News
Washington, D.C. – RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization working to empower people with disabilities (PwDs) to achieve the American dream, is delighted to announce that the Stanford and Joan Alexander Foundation awarded a lead gift to create a new National Leadership Program.
“We are thrilled to have this new transformative support,” Jennifer Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, said. “Thanks to Stanford and Joan Alexander, we will be able to launch the National Leadership program for young leaders with and without disabilities who are going into public policy, advocacy, journalism, public relations, and other leadership roles.”
Joan Alexander added, “We are pleased to help launch a program that will not only support and train young leaders, but will also raise awareness and make a significant impact on how our country views, respects, and includes people with disabilities.”
Won Shin, senior manager in transaction advisory services at EY, speaks with coworkers Alejandra Preciat and Frances Smith (photo credit POSITIVE EXPOSURE)
#RespectAbility campaign spotlights model employers that demonstrate how hiring workers with disabilities benefits the employer, the employee and society
Washington, Sept. 30 – RespectAbilityUSA is launching its 2015 #RespectTheAbility campaign in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which begins tomorrow. The campaign highlights the benefits companies reap when they hire talented people with disabilities. Using the hashtag #RespectTheAbility, the campaign hopes to ultimately erase negative and untrue stigmas associated with hiring people with disabilities.
“Many companies hire the best talent out there, no matter what package that talent comes in,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbilityUSA. “Employers’ focus should be on the abilities an individual brings to the table to better the organization, not any disabilities the individual may have. It is time for all employers to look beyond the disability, and understand the true value of these employees.”
The campaign comes on the heels of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)’s first Disability Equality Index (DEI) naming 19 companies as DEI Best Places to Work. Developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates, the DEI is a national, transparent benchmarking tool that offers businesses an opportunity to receive an objective score, on a scale of zero to 100, on their disability inclusion policies and practices.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and yet 70 percent of people with disabilities nationwide are out of the workforce.
The rates of employment vary widely by state. This report provides details on those states that are leading the country on employing people with disabilities. This report shows that people with disabilities are twice as likely to be working in the Dakotas, Alaska and Wyoming than they are in many other states.
The states with the consistently lowest workforce participation rates are West Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama and Arizona. When taking into consideration the gap between the employment rate of people with disabilities and those without disabilities, Maine and Vermont are added to the list, with Maine coming in dead last in the country.
San Diego Jewish World | Helping Jewish schools help students with disabilities | August 23, 2016
The Times of Israel | School Solutions for Jewish Children with Disabilities | June 10, 2016
Huffington Post | From Hollywood Ableism to Employment | June 5, 2016
Huffington Post | I am J-Chai | May 17, 2016
Huffington Post | Best and Worst States for People with Disabilities to Get Jobs | April 17, 2016
Huffington Post | New Hampshire’s Voters with Disabilities Head to the Polls | February 8, 2016
Huffington Post | 10 Tips for Including People with Disabilities in Your Party | December 15, 2015
Huffington Post | Tearing Down Barriers Through Television | December 10, 2015
The Jackson Clarion- Ledger | Mississippians with Disabilities want Jobs | August 12, 2015
Times of Acadiana | People with Disabilities Want to Work | August 12, 2015
Daily World | People with Disabilities Want to Work | August 12, 2015
Ogden Standard Examiner | People with Disabilities want to Work | August 11, 2015
Lansing State Journal | Empower Michiganers with Disabilities | August 10, 2015
Grand Forks Herald (ND) North Dakotans with Disabilities want to Work | August 7, 2015
Statesman Journal | People with Disabilitites want Jobs and Independence | August 5, 2015
Fort Worth Star-Telegram | ADA Anniversary: Disabled Texans want to Work | August 5, 2015
Tallahassee Democrat | 25 Years After the ADA, There’s Still a Long Way to Go | August 3, 2015
The Des Moines Register | Iowans with Disabilities Want to Work | July 28, 2015
The Jewish Journal | Californians with disabilities want to work | July 28, 2015
Rutland Herald | Vermonters with Disabilities want Jobs | July 26, 2015
Washington Examiner | People with Disabilities Want to Work | July 26, 2015
The Louisville Journal- Courier | People with Disabilities Look for Success | July 26, 2015
Honolulu Star Advertiser | ‘Employment First’ Should be Standard | July 26, 2015
The Buffalo News | New Yorkers with Disabilities want to Hold Jobs | July 24, 2015
The Herald Sun | North Carolinians with Disabilities want Jobs and Diginity | July 23, 2015
Reno Gazette-Journal | Nevadans with Disabilities Want Jobs | July 23, 2015
Argus Leader | S.D. Proves People with Disabilities Want to Work | July 22, 2015
The Times of Israel | Jews, ADA and Disability Rights | July 21, 2015
The Colorado Statesman (CO) | Pauli: Coloradans with Disabilities Want to Work | July 20, 2015
The Arizona Republic | There’s Too Little to Celebrate on ADA’s 25 Anniversary | July 19, 2015
The Birmingham News (AL) | Stigmas Persist, but Alabama’s Disable Deserve to Work | July 19, 2015
Delaware Online | Jobs for People with Disabilities | July 17, 2015
Huffington Post | Why I’m Grateful to Bush 41 | July 17, 2015
The Providence Journal | Rhode Islanders with Disabilities want to Work | July 16, 2015
Alaska Dispatch News | Alaskans with Disabilities Want Jobs and Independence | July 15, 2015
The Diane Rehm Show | The Americans With Disabilities Act 25 Years Later | July 13, 2015
Capital Gazette | Marylanders with Disabilities Want Jobs, Independence | July 13, 2015
Billings Gazette | Montanans with Disabilities Want to Work | July 11, 2015
Albuquerque Journal | People with Disabilities Deserve the Dignity of a Job | July 11, 2015
National Committe for Responsive Philanthropy | Respect is Key to Inclusive Funding | July 7, 2015
D5 | It’s Time to Add a Disability Lens to Our Philanthropy | June 18, 2015
Idaho Statesman | Idaho’s Citizens with Disabilities Want to Work | June 7, 2015
Salem News | Letter: Brother was a Strong Advocate for those with Disabilities | June 7, 2015
Casper Star Tribune | Wyoming Must do More for those with Disabilities | June 4, 2015
The News & Observer | Don’t Let Barham’s Dream of Disability Rights Die | May 26, 2015
Huffington Post | Making Online and e-Learning Accessible to All | May 26, 2015
Huffington Post | Creating a Better Baltimore | April 28, 2015
Business Superstar | Superstar of the Week | April 13, 2015
The Times of Israel | Israel and Disability Issues | April 5, 2015
Huffington Post | 10 Tips for Creating Inclusive Religious Organizations | March 26, 2015
Huffington Post | Painful Lessons About Poverty and Diversity | February 18, 2015
The Times of Israel | Disabilities Rights are where Gays Were 20 Years Ago | February 7, 2015
The Jewish Week | Jewish Inclusion Made Easy and Inexpensive | February 5, 2015
E-Jewish Philanthropy | A Primer on Making the Jewish Community Inclusive | February 4, 2015
The Public Manager | Include People with Disabilities in the Federal Workplace | December 15, 2014
Huffington Post | Tom Harkin adn the Ladder of Opportunity | December 15, 2014
The Times of Israel | Jewish Fundraising Letter Delegitimizes Disability | November 23, 2014
Huffington Post | Voters with Disabilities Can Influence Election | October 10, 2014
Huffington Post | Lessons from Failed Giving to Charity | September 12, 2014
The Jewish Week | Jewish Seniors Helped; Youth with Disabilities Get Jobs | June 17, 2014
The Hill | Why do President Obama’s children go to a segregated school? | June 5, 2014
Huffington Post | False Stereotypes of People with Disabilities Hold Employers Back | May 22, 2014
The Jewish Week | Man with a Disability to Give Thousands to Charity | May 14, 2014
Huffington Post | Governors: The Front Line in Delivering for Voters | March 26, 2014
The Jewish Week | AIPAC: Where Are the Sign Language and Captions? | March 4, 2014
Human Resource Executive Online| Momentum Building for Putting Disabled to Work | February 24, 2014
Des Moines Register| Another View: Iowa should help disabled find work |February 17, 2014
Huffington Post| Super Bowl was a Victory for People with Disabilities | February 4, 2014
San Diego Jewish World | Poll: Disabled Jews Unlikely to Affiliate | January 30, 2014
The Jewish Week| Q&A: Camps Merge to Serve more Children, Together | January 6, 2014
Journal Sentinel| Jobs for People with DIsabilities is Vital for Wisconsin | January 4, 2014
The Times of Israel | Will Sharon’s Obit Writers Remember His Peace Efforts? | January 3, 2014
The Jewish Week| The List:Biggest Inclusion Pays and Players from 2013 | January 2, 2014
New York Times|Abraham Briloff, Accounting Professor, Dies at 96 | December 18, 2013
New York Times | Abe Briloff, an Accountant Who Saw Through the Games | December 13, 2013
Times of Israel | Ruderman Family Foundation is funding the new Chalutzim | December 11, 2013
DisabilityScoop | Disability-Related Hate Crimes Surge | November 26, 2013
eJewish Philanthropy | Embracing Those With Disabilities | Nov 18, 2013
Huffington Post | 10 Tips to Enable People With Disabilities to Get Jobs | November 15, 2013
Huffington Post | Disability Treaty Is a Journey, Not a Destination | November 12, 2013
The Jewish Week | JFNA Can Do Better On Disabilities | November 6, 2013
USAToday | Michael J. Fox a Role Model for Disabled | September 25, 2013
The Times of Israel|Stop by the Vice President’s Sukkah | September 24, 2013
The Huffington Post| Bringing Common Sense to Washington | October 14, 2013
The Times of Israel | Worry About America… before it’s too late | October 14, 2013
Disability Scoop | Disability Concerns May Sway Vote | October, 2012
USA Today | Michael J. Fox a Role Model for Disabled | September 26, 2013
Haaretz|American Jews with Disabilities Excluded by Community | September 10, 2013
Jewish Journal |Mind the Inclusion Gap: Values vs. Reality | September 10, 2013
Washington Jewish Week|Support of Disabled Jews Doesn’t Translate into Action| September 10, 2013
Tablet Magazine | Jewish Activists Unite for RespectAbility | August 5, 2013
The PEW Charitable Trusts|Employing the Disabled | August 5, 2013
Washington Jewish Week|Israeli Playground, ‘Sesame Street’help include kids with disabilities | July 31, 2013
New York Jewish Week|Window On Washington: How You Can Help Your Governor | August 1, 2013
PJ Media | Conservatives Missing Massive Voter Opportunity | March 21, 2013
The Jewish Week | The 10 Commandments of Politics for People with Disabilities | March 21, 2013
Play the Money Card to Push Rights for Disabled | February 7, 2013
Huffington Post |Getting People with Disabilities the Jobs They Need | December 11, 2012
Huffington Post | Fiscal Cliff Means W Need More Health Cures, Not Health Care | November 14, 2012
The Times of Israel | Preventing Alzheimer’s is the Next Big Frontier | September 23, 2012
The Jewish Week | Needed: A National Strategy for Including Jews with Special Needs | July 11, 2012
Enabling Jewish Children with Special Needs to Get a Jewish Education-and-Connection | June 2012
Majority of Voters Have a Disability or a Loved One with a Disability
Fully one-in-five Americans have a disability themselves and studies show that most of them want to work. People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group, and the only one that, due to an accident or illness, anyone can join at any time. Indeed, America has 56 million people with disabilities, more than 20 million of whom are working age.
Fifty-two percent of Democrats report that they or a loved one have a disability, and for Republicans, a smaller number of 44 percent report they have a disability. Surprisingly, Independents have the largest number of voters who say they have a disability, with 58 percent saying yes. This shows that swing voters with disabilities and their families are up for grabs.
“Issues of employment among people with disabilities can affect outcomes in competitive races,” Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, PhD, said in a statement following a bipartisan poll of voters. “This community is far bigger than many people realize, including people in my profession.”
Washington, D.C. – As the 2016 presidential campaign season gains speed, RespectAbility is reaching out to all of the campaigns to highlight the importance for all candidates to speak directly to voters with disabilities and their families by offering specific plans for a better future.
RespectAbility introduces its newest project – The RespectAbility Report – a nonpartisan political commentary on the 2016 U.S. elections with a focus on disability issues. Launched in June 2015, The RespectAbility Report is nonpartisan and neither rates nor endorses candidates. Expect to read fact-based updates and analysis from our staff based around the entire country. Staff writers will meet with the presidential candidates and report their proposals on disability issues. In addition staff writers report from the ground of candidate forums and debates.
Other features will look at the candidates’ websites to answer these questions and more: Do the candidates’ websites have plans for helping people with disabilities obtain jobs? Are the sites accessible, and can you use a screen reader? Look for answer to all these, and more, on The RespectAbility Report!
Read The RespectAbility Report!
Clicking on the link will open a new tab with the report.
The RespectAbility Report is a nonpartisan political commentary on the 2016 U.S. elections with a focus on disability issues. Launched in June 2015, The RespectAbility Report is nonpartisan and neither rates nor endorses candidates.
Chief political writers for The RespectAbility Report include Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, former political and training director for Campaigns & Elections magazine and regular columnist for The Daily Record, and Lauren Appelbaum, former political researcher for NBC News.
Bethesda, Md. – In the two years since the founding of RespectAbility, the organization continues to flourish and grow.
Born in 2013, RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization working to empower Americans with disabilities to achieve the American Dream, works to educate, sensitize and engage Americans to focus on what people with disabilities can do, rather than on what they cannot. RespectAbility thereby seeks — steadily, and in a practical way — to help increase the number and percentage of Americans with disabilities who engage in gainful employment, start and sustain their own businesses, lift themselves into the middle class, and participate in their communities.
Washington, D.C. – The Washington DCJCC, with more than 25 years of proven leadership in providing safe, outstanding volunteer service opportunities, and RespectAbilityUSA, a non-profit organization working to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream, are thrilled to announce the second summer of community service opportunities for Washington-area middle and high school students open to students with all abilities.
The non-sectarian program will be staffed by experienced CPR-certified professionals. Staff members include para-educators and special education teachers from the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) programs for children with Asperger’s along and with DCJCC staff.
The program will offer three one-week sessions, two for high school students and one for middle school students where they can earn between 20-25 Student Service Learning credit hours. Each session will have two counselors and teachers/para-educators as needed for the students with disabilities. Students will have the opportunity to earn community service hours in a safe, fun, fully integrated and enriching environment.
