Wilson Resources, Inc. A Successful Public-Private Partnership SI SINGLE FACE OF GOV’T Working with Employers
Presenter Leslie Wilson President/CEO Wilson Resources, Inc. 2908 Capital Park Drive Tallahassee, FL 32301 850/386-2022 Email: lesliew@wilres.com Working with Employers
Introduction People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group. There are 54 million Americans with disabilities (1 in 5 Americans). Working with Employers
Introduction “Employment is the largest gap area for people with disabilities, with 35% of people with disabilities working full or part-time as compared to 78% of the rest of the population.” “The 2004 Harris Survey on Disability Trends” Conducted by The National Organization on Disability (NOD) Working with Employers
Introduction “Two out of three (63%)of those who are not working would prefer to work.” “The 2004 Harris Survey on Disability Trends” Conducted by The National Organization on Disability (NOD) Working with Employers
Introduction ► Since 1986, 18 years ago, the employment rate for ALL people with disabilities has only increased ONE PERCENT (34% in 1986 vs. 35% in 2004) 65% unemployment rate “The 2004 Harris Survey on Disability Trends” Conducted by The National Organization on Disability (NOD) Working with Employers
Introduction ► For people with more severe disabilities, the employment report is even bleaker. Only one in five Americans with severe disabilities has at least a part-time job 79% unemployment rate “The 2004 Harris Survey on Disability Trends” Conducted by The National Organization on Disability (NOD) Working with Employers
The Employment Puzzle There are Four Critical Pieces to the Employment Puzzle: 1. Individuals who want to work 2. Government Commitment 3. Provider Commitment SI SINGLE 4. EMPLOYERS FACE OF GOV’T Working with Employers
Business Commitment U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: American businesses will face a shortage of 10,000,000 workers SI SINGLE by 2010 (151 million vs. 141 million) FACE OF GOV’T Website: www.usbln.com Working with Employers
Business Commitment U.S. Chamber of Commerce Position on Hiring Workers with Disabilities In October 2003, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Dept. of Education released a guidebook for employers titled , Disability Employment 101: Learn to SI SINGLE Tap Your “Hire” Potential FACE OF GOV’T For a copy: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/products/employmentguide/ Or call the Chamber’s Center for Workforce Preparation at: 202 -463-5525 Working with Employers
Business Commitment U.S. Chamber of Commerce Position on Hiring Workers with Disabilities Also published: Disability: Dispelling the Myths SI SINGLE Center for Workforce Preparation FACE OF An Affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce GOV’T For copies, go to: www.uschamber.com/cwp Or phone the Chamber’s Center for Workforce Preparation at: 202 -463-5525 Working with Employers
Business Commitment U.S. Chamber of Commerce Position on Hiring Workers with Disabilities “… Employers tell us that, once hired, this labor source provides some of the best employees within a corporation. They are SI SINGLE generally dependable, dedicated, FACE OF hardworking, and productive. ” GOV’T U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue October 2003 Working with Employers
Business Commitment “Hiring a worker with a disability is both a retention and an employment strategy – workers with disabilities have higher than average retention rates and company loyalty.” “Disability: Dispelling the Myths” Center for Workforce Preparation An Affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Working with Employers
Business Commitment A 2002 survey of 255 supervisors of employees with disabilities found that their supervisors are satisfied with their overall performance and productivity,and that they perform as well or better than their peers without disabilities. Working with Employers
Business Commitment Most workers with disabilities are not job hoppers! Working with Employers
Business Commitment What Florida employers have to say about their employees with disabilities. Working with Employers
Employer Testimonial Pictured: Swanzetta Green, Receptionist, with Dan Hughen “ As with many employers, we initially had some reservations about hiring an individual with a disability, but after working with Swanzetta for the past several years, I wish everyone at our office had the same professionalism she displays day after day. People with disabilities are people. You get the same range of personalities as you do with people without obvious disabilities. Considering people with disabilities will increase your chances of finding the quality employees you are looking for.” D an Hughen United Way of Big Bend, Tallahassee, FL Working with Employers
Employer Testimonial Pictured: Emmie Ledsinger, Marion Roberts and Queenell Fox “Marion is the data specialist for the Prospect Research Department and has proved to be one of the best employees the FSU Foundation has hired. On one hand, Marion is just the same as every other employee at the Foundation, but on the other hand, we cannot say enough good things about her…Her boss’s only fear is that Marion will be stolen by another department.” Queenell Fox Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Working with Employers
Employer Testimonial Picutred: Barbara Torres, Hostess, with Robert Friedman “Hiring a person with a disability is a win -win-win. The employer wins, the employee wins and our community wins.” Robert Friedman Partner Holland and Knight LLP Working with Employers
Business Commitment Why do so many people with disabilities remain unemployed? Working with Employers
Business Commitment Employer Myth #1 : “Accommodations are too expensive!” Most accommodations (81%) cost under $100 and 73% of employers found that their employees with disabilities did not require accommodations. Working with Employers
Business Commitment Employer Myth #2 : “I’ll be sued!” Very few businesses experience disability-related claims. In a 2003 survey, 91% of respondents indicated that they were not aware of any ADA complaints filed against their companies in the last 12 months. EEOC FY2005 data show that people with disabilities filed fewer claims than people of color, gender or age. Working with Employers
Business Commitment Consumers with disabilities represent an enormous market niche. People with disabilities have a combined income of more than $1 trillion with $220 billion in discretionary income. In comparison, the teen market controls $140 billion. “Disability: Dispelling the Myths” Center for Workforce Preparation An Affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Working with Employers
Business Commitment Working with Employers
Business Commitment Marketing studies have shown that 54% of households patronize businesses that feature people with disabilities in their ads. Disability friendly businesses earn the lucrative and loyal patronage of people with disabilities, their families and friends “Disability: Dispelling the Myths” Center for Workforce Preparation An Affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Working with Employers
Business Commitment A national survey of 803 consumers randomly selected from across the U.S., found that 92% felt more favorable toward companies that hire people with disabilities and 87% said they would prefer to give their business to such companies. Among those surveyed, hiring people with disabilities ranked third behind offering health insurance to all employees and protecting the environment. A National Survey of Consumer Attitudes Toward Companies That Hire People with Disabilities Center for Social Development and Education, University of Massachusetts, in collaboration with the America’s Strength Foundation and The Gallup Organization Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, January 2006 Working with Employers
Business Leadership Networks The purpose of the BLNs is to create awareness of the skills and abilities of workers with disabilities through the organization of an SI SINGLE employer-to-employer FACE OF GOV’T network. Working with Employers
Business Leadership Networks Organization of the local Florida BLNs is funded by grants from the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities and SI SINGLE Workforce Florida, Inc. FACE OF GOV’T Working with Employers
Business Leadership Networks The BLNs are affiliated with The Able Trust’s* Statewide BLN Steering Committee *Also known as the Florida Governor's Alliance SI SINGLE for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities – www.abletrust.org FACE OF and GOV’T The United States BLN Website: www.usbln.com Working with Employers
Business Leadership Networks Staff support is provided by Wilson Resources, Inc. SI SINGLE FACE OF GOV’T Working with Employers
Business Leadership Networks The Miami-Dade Business Leadership Network (BLN) The first meeting was held in SI SINGLE April 2004, hosted by FACE OF Holland and Knight LLC GOV’T and Best Buddies Jobs. Working with Employers
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