National Disability Employment Awareness Month reveals the plight ofdisabled persons

PRN - GHN News Editor -  "Diversity
in the workplace includes people with disabilities," is the Goodwill  statement for employers to hire persons with disabilities, especially now that persons with disabilities are experiencing great difficulties in this recession.



"Employees should be judged by the quality of work they perform, not by whether or not they have a disability," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.  But these days persons with disabilities are struggling hard in a workplace where unemployment is high.

Goodwill,
a leading advocate for persons with disabilities, and an organization
that provides training and employment opportunities, reminds the public
that "It makes good business sense to hire people with disabilities.
People with disabilities have above average records of job performance
and dependability,which improves productivity and lowers the cost of
hiring and training. A growing segment of the population, nearly 1 in 6
Americans, has a disability. Employers can leverage tax incentives and
benefit from their distinct perspective to attract a more diverse group
of customers. "

Persons
with disabilities during the recession have been hit the hardest.  In fact Medical News
Today underlines that persons with disabilities are the ones who suffer
most during tough economic times.  

Medical News reports a new Allsup study shows
that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims have generally
increased during the seven recession periods over the past four
decades.   This is in spite of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
protecting persons with disabilities from job discrimination.

2.3
million disabled workers applied for SSDI benefits in 2008, according
to the Social Security Administration.  The long-term unemployment, which is
considered being out of work ;for 27 weeks or more, is 2.6 million.


"We know people with disabilities are struggling in the current
economy," said Edward Swierczek, an Allsup senior claimant
representative and former state Disability Determination Services
employee. "Many people have been laid off. They're being hit with
mortgage and credit problems, resulting in foreclosures and
bankruptcies. They also may not be taking care of their health. We've
seen evidence of many people holding off on treatment for serious
conditions because of finances."

In
the meantime, Goodwill is urging employers to hire people with
disabilities, reminding the public again that they are "a talented
source of labor ready and able to work."