Disabled discrimination and workplace ableism must end.
The issue of lack of employment for disabled people needs to be fixed today with anti-ableism policies and programs, in the short-term, and a shift in social and cultural attitudes, in the long-term.
While disability is a functional impairment that could be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or a combination of these, it is not a measure of the content of a man. Ableism should not be off of society’s reform agenda, or to remain a non-issue in the 21st century. While as an autistic man I struggle, I envision and yearn a future more embracing of people like me.
Disabled people have a right to have a good productive life without the unnecessary problems that ableism and other forms of discrimination presents. Ableism is the discrimination against people born differently-abled. This issue is part of a moral issue that shows that how a person is born which they have no control over affects their status in life. Ableism is akin to racism. It also adversely shapes the experiences, life outcomes, and social status of individuals who are born to be different. The disabled are discriminated against in employment thus making social programs like SSI and food stamps a necessity for the disabled’s survival if they do not have family or friends to help them. Disabled people deserve to be employed, treated fairly, and not be discriminated against because of their disability, no matter what it is.
My research on disabled unemployment shows that disabled people have a massive disadvantage in employment and society as a whole. According to the United States Department of Labor, the employment rate for the disabled was 18.7 percent in 2017 while the employment rate for the non-disabled was 65.7 percent. Of those 18.7, 32 percent of those were employed part-time. These statistics show that disabled who are employed are more likely to be self-employed than the non-disabled. Full-time disabled workers make $10,000 less a month than non-disabled full-time workers. These statistics show that it is easy to understand that there’s a problem concerning the disabled and the factors of their unemployment and employment.
Throughout October 2018, as we observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities, critical dialogue should be raised during this time in the media and online. Critical action must be done to combat ableism and discrimination in the 21st century.
Funds are needed to employ the 81.3 percent unemployed disabled who want and need employment by assigning them livable wage full-time jobs with tax breaks for the businesses that decided to participate in the program. The money would come from taxpayers and donations. Te disabled would have a purpose; it will make them productive members of society. This will improve their social skills by interacting with customers and improving their social skills. This would also give a tax write off for companies and other incentives for companies and give them positive publicity. This would be the first step to resolve a decades-old problem that hasn’t had dialogue during this pivotal time in civil rights.
We must have more education about disabilities to eliminate ableism. We must emphasize educating employers on the disabled in as a focus in next years budget to start results immediately. State officials need to do that and make the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) known to all employers and job seekers to let them know their rights and not be taken advantage of because of ignorance.
Creating social media accounts to raise awareness about this issue and gather support would be the crucial first step. Social media, including Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit are some of the most prominent outlets for social justice and policy reform in this generation, and they will be used to gather the biggest audience possible and to ensure everybody hears about this. Social media has the power to change peoples minds and raise awareness for causes that were unknown before social media reported on it. Another campaign based on outside interaction with the public will involve protests and brochures, cards and papers. Having an extreme commitment to raising funds for this goal in any way possible including internet-based funding and donations is another key to solving this problem. Consider this proposal by looking at the facts and come to the same conclusion and help with this goal. The numerous disabled people that are unemployed and discriminated against deserve a chance to have an equal opportunity the same as the non-disabled. These courses of action are the right thing to do in that it reflects the changing climate in our times.
Christopher Tucker is a Masters of Social Work student at the University of Southern California. He has high-functioning autism and is a leader in ending ableism.
