Off to Washington DC...

I have spent the past week in Washington DC taking the tempture of the political climate in terms of healthcare(which seems to be everyones focus in the beltway)and employment as it pertains to persons with disabilities. I often wonder wether we have truly done enough & if infact the disability community has been vocal enough in the trying times. Solutions are hard to come by BUT they are sorely needed. So let me put my hat in the ring and offer some thoughts. One, people with disabilities must be vigilant in this healthcare fight. This will impact so many facets of our lives. What can each of us do? As a citizen make your voices be heard - as the saying goes " Nothing About Us Without US" Writing or calling our Congressesmen or Senators is critical. Looking at the political landscape locally is important as well. The disability community is the "sleeping giant" among voters and as we gear up for 2010 our voices must be heard!

Jobs...Jobs..Jobs...

In this economy many of us are looking for jobs. But for people with disabilities this cannot be stated loudly enough. Having a job isn't solely about economic stability and indepence but identity. As for many a job helps define the person we are- it gives us a purpose every morning to get up & contribute to a larger goal. As we leave the month of October behind and National Disability Employment Awareness month is just a distant memory it is critical to understand that having a month to focus on employment in my mind defeats the purpose. We need to see this as both an economic and moral imperative. This is about the renewing of the contract with america & creating a vibrant workforce & develop innovative ideas for the new economy of the 21st Century. People with disabilities want to work! With an aging population & those in this demographic that want to work & have valuable intellectual capital American corporations must see this as a competitive advantage & must consider new approaches to hiring & retaining workers. Aside from that this pool of workers offers new opportunities for new business ventures that have only scratched the surface of what's possible.

As we inch closer to the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act America must look at itself & ask what progress have really made in reigniting the business of America.