Connecting Adults with Disabilities to Quality Jobs and Economic Mobility
Across the nation, cities and towns are recognizing that people with disabilities are an important part of the jobs solution. They represent a robust talent pool ready to learn, earn, and contribute to our local economies—however they still face stark employment inequities, including higher unemployment rates[1] and lower median incomes[2] than those without disabilities.
Municipal leaders are in a powerful position to act as changemakers, convenors, and innovators in catalyzing better collaboration around disability-inclusive employment and workforce development. In that spirit, the National League of Cities (NLC) is partnering with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED), an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Together, NLC and SEED are working to engage and support local leaders in developing and implementing inclusive workforce policies within municipal plans to increase quality job opportunities for people with disabilities. From inclusive infrastructure jobs and apprenticeships to mental health-friendly workplace practices, there are numerous strategies for advancing disability-inclusive career pathways.
To learn more, check out the resources and articles below:
Resources
Disability Employment
ADA30: Increasing Access and Opportunity
Campaign for Disability Employment: Resources for State and Local Agencies
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion—and Accessibility: How Cities Can Lead
Strategies to Help State and Local Governments Become Model Employers of People with Disabilities
Mental Health Workplace Policies & Practices
Inclusive Mental Health Policies: A Workforce Imperative
Advancing Inclusive Mental Health Policies in the Workplace
Exploring the Link Between Housing Stability and Mental Health
Inclusive Infrastructure Initiatives
America’s Cities: Where Infrastructure Can Mean Inclusion
Factoring Inclusion into Infrastructure-Related Initiatives
Designing Transit Safety for Americans with Disabilities
Using Universal Design to Create Safe, Welcoming and Joyful Spaces
For more information about our Postsecondary & Workforce Success initiatives, please contact educationexpandedlearning@nlc.org.
[1] https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/research-evaluation/statistics
[2] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/24/8-facts-about-americans-with-disabilities/