1. Partnership with USBLN: The “Jacky Robinson Strategy”
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President

2. National Governors Association Jobs for People with Disabilities
    
      
Governor Jack Markell of Delaware
Past Chair, National Governors Association
           

3. Gov. Bryant (MS) with disability leaders
Gov. Walker (WI) with disability leaders

4. WIOA = Opportunities for BLNs
EVERY STATE must produce a unified, performance-based plan for providing training, employment services and vocational education in a coordinated way.
BLNs should be on every state task force to create a new plan for expanding and retaining PwD employment.
Plans should pay for apprenticeship programs for BLN members and other employers.
Companies with more than 200 employees should try to get a Project Search site!
Every month your governor should visit a BLN member and get press!

5. (answer included, but not limited to)
What one word or phrase sums up the biggest obstacle to people with disabilities finding and succeeding in a job?
(answer included, but not limited to)

6. People with Disabilities Seen as Warm, But Not Competent: Must Reduce Stigma!
Figure 1. Scatter plot and cluster analysis of competence and warmth ratings for 20 groups.
From Universal dimensions of social cognition: Warmth and competence by Susan T. Fiske, Amy J.C. Cuddy, and Peter Glick 6

7. Superstars with Disabilities
Albert Einstein:
Autism Spectrum
Peter Falk: Used prosthetic eye
Ludwig von Beethoven: Deaf
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Post-polio syndrome
Christopher Reeve: Quadriplegia
Frida Kahlo: Post-polio syndrome & Spina bifida
Thomas Jefferson: Dyslexia 7

8. Superstars with Disabilities
Derrick Coleman: Deaf
Peter Orfalea: ADD/ADHD & Dyslexia
Stephen Hawking: ALS
Whoopi Goldberg: Dyslexia
Michael J. Fox: Parkinson’s Disease
Lauren Potter: Down syndrome
Stevie Wonder: Blind
Marlee Matlin: Deaf
Amy Purdy: Uses prosthetic legs
Richard Branson: Dyslexia 8

9. EY (Ernst & Young)
Professional employment opportunities 9

10. Find Your Employer Heroes
Every state needs at least 200 “leadership employers.” Walgreens, EY, AMC Theaters, Hospitals, Senior living among others have found they can “do good and do well” at the same time.

11. Partner w/Gov. to End Stigmas
Each month invite Gov. to do a press event with BLN member to showcase the BUSINESS CASE of hiring PwDs.
Identify model employers in your state, invite Govs to recognize them in their speeches, trainings and media.
Ensure that Govs understand the needs of the talent pipeline. 11

12. Key Facts You Want Govs/Celebs to Say
1. The majority of Americans with disabilities who are working-age want to work. They represent a talent pool of 9 million Americans who can make companies and organizations stronger and better.
2. Hiring people with disabilities can make companies more profitable. Nationally Walgreens, EY, AMC & others have found this to be true as employees with disabilities, when aligned with their talents and interests, are more productive, loyal and have fewer work place accidents than employees without disabilities.
3. Hiring Americans with disabilities can save money for taxpayers. The U.S. spends billions each year on benefits to people who, in most cases, would rather have a hand up than a hand out. They need to be included in employment because of the talents they bring to the table. Their work and commitments to success can be a part of how the U.S. can compete successfully.

13. 13

14. By a 20-1 Margin Voters Want Candidates to Support Policies for Those with Disabilities
Would you be more or less likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who is committed to making policies and programs to help those with disabilities a national priority, or would it make no difference to your vote?
+41

15. Project SEARCH: BLN Opportunity
One school year or 9 months
10 – 12 young adults with a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities
Instructor and job coaches
Immersed in host business culture
Rotations through unpaid internships with continual feedback
Outcome of employment in the community 15

16. Project SEARCH: HUGE $ SAVER!
The Project SEARCH Definition of a Successful Outcome:
Competitive employment in an integrated setting
Year-round work
16 hours per week or more
Minimum wage or higher
273 programs in 44 states
2500 young people per year
60% healthcare, 40% broad mix of business types
68% employment
88% employee benefit eligible
35% take employee benefits, usually at 5 years
Benefits alone save roughly 1 million dollars over a lifetime
Family involvement curriculum to drive familial change in attitude 16

17. Project SEARCH: Serial Funding17

18. Theory of Change Needs to Work!
A + B + C = D
“Theory of change” must work. For example, ADA is necessary, but not sufficient.
Voc. Rehab. ALONE is not the answer.
Employers need to be a part of the new plan and the plan must match both the workforce needs of employers and the demographics and talents of the population
Focus on “Better Bottom Line”.
You or your chair should be on team. 18

19. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)
Maryland
80.1% of persons without disabilities aged 21 to 64 are employed.1
42.1% of PwDs aged 21 to 64 are employed.1
22,000 persons aged 16 to 20 have a disability.1
294,800 persons aged 21 to 64 have a disability.1
56,600 PwDs aged 18 to 64 receive benefits.1
Voc. Rehab. obtained 2,506 jobs for PwDs in MD in
Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)
2012 Disability Status Report: Maryland, disabiliystatistics.org
StateData: The National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes, 2013

20. Prevalence of disability among non-institutionalized people ages 16 to 20 in Maryland in 2012

21. Prevalence of disability among non-institutionalized people ages 21 to 64 in Maryland in 2012

22. Employment of non-institutionalized working-age people (ages 21 to 64) by disability status in Maryland in 2012

23. Employment of non-institutionalized working-age people (ages 21 to 64) by disability status in Maryland in 2012

24. Which employers in your state must meet 503 rules (hire PwDs)?
See:
How to get started:

25. Sources
StateData: The National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes, 2013 (data from 2012)
2012 Disability Status Report United States, Cornell University, 2012:
Fedspending:
Project SEARCH:
Job Accommodation Network:
RespectAbilityUSA:

26. Contact YOUR Governor 26

27. Let Us Know if We Can Help
We have many resources for policy makers and employers on our website and are ready to help!
RespectAbilityUSA
4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350
Bethesda, MD 20814
Cell: (202) 365 – 0787
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi
President