National Disability Employment Awareness Month

On October 1st, 2012, President Barack Obama proclaimed October 2012 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. (For more information on this proclamation, visit our blog post on it: http://empower-tech.blogspot.com/2012/10/presidential-proclamation-national.html)

The day after, we put a poll on our Facebook page asking our Facebook Friends if they would hire a person with disabilities. Many people have misconceptions when it comes to hiring someone with a disability. There is a myth that "Persons with disabilities can’t keep up with other workers." The reality is that it has been conclusively shown that, on average, people with a disability are more loyal, dependable, and productive than their non-disabled colleagues - and that they work more safely. 98% of people with a disability rate average or better in work safety. Employers also often cite "the cost of accommodations as a barrier to hiring persons with disabilities." This has been established as a myth because the vast majority of persons with disabilities, who are currently employed, require no special workplace accommodations whatsoever. There are many advantages to hiring persons with disabilities, for more information please visit:

www.ftmeade.army.mil/pages/eeo/dis_myths.pdf

http://community.gettinghired.com/blogs/articles/archive/2010/06/23/benefits-of-hiring-people-with-disabilities.aspx

Visit our website to find more information on our T.R.A.D.E. program which helps students increase their employability:

http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=105