What Can Be Done about Poor Job Growth for People with Disabilities

What Can Be Done about Poor Job Growth for People with Disabilities?The US unemployment rate is still much higher than most people are comfortable with but the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is even worse. In the following article from Kessler Rehabilitation Foundation the disappointing statistics are discussed. Kessler Article Click Here.There are however major initiatives taking place to help prepare individuals with disabilities for the workplace.  The Kessler Foundation has several grants and programs working to help employ and train individuals with disabilities.The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation is going to be running a conference July, 7-10 2014 at the Horizon High school in Livingston New Jersey to help prepare high school students with disabilities for careers. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is also having a conference September 23, 2014 to help educate employers about new federal regulations for federal contractors hiring individuals with disabilities.  Including a recommendation for contractors to have 7% disabled employees.There are also great state agencies throughout the country who are there to help. New Jersey VRS was there to help me from the beginning after my injury. They aided me with my college tuition, purchasing computer and voice recognition software, as well as assisting in modifying a handicap accessible vehicle. I could’ve done it without them. You can contact Vocational Rehab Billets Eight Services them by clicking here.Of course there’s always the path of the entrepreneur. Many great companies in the United States were started by people with disabilities trying to solve their own problems. Marilyn Hamilton started Motions Designs, the manufacturer of the quickie wheelchair line, in 1979 and later sold it for millions. Ralph Braun built a mobility manufacturing company with over $200 million in current annual sales. These are only a few. To learn more about these entrepreneurs click here.It’s difficult to find a job able-bodied or with a disability, but there are options out there. I encourage anyone struggling in these areas to contact some of these agencies or use Google as a resource for working from home or learning to do Internet marketing. It’s not going to be easy but they’re often more options out there then we first see.