1. More Statistics on Disabilities What chronic health trends most frequently
cause work limitation? It is estimated that almost 4
in the Workplace million people experience work limitations that
How is work limitation associated with race and primarily are caused by back disorders (21.1
ethnicity? In the working-age population 18 to 69, percent). This is followed by heart disease (2.1
Native Americans report the highest percentage of million people or 10.9 percent), osteoarthritis and
limitation in work due to chronic conditions - 17.3 related disorders (1.6 million people or 8.3 percent)
percent or 262,000 people. African Americans also and diseases of the respiratory system (1.1 million or
have a high rate of limitation - 14.4 percent or 2.7 5.6 percent).
million people. Asian Americans reported the lowest
levels of limitation - 5.7 percent or 311,000 persons. Other top causes of work limitation include mental
In comparison, white non-Hispanics reported work disorders (925,000 or 4.9 percent), orthopedic
limitations of 11.6 percent or 14,261,000 people, impairments of lower extremities (861,000 or 4.5
white Hispanics reported 9.6 percent or 996,000 percent) and diabetes (624,000 or 3.3 percent).
people and black Hispanics reported 15.7 percent or
60,000. These varying rates may be related to
cultural, social, economical and geographical
distinctions. Creating Diversity Awareness in the Workplace
How do employed adults with disabilities find
their jobs? More than half (52 percent) of employed
October 2011 Newsletter
adults with disabilities found their jobs through
personal contacts. The remaining found their jobs
through help wanted ads (13 percent), mainstream
employment services (five percent), programs for
people with disabilities (five percent), educational
placement service (three percent) and other means
(21 percent).
How does work disability differ by age?
Among people 16 to 24 years old, only 4.1 percent
are work disabled, and in the 25 to 34 years old
What are the median earnings of working people
by disability status? The median monthly earnings
of men with no disabilities is $2,190. Men with non-
Fight Disability Discrimination Month
group, 5.5 percent have a work disability. For
severe disabilities earned $1,857 and men with
those between 35 and 44 years old, work disability
increases to 9.1 percent. Between 45 and 54 years severe disabilities earned $1,262. Women with no Disabilities Defined.
old, the work disability rate increases to 13.2 disabilities earned $1,470. Women with non-severe
disabilities earned $1,200 and those with severe Disability groups and other organizations may have their own definitions of disability. The concept of disability is
percent, and reaches 23.1 percent for the 55 to 64
disabilities, $1,000. complex, and there are historical, social, legal and philosophical influences on its interpretation. The experience of
years old group.
disability is unique to each person but there are common impacting factors. There are common aspects also in the
rights of people to access specific disability services provided directly or indirectly by governments. The need for some
agreed definitions, largely to ensure that disability support programs are fair about who is to receive benefits and why,
has prompted much discussion and debate.
FUN FACT
Here are a few definitions from various world organizations:
WANTED WORK PAY$ What is the ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law under President George H W Bush in 1990. It applies to
Willing & ABLE Workers 2011 Job Fairs all private and state-run businesses, employment agencies and unions with more than fifteen employees. The goal of
the ADA is to make sure that no qualified person with any kind of disability is turned down for a job or promotion, or
refused entry to a public-access area.
http://www.work-pays.org/index.php/about-the-2011-job-fairs.html ADA Definition of “Disability”
The WORK PAY$ consortium in Louisiana blends resources with several agencies to host the statewide 2011 WORK
ADA has a three-part definition of "disability.” This definition, based on the definition under the Rehabilitation
PAY$ Job Fairs that are designed to help bridge the needs of the business community with the employment
Act, reflects the specific types of discrimination experienced by people with disabilities. Accordingly, it is not the
needs of citizens with disabilities who are job-ready and looking for work.
same as the definition of disability in other laws, such as state workers' compensation laws or other federal or state
laws that provide benefits for people with disabilities and disabled veterans.
The Staff Management | SMX DPIC includes: Kenyatta Draper, Lupe
Under the ADA, an individual with a disability is a person who:
Gonzalez, Katie Smith, Jenny Reints, Pat Lach, Avery Yancey, Dayna 1.has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
Corona, Jessica Lewis, Justin Schwartz, Robert Cook, Maurice Proffit, 2.has a record of such an impairment
Jennifer Fielding and Lloyd Weathers 3.is regarded as having such an impairment.
OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INCLUSION COUNCIL CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2011

2. Disabilities Defined (continued) In addition there are also some special provisions under the
Act that cover, for example, progressive conditions and past
disabilities. In defining ‘normal day-to-day activities’ the
Great Movies to Watch
DDA states that at least one of the following areas must be With celebrating the Uniquely Abled during the
badly affected: month, check out some movies that feature
•Mobility compelling stories of overcoming disabilities.
•Manual dexterity
•Physical coordination The Waterdance (1992)
•Continence Directors: Neal Jimenez and
Michael Steinberg
•Ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects Stars: Eric Stoltz, Helen Hunt and
•Speech, hearing or eyesight Wesley Snipes
•Memory or ability to concentrate, learn or understand Synopsis: An oft overlooked film about
•Understanding of the risk of physical danger. struggling to deal with paralysis. Author
Joel Garcia breaks his neck while hiking,
and finds himself in a rehab center with
Raymond, an exaggerating ladies man,
Types & Affects of Disabilities Statistics on Disabilities in and Bloss, a racist biker. Considerable
There are many types of disabilities, such as those that tension builds as each character tries
affect a person’s: the Workplace to deal with his new found handicap.
> Hearing > Vision How many U.S. working-age people have a
> Movement > Thinking disability? The Miracle Worker (1962)
The World Health Organization defines About 32.1 million working-age people (or 18.7
> Memory > Learning Director: Arthur Penn
Disability as follows: "Disabilities is an percent of the population ages 15 to 64) have a Stars: Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke and
> Communicating > Mental Health
umbrella term, covering impairments, activity disability. Victor Jory
> Social Relationships
limitations, and participation restrictions. An Writer: William Gibson
impairment is a problem in body function or Synopsis: The story of Anne Sullivan's
What percentage of employed people are struggle to teach the blind and deaf
structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty disabled? Helen Keller how to communicate.
encountered by an individual in executing a For people ages 21 to 64 with no disability, the
task or action; while a participation likelihood of having a job or owning a business is
restriction is a problem experienced by an 82.1 percent. The rate is 76.9 percent for
individual in involvement in life situations. Lorenzo's Oil (1992)
individuals with a non-severe disability and 26.1 Director: George Miller
Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, percent for those with a severe disability. Writers: George Miller, Nick Enright
reflecting an interaction between features of Stars: Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon and
a person’s body and features of the society How many people have a work limitation?
Peter Ustinov
in which he or she lives. Synopsis: A boy develops a disease so
About 16.2 million working-age people have a rare that nobody is working on a cure,
work limitation (10.5 percent of the population 15 so his father decides to learn all about
Definition of "disability" under the to 64). it and tackle the problem himself.
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Disabilities can affect people in different ways, even when
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) one person has the same type of disability as another
person. Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see. How do the states differ in the numbers of
defines a disabled person as someone who people with a work disability? Passion Fish (1992)
has a physical or mental impairment that has The five states with the highest percentage of Director: John Sayles
a substantial and long-term adverse effect Anyone can have a disability and a disability can occur
working age persons are ranked as follows: West Stars: Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard
on his or her ability to carry out normal day- at any point in a person’s life, such as: and Angela Bassett
•An infant can be born with spina bifida, which may affect Virginia (12.6 percent) Kentucky (11.4 percent) Synopsis: May-Alice Culhane was a
to-day activities. Arkansas (11.2 percent) Mississippi (11 percent)
walking. successful soap opera star, but a car
•A child could be in a car crash and have traumatic brain and Louisiana (10.3 percent). accident has left her bound to a
The DDA sets out the circumstances under wheelchair. She returns to her now
which a person is ‘disabled’. A person is injury, which may affect thinking and remembering. empty family home in the bayous of
•A young adult can have depression or another mental Does labor force participation of people with a Louisiana which she had eagerly left
considered to be disabled if: work disability differ by gender?
illness, which may make it difficult to manage day-to-day years before. She drinks heavily and
•they have a mental or physical impairment Among working age men (16 to 64 years), only vents her bitterness on the succession
•the impairment has adverse effect on their stressful situations.
32.3 percent of men with a work disability (2.7 of nurses who are hired to take care of
ability to carry out normal day-to-day •A woman in early midlife can develop multiple sclerosis, her and immediately quit because she
which may make it difficult to move around. million) were in the work force, compared to 89.1 is so unbearable. Chantelle is the latest
activities percent of men with no work disability (68.2
•the adverse effect is substantial & long-term •A college student with epilepsy whose seizures are of these nurses, and May-Alice is told
stimulated by stress may need accommodations with million). Similarly, only 28.5 percent of women that Chantelle is the last nurse she'll
(meaning it has lasted for 12 months, or is with a work disability (2.5 million) participate in the get. Chantelle for reasons of her own,
likely to last for more than 12 months or for activities such as long tests. is also in a position where she badly
•A man in late midlife can develop hearing loss, which may labor force, compared to 75.8 percent of women needs the job to work out. The movie
the rest of the person's life). with no work disability (59.7 million).
affect how he communicates. focuses on how these two women
become friends and help each other
•An older adult can lose eyesight from glaucoma.
heal emotionally.
OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INCLUSION COUNCIL CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE
CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2011

3. Rise in Workplace
Disability Discrimination
2010 saw a drastic increase in the number of
workplace disability discrimination claims. According
to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), the agency received a record 100,000
complaints of disability discrimination in 2010, a 17%
increase over the previous year.
The rise in claims was attributed in part to amendments
to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that went
into effect in 2009. Under the ADA Amendments Act of
2008, Congress increased the scope of qualifying
disabilities to make it easier for individuals to receive
protection under the important federal civil rights law.
This included overturning a previous U.S. Supreme
Court ruling that said
available mitigating measures must be considered prior
to determining if an individual has a disability.
Etiquette Tips for Working with People with Disabilities Successful People With Disabilities
•Ask people if they need anything to make the process more effective or easier for them.
•If you think a person needs assistance, always ask before helping them.
! " " #
•Don’t make assumptions about a person’s abilities. The individual is the best judge of what he/she can or
cannot do.
$ %& '& ( ) "
•Make eye contact and speak to the person directly (rather than their personal care attendant or interpreter, for
example).
•Speak with people using your normal volume and pace, unless they ask you to speak louder or slower.
•If you don’t understand what someone is saying, ask the person to repeat it or offer another form of
National Disability Employment Awareness Month: October
communication (such as paper/pen or a computer) for clarification. National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments in the
workplace of men and women with disabilities and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring equal employment
•If you are working with someone who uses a wheelchair or mobility device, do not lean on it. Also, if you are opportunities to all citizens.
speaking with them for a prolonged period of time, sit in a chair to be at their level. National Disability Employment
Awareness Month had its origins
•If you are working with someone who is blind, clearly identify yourself when you first arrive and be sure to let in 1945, when Congress passed
him or her know when you are leaving the conversation or room. Also, offer to read any written information. House Joint Resolution 23. This
Finally, give them your arm and gently guide them if requested. resolution established the first
week in October as “National
•If you are working with a person who has a developmental disability, use clear sentences, simple words, and Employ the Physically
concrete concepts. Gauge the pace, complexity, and vocabulary of your speech to match theirs. And, unless you Handicapped Week.” The
are informed otherwise, remember he or she can make his or her own decisions. purpose of this resolution was to
enlist support for the employment
•If you are working with someone who has a service dog, ask permission before touching the animal. of physically handicapped
workers. This resolution further
•Relax. Mistakes are human, just be willing to learn from them. requested the President to issue
an annual proclamation for this
Most importantly, if you don’t know what to do or what something means, ask the week.
person. They are the experts on their needs and how to best meet them.
OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INCLUSION COUNCIL CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE
CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2011