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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Report: People with Disabilities Struggle to Find Quality Work

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Monday, January 31, 2011   

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite federal and state laws that guarantee their right to live and work in their chosen communities, people with disabilities struggle to find quality employment. According to research from the National Disability Rights Network, they face barriers such as segregated work, sheltered environments and low wages.

Chris Filler with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence says that, in Ohio, progress has been made through education and increasing awareness to bring individuals with disabilities into the workforce.

"It is not simple and it's not speedy but we are seeing results, and we are seeing people in community employment. Employers are hiring people who otherwise would have not been in the community, might have been in a sheltered workshop or may have been sitting at home."

The report recommends increased labor protections and enforcement of existing laws, strengthening tax incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities in integrated workplaces at comparable wages, and restricting all federal and state money for employers who segregate employees with disabilities from the general workforce.

Individuals with disabilities can and do add to all aspects of the workforce, Filler says. It is a benefit to the community to ensure their quality employment, she points out.

"Once they are employed, they are like the rest of us: paying into Social Security, paying taxes. Ultimately, they require less financial support through our system because they are employed."

In Ohio, a customized employment initiative is underway to help those with a disability find a job that best suits their skills. In addition, the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence and the Autism Society of Ohio are studying various ways to extend funding and support to help in the transition to employment.

The report is available at http://ndrn.org/images/Documents/Resources/Publications/Reports/Segregated-and-Exploited.pdf. More information is available at www.autismohio.org.




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