America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion, is this year’s national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of individuals with disabilities.

Recognition: Individuals with disabilities are vital members of a workforce, pursuing or sustaining opportunities for independent living that include a variety of roles. Shifting attitudes toward a practice of inclusion may help to expand individual expectations and reach for jobs that use their skills long term.

Education: Youth in transition from high school to adulthood benefit from developing individualized transition plans starting in middle school years. Transition planning identifies needs and strengths to build skills, gain early work experience and set goals for adulthood and future employment.

Families: Families of individuals with disabilities expect children to gain employment. They provide key support in navigating practical and personal barriers to meaningful work. Families also share in the benefits of a family member’s increased social networking, relationships and experiences outside the home environment that develop through work.

Community: Community services and agency supports such as Vocational Rehabilitation facilitate employment outcomes. Early work experience that is community based contributes to long term employment.

Opportunity: For employers, the benefits of including people with disabilities has been shown to contribute to lower turnover, increased productivity, and access to a broader pool of skilled workers. A 2017 survey of Employment and Disability showed that usual training practices and job sharing/flexible employment are effective in improving ability to employ or accommodate people with disabilities, as well as people without disabilities.

Our CAC members recently convened to discuss issues in employment and their experiences. Look for this in the latest the CAC Blog.