Stand with the Disabled: March 2017

The Effects of Employment Discrimination on the Disabled and Elderly

First, just a few simple facts about employment discrimination.  According to survey results in 2014 from the Disability Compendium, over 65% of people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 65 living in the community are unemployed.  Those lucky enough to get jobs are paid an average of 32.2% less than non-disabled people.  There are more disabled people under the poverty level than any other minority.   These statistics do not even take into consideration older Americans who are still capable of working and sharing their expertise. 

In Elkhart, I frequently here employers whining about how they can’t find people willing to work.  Bunk!  There are thousands of disabled and older folks willing to work if they would just consider them.  The bigotry amongst business and government in this area and throughout the nation is a disgrace.   Even if only half of the 65% of unemployed disabled people in Elkhart could work, that would increase the workforce by thousands.  And then there are older workers who have spent their lives developing skills that could be shared and help local and national business.  But.... go ask some older workers how it is to find a job.  It almost always takes over 1 year and almost never allows them to use the skills they accrued over a lifetime.  All that knowledge; all that ability --- out the window.  But let me not forget to include unions who do nothing to help the disabled get the jobs they are qualified for and deserve.  I have requested support for our efforts from the AFL-CIO, Teamstears, AFSME and a couple of others and was completely ignored.

I will use myself as an example.  I worked for 35 years before becoming disabled.  I accrued 22 years in management including upper level management.  I have a degree and graduate work.  But because I am 65 and disabled, the only job I was given was at Walmart as a People Greeter for $9/hour.   Keep berating Walmart but you are a hypocrite if you don’t also include the 90% or so of government entities and businesses that won’t hire the disabled or older Americans.   I worked with people with disabilities, the entire time but the following agencies had no desire to hire me:  ADEC, Corvilla, Logan, Benchmark and others.  This is just one little example of the ignorance displayed by these organizations who opt to hire inexperienced people over experienced people with proven competence. 

What does this do?  It keeps the disabled and older Americans in the poverty range.  It increases the stigma of being unemployed.  For example, those who get SSDI, Medicaid, etc. because they are disabled and no one will hire them are berated and ridiculed as lazy and leeches.  It is a catch-22 (if you have read the book).  Business and government won’t hire the disabled but they will denigrate them for their own actions refusing to hire the disabled and older folks.  A very irrational and illogical process. 

Just so you know, we have tried many times to get the city of Elkhart and regional organizations who supposedly serve the disabled to publicize the percentage of their work force who are disabled.  They have all refused.  

It is time for we the disabled and the elderly to demand our rights to be hired for the jobs we are the most qualified to do.  In order to do this, we need to band together and start speaking in solidarity.  Together we have power.  Business and government want us to stay fracture and frightened to keep us from using our power.  

Who wants to join in?

Visit us at the Elkhart Advocacy of the Disabled or Call At:

(574) 606-6845

Stand with the Disabled

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Stand with the Disabled: The Effects of Employment Discrimination on the D...