Posted by Vicki Leeper

News from LINC

Empowering Independence!

Employment for People with Disabilities

This year the rate of employment for Americans with disabilities has reached an all-time high. 21.3% of people with disabilities nationally have a job. The highest rate since they started keeping records in 2008.

Workers with disabilities are more frequently self-employed or more likely to work just part-time than other workers. This is in part because of wanting to keep specific benefits from Medicare/Medicaid.

But even with this record setting trend, people with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed by twice as much.

Of the 80% of people with disabilities who are not working, some estimates are that

all but 3% choose not to work at all. There are a number of key factors to why people with disabilities don’t want to work. Most cite limited transportation options to get to and from work, and inflexible workplace policies being an issue. Another barrier is mental health. When you have been unemployed for a period of time, depression can set in. Providing mental health services can help a person feel confident and ready to work.

Some of the factors are simply age related, as more older people identify with having a disability and choose that time to retire. But for those that do want to work, discrimination is still prevalent. Workplaces view hiring a person with a disability as being “costly” due to accommodations. Most accommodations, such as allowing for a flexible work schedule or modifying the layout of a workspace, cost nothing. Other accommodations, including screen reader software or sit-stand desks typically cost less than $500. It’s time to encourage more businesses to hire someone with a disability!

LINC has three offices to serve you. www.lincidaho.org

1182 Eastland Drive North
Suite C
Twin Falls ID 83301
(208) 733-1712 VOICE
(208) 733-7711 TDD

1878 West Overland Road
Boise ID 83705
(208) 336-3335 VOICE
(208) 336-3335 TDD
(208) 384-5037 FAX

703 S. Kimball Ave
Caldwell ID 83605
(208) 454-5511 VOICE
(208) 454-5511 TDD
(208) 454-5515 FAX