Survey reveals concerns of disability community
People with disabilities face numerous disadvantages and are pessimistic about their futures, according to the National Organization on Disability's (NOD) 2004 NOD/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities.
The survey, which is released during presidential election years, shows that only 34 percent of people with disabilities are "very satisfied" with life in general, compared to 61 percent of people without disabilities. In addition, while 75 percent of people without disabilities expect their lives to improve in the next four years, only 43 percent of people with disabilities share that sentiment. And 56 percent of respondents with disabilities said their disability has prevented them from achieving their full potential as a person.
"Progress is too slow, and the gaps are still too large," said NOD President Alan A. Reich. "Looking back four years, or 10 years, to our earlier NOD/Harris surveys, we see Americans with disabilities heading in the right direction. But people with disabilities remain pervasively disadvantaged."
More than two-thirds of respondents with disabilities - 69 percent - said their
disability kept them from participating fully in major life activities, such as work or school.
People with disabilities are also less likely to participate in social and religious activities, more likely to have personal health concerns, and more likely to be worried about long-term care issues than people without disabilities. For example, 52 percent of people with disabilities are at least somewhat worried that they will not be able to care for themselves in the future; only 28 percent of people without disabilities share that concern.
These concerns may be drawing the disability community closer together, however. Among survey respondents with disabilities, 85 percent said they had at least some sense of common identity with other people with disabilities.
Visit www.nod.org to download a copy of the survey.
At a glance: Other survey highlights
Issue - % of People with disabilities vs. % of People without disabilities
I have been refused a job because of a disability. 31% --
I am employed at least part-time. 28% 68%
I have a household income of less than $15,000 per year. 26% 9%
I am in poor health. 23% 1%
I have less than a high school education. 21% 11%
Inadequate transportation is a major problem for me. 17% 5%
I lack assistive technology that would make my life better. 17% --
Source: 2004 NOD/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities
Register now for Council's 2004 Conference
The Annual Conference for People with Disabilities will be held Nov. 8-9 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.
Keynote speakers for the "Changing Our Future Today" Conference include:
- Elmer Cerano, futurist, who will provide a thought-provoking commentary about the future for people with disabilities.
- Curt Decker, executive director of the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems and chairman of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, who will interpret the 2004 election and what it means to the disability community.
- Toy inventors Charlie and Maria Girsch, who have licensed more than 200 toy and game ideas worldwide and are co-authors of Fanning the Creative Spirit, a guide to creativity tools and techniques. They will challenge attendees to think creatively as we search for new solutions to disability issues.
A wide variety of workshops will teach attendees about disability issues and help them hone their advocacy skills.
You should receive your registration form in the mail early this month. The scholarship application deadline is Sept. 27, and the registration deadline is Oct. 25.
Legislation could affect people with disabilities
As the November elections approach, Congress is considering legislation focusing on a number of issues of concern to people with disabilities. Those bills include the following:
- Appropriations - As the legislative session comes to a close, advocates expect several appropriations bills to again be combined into one large "omnibus" bill. Advocates are watching the process carefully to help stave off potential cuts to human services programs.
- Family Opportunity Act (S. 622, H.R. 1811) - This allows middle-income families to buy into the Medicaid program on behalf of children with disabilities. While the Senate passed its version of the bill in May, the House has not taken any action on its version of the bill.
- Improving Access to Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (H.R. 4278) - The House passed this legislation unanimously in June, and the Senate referred it to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
- Workforce Investment Act (S. 1627, H.R. 1261) - This contains the reauthorization of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and other provisions important to people with disabilities. Both the House and Senate passed their own versions of the bill, but the Senate has not yet appointed members to the conference committee. Advocates do not expect progress this year.
Visit thomas.loc.gov to follow the progress of these and other bills.
Disability community faces pervasive unemployment
Every September we observe Labor Day - the unofficial end of summer and a
celebration of the hard-working spirit of millions of Americans. But people with
disabilities, who have the highest unemployment rate of any minority group in the nation,
are often denied the opportunity to join the workforce.
The 2004 National Organization on Disability/ Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, released in June, shows unemployment and its consequences are a major concern for the disability community. Among people with disabilities:
- 28 percent are employed at least part-time, compared to 68 percent of people without disabilities.
- 31 percent have been refused a job because of a disability, and 27 percent have been refused an interview.
- 63 percent of those who are not currently working would prefer to work.
- 46 percent have a household income of $25,000 or less per year.
To help combat such concerns, the Office of Disability Employment Policy each year declares October to be National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In addition, the national Disability Mentoring Day is Oct. 20. Visit www.dol.gov/odep for more information.
State offers residents free software package
The state of Indiana is now offering its residents a full package of software programs for personal use at no cost. The SimIndiana package includes a word processor, e-mail program, address book, spreadsheet, personal calendar, notebook and file manager.
"SimIndiana is the first statewide technology inclusion program of its kind, and we are
making it available to all Hoosiers at no cost," said Indiana Lieutenant Governor Kathy Davis. "This eliminates the economic barriers that have prevented some people from utilizing and benefiting from technology."
Those economic barriers are of particular concern for the disability community, because people with disabilities have a high unemployment rate and, consequently, lower average incomes.
Another advantage of the software is that it allows users to access their files from multiple locations; files can be saved on the SimIndiana server rather than an individual computer's hard drive.
Visit www.simindiana.com for more information or to download the software package. The installation CD is also available at participating libraries and community centers.
Evansville native carries Olympic torch
In June, the Olympic flame visited St. Louis as part of the global Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. Celebrities and former Olympians were on hand to carry the torch. Among them was Evansville resident Scott Guzzo, son of former Council board member Paula Guzzo.
After carrying the torch, Guzzo passed it to Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, who set an Olympic record in 1964 in the 10,000-meter track and field event.
The torch relay was held in St. Louis to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of
St. Louis' own Olympic Games. Other U.S. stops included Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York. The Olympic flame returned to Greece on July 9, having visited 26 countries.
Local team wins power soccer tourney
In June, more than 130 athletes with disabilities from all over the world gathered
in Indianapolis for the International Power Soccer Tournament. Twenty teams from the United States, Canada, France and Japan competed in three days
of games.
An Indianapolis team, Sudden Impact, placed first in the B division, followed by teams from North Carolina and California. Sudden Impact's Jordan Dickey was the B-division one-on-one champion.
Team Japan claimed victory in the A division, with U.S. teams placing second and third.
Power soccer is played on a basketball court, and athletes use motorized wheelchairs equipped with plastic bumpers to propel an oversized ball toward the goals.
Of Note
Forum explores arts careers for people with disabilities
The Indiana Art Works: Employing Creativity Forum will be held Oct. 5-6 at the ISTA Center in Indianapolis. The focus of the event will be arts-related careers for people with disabilities. Call (317) 251-9754 (voice) or visit www.vsai.org/ArtWorks for more information or to register. Cost is $25 per person; registration is due Sept. 24.
Register now for Arc of Indiana convention
The Arc of Indiana 2004 convention and annual meeting will be held Oct. 14 at
the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Lebanon, Ind. Cost is $25 for self-advocates, $50 for family members and non-professional advocates, and $75 for service providers and other professionals. (This does not include room rental fees.) For a registration form, call (800) 382-9100 (voice) or visit www.arcind.org/2004_convention_registration_ for.htm. Registration forms are due Oct. 1.
Oct. 20 is Disability Mentoring Day
The Office of Disability Employment Policy has named Oct. 20 as Disability Mentoring Day. Employers are encouraged to offer job shadowing and hands-on career exploration opportunities to youth and adults with disabilities on this day as part of October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Visit www.dol.gov/odep for more information.
Save the date!
The 2004 Conference for People with Disabilities will be held Nov. 8-9.
Register now!
The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 2 election is Oct. 4
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