Let's Get to Work: Disability, Poverty and the American Jobs Act

by Frankie Mastrangelo, JFA Moderator

Although it’s no secret that we are in tough economic times, new data from the Census Bureau shows just how tough the times really are for people with disabilities. Last year, the nation’s poverty rate rose to 15.1 percent, the highest it’s been since 1993.  This is alarming in itself, but the numbers relating disability and poverty status are even more striking. In 2010, 27.9% of people with disabilities were living below the poverty line, compared to 12.5% of people without disabilities. People with disabilities are far more likely to live in poverty and householders with disabilities are, on average, earning less than half of those without disabilities. Last year, householders without disabilities’ earned a median income of $58,736/year while those with disabilities brought in an average of $25,550/year.

Not surprisingly, the data also reflects income drops for people both with and without disabilities. Yet despite a two-percent drop in median income --to $49,445-- workers without disabilities’ earned more than workers with disabilities.  Male workers without disabilities earned an average of $6,525 more than male workers with disabilities. Working women without disabilities earned $37,028/year compared with working women with disabilities, who earned $31,851 per year.

Today, White House officials will be hosting a live event to answer the public’s questions on President Obama’s job creation plan: the American Jobs Act.  The President says this plan will “put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans”. People with disabilities and our supporters need to know whether the AJA will put more Americans with Disabilities back to work.  If we are to change these Census numbers in years to come, our community needs jobs. Let’s make sure the administration hears our concerns and creates policy solutions that benefit all working Americans.

 

Comments

[Pjor Gjor Jori]

is this 16.8 % rate for those who did not look for a job in the last 12 months or those who looked and looked and did not know what the hell to do or those who are posting and getting pissed

[Gwendolyn Patterson]

I took a reasonable accommodation of a modified work schedule. My work hours are 30 per week instead of 37.5. My employer has those who use an accommodation pay more for health care than full time employees. This may be a reason for the poverty of people with disabilities.

[Ida Therese Jablanovec]

Gwendolyn,

At least you have insurance. Even if there is a chance that I will be hired in the future, my Congressman informed me that I'm uninsurable because of my disability and the amount of money Medicare has spent on me. I hold professional licensure and I can't find a job. My professional organizations (I belong to several) leadership has suggested that I recreate myself as a consultant to those who have to retake the professional licensing exam, because they did not have their professional license renewed within 5 years.

I had to retake my exam, and as expected, I ACED it, again!

So I created a course outline and syllabus. Then, I was informed that only 2-3 people a month inquired about renewing their license!

The professional journal's ad space fees are astronomical ( get several journals ) and I could perhaps recover my ad expense if at least two people a month would take my course.

I have to re-invent myself.

So, I've purchased websites:

www.SaloonPoetry.com and www.GreenPoetry.com

I invented the artform of "saloon" poetry at the same time that Marc Smith invented "slam" poetry here in Chicago.

So I've gone from being an RN (Registered Nurse) to an entreprenuer. I have to market this product, poetry, in a way that it's never been marketed before. Poets don't care about money and consequently, poetry does not pay well.

My book,

STRAY BULLETS: A Celebration of Chicago Saloon Poetry, Tia Chucha Press, Chicago, 1991

is available at amazon.com

In the mean time I'm working with the SBA (Small Business Administration) and SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) to get my poetry websites up and running. I'm doing a raindance, to make rain for everyone involved in the project.

If someone out there knows how to build an interactive website using www.wordpress.com please contact me.

Ida Therese Jablanovec
Chicago, IL
773-742-9665
itjcom@sbcglobal.net

[Ida Therese Jablanovec]

That's

Ida Therese Jablanovec, RN

My Congressman at the time, was the Honorable Rahm Emanuel. His lawyers took the State of Illinois to Court to demand that the State allow me to renew my license despite my being disabled.

The State relented but said that since my license had not been renewed in over 5 years, I must retake the NCLEX (National licensing exam).

I didn't mind.

But it brought home how poorly the handicapped, which is a community I am now a member of, are treated.

I joined NOND, National Organization of Nurses Disabled, based at the University of Illinois.

Recently, my powerchair began to really, really slow down, only about one hour's worth of power before I had to recharge it.

No one would service it!

My current Congressman, Mike Quigley, contacted Medicare on my behalf and in their letter to the Congressman Medicare informed him that Medicare CANNOT compel any company to service my powerchair.

The medical supply companies are PO'd at Medicare reimbursement amounts and how long it take Medicare to pay.

Medical Supply Vendors need to be made responsible for the product they sell. Every sale should come with a warranty.

[Therese Shellabarger]

I'm hard of hearing. I work normal hours, my preferred work is electronics assembly, soldering and that kind of thing. It's tricky to find the right workplace because I also have asthma, and I discovered that if the employer doesn't have good ventilation, the fumes can really make my asthma worse. Fortunately, I'm in a good place now, but I have to say, I don't get rich doing this. It's not easy to get decent work when you can't hear well, because most jobs require telephone work, and I hate answering telephones. The recession has made it hard to move on to new jobs, so I hope I don't have to for awhile. I feel very lucky to have a job and the statistics on people with disabilities just underscores the point.

[Lisa Franklin]

AJA...All Americans! Yes, Ida Therese, you are absolutely right, persons with disabilities are still being disrespected in this country. I blame that on the stigmas put in place many years ago. WE need a new level of awareness and education. The politicians should continue to rally around all incentives and intiatives that include persons with disabilities. I had no idea the barriers I would face, after a drunk driver changed my life forever. Now living my life using a wheelchair for mobility, the barriers in my own home, not covered by insurance, transportation, restaurants, movies and even going to worship service were an unimaginable task. Persons with disabilities are very strong and independent individuals, who have families to support and bills to pay. If life insurance will insure us without an examine, then why can't we work and earn the same salaries as our counterparts so that our familes don't have to wait until we parrish to have the bare neccessities of life! WE want to work, are dependable and hardworking. Part of that can be attributed to the stigmas. Nevertheless, we are no different than the next. WE may use assistive devices to hear, see or get around but believe it or not we are STILL AMERICANS! INCLUSION equals All Americans...Let's Go to Work!!!!

[Lisa Franklin]

If a person with a disability can work with reasonable accomodations than why should they have to forfeit their SSDI benefits to work. If for any reason, they cannot work any longer, there is a process to reapply for benefits which places that person with a disability in limbo to provide for themselves and their families. Thus placing fear in a person who may have potential to work. Something should be done to bridge the gap from SSDI to Full-time employment back to SSDI.

[edith]

people who need assistance are treated even worse since assistance is looked down upon in this culture. i have neurological disabilities and since i need assistance i cannot earn a steady income other than unsteady adjunct college teaching and i am pursuing my Phd. therefore, i am poor because my disabilities impair everything except intelligence (impair mobility, judgment, perceptual, balance, coordination). edith

[Sheri]

Disabled people need help with creating their own business. The disability act is not worth much more than the paper it was printed on, because an employer can find plenty of reasons to fire you. What if you can't work several hours straight? What if you need to take a short nap? Employers are not going to allow that! In this economy, there are so many able bodied workers that they can get anyone. There needs to also be an increase in resources allowed on SSI and in the amount of money that can be earned while on SSI.
People want to just write off those who have chronic health problems. There are intelligent and creative people who can help their communities and the economy. I have yet to see a politician do what they NEED to do.