I know from first hand experience by the way John Kerry interacts with our elderly friend with mental retardation that he really means what he says in this letter (some of you have met Gil). As I have related before in February 2004 he turned away from reporters in Manchester to make sure Gil got a Firefighters for Kerry tee shirt.
http://boston.metro.us/metro/blog/my_view/entry/Better_future_for_disabled_workers/5203.htmlBetter future for disabled workers
my view by john f. kerry
OCT 19
Throughout Massachusetts, people with disabilities work hard to help keep our state’s economy strong. This month we honor their dedication by observing National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This month provides us with countless opportunities to celebrate the achievements made in disability employment, as well as a chance to assess what more can be done to ensure an accessible workplace for all.
This week, my office joined work sites across the state that participated in yesterday’s Disability Mentoring Day. The day allowed employers the unique opportunity to mentor students with disabilities. The mentors opened their doors to a talented population of people who are too often overlooked in the hiring process. At the same time, the mentees gain valuable work experience and the ability to form a relationship with a local business or organization. It’s a win-win situation for all.
Disability Mentoring Day began seven years ago with just a few dozen participants in the White House, but grew this year to more than 12,000 participants from all across the country. This year, I hosted Greg Getchell, a young man from Wilmington, in my office for the day. Greg is a 19-year-old full-time high school student who also holds down a part-time job. Having the opportunity to host Greg in my office reminded me of all the contributions that he and other people with disabilities make in their communities, schools, families and workplaces every single day.
It is imperative that we work to ensure that people with disabilities can continue to play a meaningful role in all our communities. In 2004, the latest year with available data, the employment rate for people with disabilities was 38 percent, compared to 78 percent for people without disabilities. This is unacceptable and clearly does not reflect the number of people with disabilities who want to be employed. Everyone who has a disability should have the opportunity to participate more fully in the workplace. As America begins to gray and baby boomers start to retire, we see an increasing need to replace large numbers of American workers. What a remarkable opportunity we have fill some of those jobs with highly capable people with disabilities. So now is the time to act.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton issued an Executive Order to hire 100,000 qualified people with disabilities within the federal government in five years. Because President Bush has failed to adequately continue the efforts, this important goal has not been reached. Instead, the last five years have seen a steady decline in the federal employment of people with disabilities. In the Senate, I have worked to ensure there is sufficient support for programs that assist people with disabilities enter the workforce and have co-sponsored the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, which assures that more Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in the workforce to lessen their dependence on public benefits.
It is now, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, that we must encourage employers to see the potential and talent that people with disabilities can bring to their workplace.
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