates to the unique challenges of people with communication disorders in the COVID-19 environment.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 211,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders. http://www.asha.org

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NAELA Celebrates Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary


www.NAELA.org

NAELA member attorneys demonstrate their dedication to protecting the rights and public benefits of older adults and people with disabilities through supporting legislation in favor of these vulnerable populations.

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys celebrates the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26. Congress enacted the ADA “to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” The U.S. Department of Labor states that the ADA “prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and local government’ programs and services.

NAELA member attorneys serve older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. As part of the Disability and Aging Collaborative, NAELA helped draft recommendations for a fourth piece of COVID-19 legislation. These recommendations included increasing the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) match beyond the 6.2 percent bump in April 2020 and passing the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act (H.R. 6305, S. 3544), which includes grants to support Direct Support Professional (DSP) and Home Health Workforce and to support aging adults and people with disabilities in their homes and communities.

“NAELA member attorneys demonstrate their dedication to protecting the rights and public benefits of older adults and people with disabilities through supporting legislation in favor of these vulnerable populations,” said NAELA President Wendy Cappelletto, CAP.

Learn more about NAELA public policy and advocacy efforts to support older adults and people with disabilities.

Find an elder and special needs law attorney in your area using NAELA’s Member Directory.

About NAELA

Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others.

The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member in your area, visit NAELA.org/findlawyer.

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Highly Decorated US Army Colonel Joins Veterans Home Care As Intern


US Army Colonel Karl Konzelman Joins Veterans Home Care As Intern

“We are proud to welcome Karl to the Veterans Home Care team. He has served admirably at the highest levels of the military and is highly decorated. Our family has known Karl for several years and he has a real passion to help those who have given so much for our nation,” said Bonnie Laiderman, CEO,

Veterans Home Care (VHC) announces US Army Colonel Karl Konzelman, most recently Chief of Staff/Commanding General at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri, has joined the firm as an intern in preparation for full time employment. Konzelman is utilizing the benefits of the Army’s Career Skills Program to transition to the civilian workforce. He will officially retire from the military on December 31, 2020, completing 30 years of service.

Konzelman is helping VHC expand their relationships with the VA and veterans organizations about the Aid and Attendance pension. The little-known pension, available through the Veterans Benefits Administration, provides qualifying veterans and their spouses with assistance for daily living in their homes.

“We are proud to welcome Karl to the Veterans Home Care team. He has served admirably at the highest levels of the military and is highly decorated. Our family has known Karl for several years and he has a real passion to help those who have given so much for our nation,” said Bonnie Laiderman, CEO, who runs Veterans Home Care along with husband/CFO Howard Laiderman and President Larry Kay, retired Army Brigadier General.

“My goal is to make a positive impact by helping educate the community and all levels of government on the available benefits for our veterans and their spouses in need,” Konzelman said. “I am most appreciative Veterans Home Care is providing me with this special opportunity.”

Konzelman is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. He holds a Master of Health and Science from Touro University International and was a National Security Fellow at Harvard University in 2011-2012.

Konzelman’s command and key staff assignments include the COVID-19 Crises Action Team that was responsible for the coordination response for all of Fort Leonard Wood, plans officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Military Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army, and a Company Commander in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

He is a senior strategic planner, force manager and project manager and has received numerous awards and decorations including two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and seven Meritorious Service Medals.

ABOUT VETERANS HOME CARE

Veterans Home Care, a woman-owned business headquartered in St. Louis, was founded in 2003 by Bonnie Laiderman to help wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who qualify, apply for a non-service related disability pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which pays for assistance with activities of daily living in their homes. VHC’s VetAssist® Program utilizes a network of more than 3,400 home care agencies to provide home care, matches them with caregivers and follows up to assure that the veteran or spouse remains in medical compliance with VA guidelines to continue receiving the pension. Veterans Home Care has helped more than 17,000 veterans or their surviving spouses to access VA benefits for the care they need. Veterans Home Care is not a government agency and is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Nationwide Virtual Walk & Roll for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy


National Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD Banner

“We need a cure, and I am passionate about being a part of finding it in any way I can.” – Meredith Huml

The FSHD Society, the world’s largest research-focused patient advocacy organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), announced that it will hold a slew of virtual Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD events this September 12. The online events will take the place of dozens of in-person gatherings that had been planned for this summer and fall.

“When our signature Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD was launched in 2018, a $105,000 fundraising goal felt ambitious,” recalled the Society’s marketing director, Leigh Reynolds. “One year later, we welcomed thousands of participants and raised nearly half a million dollars.” These past events took place in public parks, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, “social distancing and public safety guidelines threatened to derail our progress,” said Reynolds.

Undeterred, the Society’s volunteer Walk & Roll leaders from across the country decided to transition the in-person event into a virtual event that will be celebrated nationwide on September 12. Supporters across the U.S. (and beyond) can join any of the 24 local Walk & Rolls advocating for public awareness and funding to support the Society’s work. People who aren’t close to a local event can sign up for the National Virtual Walk & Roll. Collectively, the 2020 Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD has set a goal of raising a half million dollars for programs in research and patient support.

To create the feel of a live event and foster a sense of community during the virtual Walk & Roll, the FSHD Society will stream its live radio show on September 12 over Facebook. Celebrity guests, researchers, doctors, Walk & Roll leaders, and participants will call in to voice their support and share their exploits with radio show host Tim Hollenback. Max Adler, actor and former Glee star, has agreed to serve as national ambassador for the event.

The funds raised by the virtual Walk & Roll will be invested in accelerating the development of therapies while empowering individuals affected by FSHD. “Our goal is to deliver a treatment or cure to our families by the year 2025,” announced the Society’s President and CEO, Mark Stone.

“We need a cure, and I am passionate about being a part of finding it in any way I can,” said Meredith Huml, FSHD Society North Carolina Chapter Director and Walk Leader. She was diagnosed with FSHD as a young teen. Her younger brother was diagnosed more recently but his symptoms have progressed more rapidly, and he is now in a wheelchair.

“The Walk & Roll is first and foremost a fundraiser, generating critical funds to support the search for treatments and a cure, but it is also about so much more,” said Reynolds. “On event day, for a few hours, we all join together as one. Living with FSHD can be a lonely road. At the Walk & Roll, we realize no one makes the journey alone.”

FSHD is among the most prevalent of the nine primary types of muscular dystrophy affecting adults and children. The genetic disorder is estimated to affect nearly one million individuals worldwide. It causes progressive weakness, typically in the face, shoulder blade, arms, legs, and torso, but may affect almost any skeletal muscle in the body. There is currently no treatment or cure and approximately one-quarter of patients become dependent on wheelchairs.

To learn more, visit fshdsociety.org/walkroll.

The FSHD Society is the world’s largest research-focused patient organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy. We have catalyzed major advancements and are accelerating the development of treatments and a cure to end the pain, disability, and suffering endured by one million people worldwide who live with FSHD. The FSHD Society has transformed the landscape for FSHD research, and is committed to making sure that no one faces this disease alone. The Society offers a community of support, news, and information through its website at https://www.fshdsociety.org.

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“Positive All the Way,” a New Documentary About the Paralympics, to Air on PBS


“It is packed with positive energy which will infuse into your veins as you absorb this amazing tribute to Para athletes from all over the world.” – Sir Philip Craven, former President of the International Paralympic Committee

The Foundation for Global Sports Development and Sidewinder Films are pleased to announce the release of their newest film, POSITIVE ALL THE WAY. The short documentary celebrates the power of adaptive sport to ignite the human spirit and explores how Sir Philip Craven, the former president of the International Paralympic Committee, grew the IPC into the world’s largest adaptive sports organization, transforming it into a global force for social change.

“Parasport is one of the truest embodiments of that very precious social activity – SPORT!” Sir Philip Craven said. “It is packed with positive energy which will infuse into your veins as you absorb this amazing tribute to Para athletes from all over the world.”

POSITIVE ALL THE WAY is airing around the country on PBS stations and the WORLD Channel to mark this month’s 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). These stations are commemorating the milestone by premiering this compelling story of Sir Philip Craven and his contribution to the Paralympics.

“We are thrilled PBS is airing POSITIVE ALL THE WAY,” said Dr. Steven Ungerleider, the film’s producer and director. “As a foundation, we have been involved in the Paralympic movement for many years and have witnessed the incredible impact parasport can have in communities. We look forward to sharing that with PBS viewers.”

David Ulich, also a producer and director of the film, added, “Parasport and adaptive sport are often overlooked as avenues for people with disabilities to engage in their community and stay physically active. We hope viewers will see disability and parasport in a new way after watching our documentary and be inspired by the incredible feats of para athletes everywhere.”

To learn more about the film and see if POSITIVE ALL THE WAY is playing on your local PBS channel, visit http://www.sidewinderfilms.org/positive-all-the-way.

About The Foundation for Global Sports Development and Sidewinder Films

The Foundation for Global Sports Development and Sidewinder Films leverage the impact of philanthropy and the power of film to promote sportsmanship, education, fair play and ethics among the world’s youth. Giving special emphasis to groups and communities that are most in need or most underserved by current programs, the foundation strives to include women, minorities, and youth in its mission. The foundation’s media division, Sidewinder Films, supports this mission by producing groundbreaking documentaries that bring untold stories to the international community. Visit

http://www.globalsportsdevelopment.org and http://www.sidewinderfilms.org to learn more.

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iTherapy Has Been Awarded an NIH Grant to Research the Use of Video Modeling Combined with Virtual Reality (VR) to Improve Speech Skills for Children with Autism


VAST – NIH Research with Virtual Reality Goggles

Jake instantly zeroed in on those lips and the words almost magically popped out. Now a month and a half later, he is still enjoying these apps. He has mastered the words and phrases — Jake’s Journey

Video-Assisted Speech Therapy (VAST) is exciting technology for non-verbal individuals with autism and motor-planning challenges. The VAST technique provides unprecedented support for spoken language, combining evidence-based best practices, research, and technology to deliver remarkable results for individuals on the autism spectrum.

VAST-Autism is a groundbreaking app-based tool that provides state-of-the-art teaching techniques for individuals with autism and motor-speech disorders such as apraxia. VAST-Autism combines the highly effective concept of video modeling with written words and auditory cues to help individuals acquire relevant words, phrases, and sentences so that they can speak for themselves. For children and individuals with strong visual skills, associating written words with spoken language can be a key that unlocks speech development.

Ongoing research and initial pilot studies have indicated that a wide age range of individuals will focus on and participate in the VAST video activities — many will almost immediately attempt lip movements or touch their mouths in response to the video models. In one informal study, after a few short weeks, a significant number of participants, who were essentially nonverbal, began word approximations and word attempts more readily.

Speech-language pathologists using VAST have reported that the best and most unexpected therapeutic improvements have been in their clients’ ability to generalize skills they have learned while using the VAST system. Interestingly, their clients also began attending to other speakers’ oral-motor movements during daily communication and continued learning speech in a traditional naturalistic manner — by interacting with people in their familiar environments.

The current NIH research project conducted by iTherapy will develop a personalized educational experience for students with ASD by creating a virtual reality-based (VR) VAST program to stimulate engagement and speech production practice. VR offers several benefits as a therapy technique: employing visual learning, overcoming sensory difficulties by reducing distractions, generalizing instructional information to speech-related activities, and providing individualized treatment. As a user moves through the stages of the program, they will be immersed in a proactive environment where they will engross themselves with continuous educational content.

Rather than present the individual with a static image of a letter or a word, the entire sequence of oral movements can be presented sequentially via VAST’s VR-modeled segments of the orofacial area — producing connected speech while using video modeling along with music- and literacy-influenced learning activities. These elements are paired with auditory and visual cues to provide unparalleled support for the development of vocabulary, word combinations, and functional communication.

The research outlined is supported by the National Institute On Deafness And Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43DC018447. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Numbers up but COVID Spikes May Impact Economic Recovery


nTIDE info-graphic with employment statistics

“For the second consecutive month, we are seeing indications that people with and without disabilities returned to work as businesses opened up,” said John O’Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation.

Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire nTIDE Report—featuring the nonprofit National Organization on Disability, which guides business in best practices for diversifying workplaces with employees with disabilities    

June job numbers marginally improved for Americans with and without disabilities, but the future remains uncertain as many states report recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD).

nTIDE COVID Update (month-to-month comparison)

In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Thursday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 27.7 percent in May to 28.4 percent in June (up 2.5 percent or 0.7 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 65.2 percent in May to 67.7 percent in June (up 3.8 percent or 2.5 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

“For the second consecutive month, we are seeing indications that people with and without disabilities returned to work as businesses opened up,” said John O’Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation. “However, keep in mind, these statistics are for the week of June 7th through 13th and thus do not reflect recent re-openings and closures of businesses as COVID-19 continues to affect the U.S,” he added.

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities increased from 34.2 percent in May to 34.4 percent in June (up 0.6 percent or 0.2 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also increased from 74.8 percent in May to 76.2 percent in June (up 1.9 percent or 1.4 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is (a) working, (b) not working and on temporary layoff, or (c) not working and actively looking for work.

“While these numbers are positive, there are continuing concerns that the longer closures last, the more workers will lose their jobs permanently after being on furlough, and will stop looking for work and thus exit the labor force,” explained economist Andrew Houtenville, PhD, research director of the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. “With the recent surge in identified COVID-19 cases, we will need to continue to monitor the employment situation of people with disabilities.”

nTIDE July COVID Update – Friday, July 17 at 12:00 pm Eastern

Stay tuned for more about the employment of people with disabilities as we follow the impact of COVID-19 and look at the numbers in more detail.

Traditional nTIDE Numbers (comparison to the same time last year)

The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 31.0 percent in June 2019 to 28.4 percent in June 2020 (down 8.4 percent or 2.6 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also decreased from 74.9 percent in June 2019 to 67.7 percent in June 2020 (down 9.6 percent or 7.2 percentage points).

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities increased from 33.9 percent in June 2019 to 34.4 percent in June 2020 (up 1.5 percent or 0.5 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate decreased from 77.8 percent in June 2019 to 76.2 percent in June 2020 (down 2.1 percent or 1.6 percentage points).                

For reference, in June 2020, among workers ages 16-64, there were 4,152,000 workers with disabilities, which is 3.1 percent of the total 133,634,000 workers in the U.S.

Beyond the Numbers

The abrupt onset of the COVID economy has stressed every aspect of employment for people with disabilities – individuals striving to work, caregivers striving to provide support, businesses striving to maintain staff, and service providers striving to maintain their connections with clients and employers. To maximize the inclusion of workers with disabilities in the new economy, organizations that support disability employment are monitoring the changing landscape and resetting their priorities.

The private nonprofit National Organization on Disability (NOD) provides expert guidance to businesses seeking to meet their human resource needs with talented jobseekers with disabilities. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the U.S., NOD’s Disability Employment Professional Services adapted to meet employers’ needs to cope with new challenges to their inclusive workforces. Among the top priorities – the need to expand digital accessibility to accommodate remote work and collaboration. Expanding access through communications technology may benefit businesses longer term, creating new opportunities and fostering greater diversity in the workplace, according to NOD’s Corporate Leadership Council. Employers also cited mental health issues and caregiver stress, both exacerbated by pandemic restrictions, among the pressing challenges they need to address with their workers with disabilities.

Through its COVID-19 Emergency grant program, Kessler Foundation also identified technology and services for remote access as a top priority among recipients of their national and community employment grants. Many grantees faced overwhelming challenges to continuing their job programs. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the pandemic is uncovering new disparities that hinder equal access for people with disabilities,” said Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, senior vice president of the Center for Communications and Grantmaking at Kessler Foundation. “Focusing on technology that facilitates remote access will help people with disabilities compete effectively for jobs in the COVID era economy and connect with health care and community services,” she added. “To continue to move forward, however, means prioritizing the needs of individuals with anxiety and depression, and their caregivers who provide essential support.”

Ask Questions about Disability and Employment

Join our nTIDE Lunch & Learn series today, July 2, at 12:00 pm Eastern. This live broadcast, hosted via Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest nTIDE findings, provides news and updates from the field, as well as invited panelists to discuss current disability-related findings and events. Charles Catherine, special assistant to the president of the National Organization on Disability joins Dr. Houtenville, Dr. O’Neill, and Denise Rozell, Policy Strategist at AUCD. Join live or watch the recordings at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE.

NOTE: The statistics in the nTIDE are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers but are not identical. They are customized by UNH to combine the statistics for men and women of working age (16 to 64). nTIDE is funded, in part, by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (90RT5037) and Kessler Foundation.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes — including employment — for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, visit ResearchonDisability.org.

For more information, or to interview an expert, contact:

Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org.

Kessler Survey Shows Education Paves the way to Employment for Youth with Disabilities


Colorful graphic with text and animated images of college graduates, one is in a wheelchair

“We’ve learned a great deal from the survey and our panelists, and we plan to look deeper into our results to find better ways to support and advise youth with disabilities, their families, and educators.” – Dr. John O’Neill, Kessler Foundation

Panel relates real-world experiences of graduates with disabilities to topline findings of the 2020 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Recent College Graduates

On a June 24 webinar, titled, “The ADA Generation: A Dialogue with Recent College Graduates with Disabilities,” experts in employment and disability engaged with three young professionals to relate the results of a new national survey to the real-world experiences of recent college graduates with disabilities. The survey, commissioned by Kessler Foundation and implemented by the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD), commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and explores its impact on the first generation to come of age since the ADA’s passage in 1990.

The panel focused on the topline findings of the 2020 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Recent College Graduates, the third in a series of surveys that are changing perceptions about disability and work, and establishing new pathways for greater inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. The overall results of the 2020 survey were presented nationally on June 3, 2020 via a Zoom webinar, titled, “The ADA Generation: New Perspectives on Employment and College Graduates with Disabilities,” and via a EurekAlert release. The experts reported that college students with disabilities were taking advantages of career services during college, and were transitioning from college to work at the same rate as their peers without disabilities – 90%.

Economist Andrew Houtenville, PhD, of UNH-IOD chaired the June 24 webinar, which featured John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability at Kessler Foundation, Kimberly Phillips, PhD, of UNH-IOD, and psychologist Elizabeth Cardoso, PhD, chair of the Educational Foundations and Counseling Programs at Hunter College-City University of New York. Dr. Cardoso related the survey’s new findings to the outcomes of the MIND Alliance grant she received from the National Science Foundation. MIND Alliance fosters careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among minority students with disabilities in high school, community college and college.

The college graduates with disabilities who shared their experiences were Hieu Duc Dang, AA, BA, MS, benefits counselor at the Center for Independence of the Disabled (CIDNY), Bryce Stanley, BA, MS, PhD candidate, research assistant at the University of New Hampshire, and Annemarie Veira, BA, MS, CRC, coordinator of the Office of Disability Resources at of the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

The 2020 survey collected a wealth of information, including details of college majors and occupations, finding that students with disabilities were more likely to pursue career paths focused on helping people, and less likely to choose STEM majors, or to work in STEM disciplines. “Preparing for STEM careers will help people with disabilities take advantage of this growth sector in our economy,” said Dr. O’Neill. “Research shows that this is a disparity that can be addressed with the right support system,” he added.

Providing comprehensive support beginning in high school can increase the participation of minorities with disabilities in STEM careers, according to Dr. Cardoso. “More than 700 students received the services of the MIND Alliance,” she reported, “including role modeling, tutoring, and mentoring, as well as exposure to internships, exposure to careers in STEM, and exposure to individuals with disabilities in STEM careers. These MIND Alliance students excelled in terms of their graduation rates at every level, in transitioning to higher education, and in choosing STEM careers.”

During the webinar, Dang, Stanley and Veira shared how their college experiences compared with the survey’s main findings, in terms of disability and career services, accommodations, and preparation for transitioning to the workplace. They were encouraged when the survey showed that peers with disabilities were striving to work and transitioning to jobs as they had, but cautioned that there are still disparities in job quality (e.g., earnings, hours working) between college graduates with and without disabilities.

“We’ve learned a great deal from the survey and our panelists,” Dr. O’Neill acknowledged. “We plan to look deeper into our results to find better ways to support and advise youth with disabilities, their families, and educators. Looking at the impact of the type of disability and the type of college, for example, will yield useful information,” he predicted. It’s clear that we can build on the gains that individuals with disabilities have made since the ADA, and improve their educational experience and employment outcomes.”

Visit https://kesslerfoundation.org/KFSurvey2020 for all survey materials:

Recorded Webinar 1 (June 3): The ADA Generation: New Perspectives on Employment and College Graduates with Disabilities

Press release, Executive summary, Survey results, PowerPoint slides, and FAQs.

Recorded Webinar 2 (June 24): The ADA Generation: A Dialogue with Recent College Graduates with Disabilities

Find Kessler Foundation’s previous employment and disability surveys below:

2015 Kessler Foundation National Employment & Disability Survey: https://kesslerfoundation.org/KFSurvey15

2017 Kessler Foundation National Employment & Disability Survey: Supervisor Perspectives: https://kesslerfoundation.org/KFSurvey17

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. Kessler Foundation and UNH issue National Trends in Disability Employment (#nTIDE), and nTIDE COVID Update, custom monthly reports that compare employment data for people with and without disabilities. Learn more by visiting http://www.KesslerFoundation.org.

To talk to one of our experts, contact:

Carolann Murphy, 201-803-0572, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org