Press Releases
AAPD Praises President Obama and U.S. Labor Department for Proposed Regulations to Promote Opportunity for Job Seekers with Disabilities
December 8, 2011 | AAPD Press Team
WASHINGTON, DC – December 8, 2011 – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest cross-disability membership organization, today praised the President Obama and the U.S. Labor Department for issuing a proposed rule that would require federal contractors to set goals that 7% of their work forces be individuals with disabilities.
The Proposed rule would implement Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires federal contractors to promote employment opportunity for people with disabilities. Although Section 503 was enacted almost 40 years ago, it has never been enforced or clarified to the extent necessary, requiring employers only to make a “good faith” effort to hire people with disabilities. This rule establishes an explicit benchmark of 7% and includes data collection and record keeping requirements that will improve employer accountability.
“Unemployment and poverty rates among people with disabilities far exceed the rates in the general population,” said AAPD President and CEO Mark Perriello. “People with disabilities and employers alike will benefit from this rule. Job seekers with disabilities will have access to more opportunities. Federal contractors will experience greater diversity in their workforces and benefit from the contributions that people with disabilities are qualified and eager to make,” he added.
The notice of proposed rulemaking is posted at http://www.regulations.gov Members of the public can submit comments through the website.
“I encourage people with disabilities, civil rights advocates, employers, and others to show our support for this groundbreaking proposal. Americans believe in opportunity for all, and our work to establish equal opportunity for people with disabilities is far from complete,” said Perriello. “This is a step in the right direction. We must all work together to ensure that Section 503 is finally enforced,” he added.
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The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership association, organizes the disability community to be a powerful force for change – politically, economically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more, visit the AAPD Web site: www.aapd.com.
Press Contact
Lara Schwartz, VP of External Affairs
Phone: 202-521-4309
Mobile: 202-253-5370
LSchwartz@aapd.com
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