Executive Summary
The Rhodes to Independence Steering Committee (Rhodes) is a Rhode Island collaborative dedicated to identifying and removing barriers to employment for people with disabilities. Rhodes partners include an array of state agencies, private businesses, and health care professionals. Over the past year, their collaboration has culminated both in the identification of existing employment barriers and in the development of action plans to increase the employment of people with disabilities.
This executive summary of Rhodes findings falls into three related and sequential areas: Implications of Employment Differentials, Identification of Barriers to Employment, and Proposed Plans of Action.
Implications of Employment Differentials
In Rhode Island, like the rest of the United States, people with disabilities have a very low employment rate. Beyond the clear and deleterious impact on the state economy, the ramifications for people with disabilities are also substantial:
Gainful employment in the competitive market offers a chance to achieve financial independence and lead a life of dignity. Over the last year, the Rhodes to Independence collaborative has been compiling employment statistics; the list below is a combination of national disability research and local and statewide statistics:
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The Rhode Island employment rate of adults with disabilities, ages 21-64, is 58%1, while for non-disabled adults is 79%. This is a disparity of nearly 20%
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Surveys indicate that over 70% of people with disabilities would work if given the opportunity.
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Over 60% of Rhode Islanders with significant disabilities are sustained almost entirely by public subsidy, including Social Security Supplemental Insurance (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
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The majority of Rhode Islanders with disabilities do not have the opportunity to enter the workforce, pay taxes, contribute to the workplace, or reach financial independence.
Identified Barriers to Employment Faced by People with Disabilities
After extensive research, the Rhodes to Independence partners detailed the barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities. The barriers span an array of issues, including lack of information, public awareness, resources, and unforeseen institutional and programmatic barriers, all of which need to be carefully and systematically addressed before meaningful gains can be made.
These issues are:
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Lack of accurate and clear information about available resources that help people with disabilities enter the competitive workforce.
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A shortage of affordable and flexible transportation for people with disabilities.
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Trepidation amongst employers about recruiting, interviewing, and hiring people with disabilities.
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Unrealized potential in the workforce development system to facilitate the transition of people with disabilities into the workplace.
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State and governmental assistance programs that conceptualize people with disabilities as "beneficiaries" rather than "employees".
Proposed Plans of Action
The Rhodes collaborative has not only identified barriers to access, but has also outlined plans for remediation. The following list includes organizational and programmatic improvements, legislative initiatives, and advances in the implementation of existing support services:
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Pass Medicaid Buy-In legislation that will support people with disabilities in the workforce. The legislation would enable people with disabilities to earn more than a living wage and buy into the Medicaid system.
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Increase collaboration between public and private organizations to centralize and expand the employment services offered to people with disabilities.
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Expand the vocational rehabilitation services to facilitate the transition of people with disabilities into the workplace as quickly as possible.
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Fund non-traditional support services including transportation and assistive technology.
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Exempt work-related expenses from the calculation of earned income for Medicaid Buy-In eligibility
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Launch a multifaceted, public awareness campaign to increase the visibility of people with disabilities as valued employees and to advertise the availability of employment support resources for both job seekers and Rhode Island businesses.
This Rhodes to Independence Steering Committee overview outlines both the current state of employment for people with disabilities in Rhode Island and draws out targeted plans for action. It is incumbent upon both the private and public sectors to create a coordinated, effective, and comprehensive workforce development system that includes people with disabilities. This system is achievable in Rhode Island, and the benefits would be incalculable as people with disabilities attain greater economic independence. The recommendations for action outlined by the Rhodes Steering Committee various workgroups are designed to further the progress Rhode Island has made in serving all its citizens.
"…We all want to work. We can't…because [we] are afraid of losing benefits and I think its up to the government to help us. Something can be done; I know there can because we have smart people in the senate and the state."
Testimony, 2002 Public Forum
1 2000 U.S. Census Report. In Workgroup reports within this Steering Committee Final Report, the 1990 Census regarding the RI employment rate of adults with disabilities was cited as 37%. As the Final Report is being distributed after the 2000 Census information was published, the Steering Committee is reporting the latest figures. The difference in the two statistics is due to the following: The 1990 census was limited to people with restrictions on working, getting around outside or taking care of personal needs. The 2000 census however, included anyone with a long lasting condition, and then from that larger universe asked about restrictions on work, getting around or taking care of personal needs. Lastly, the 2000 census asked questions of children 5 years and over, while the 1990 census asked questions of children 15 years and over.
