Publisher's Synopsis
For many years individuals with disabilities have been less likely to be employed than their working age nondisabled peers. The demographic profile for disability cuts across race, gender, age, and geography. Individuals with disabilities are more likely to be unbanked (30%) and to underutilize tax provisions because of a lack of knowledge about the Earned Income Tax Credit, or due to fear of losing important benefits such as health care. They are almost three times as likely to live in poverty as any other group. The Workforce Investment Act, which became effective on July 1, 2000, has opened doors to unprecedented opportunities for jobseekers with disabilities to receive assistance and intensive services to match abilities and interests with employer needs. The U.S. Department of Labor's Offi ce of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), also advances opportunities for jobseekers with disabilities by providing national leadership in policy development that works to enhance employment profitability and advance economic self-sufficiency. ODEP accomplishes this through partnering with strategic stakeholders in asset development, developing research and training materials and financial education, and testing best practices through national policy demonstration projects. Th is white paper is an example of ODEP's research into best practices in asset development. New strategies are being pioneered across the country that address both the challenges of advancing employment options for individuals with disabilities and moving forward with options to advance their economic security and self-sufficiency. Collaboration between One-Stop Career Centers, the Disability Program Navigators (DPNs, ) and Asset Building Coalitions are reaching out to low-income workers with disabilities to help them to utilize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), financial education, and other savings and asset building options. DPNs are staff in over 40 states who help job seekers with disabilities navigate the local and state public systems of services to find the help they need to become employed and reach economic self-sufficiency. ETA and the Social Security Administration (SSA) jointly fund, implement, and evaluate this initiative designed to improve the workforce investment system's capacity to service customers with disabilities and employers. During the past three years, through a national campaign being led by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the National Disability Institute (NDI), individuals with disabilities have been encouraged to think about a better economic future that begins with participation in the workforce. The campaign, called "The Real Economic Impact Tour," is raising expectations about the value of work, saving, and asset building. This report focuses on three cities: Detroit, Jacksonville and Milwaukee, and the tie-in between the workforce development system and advancing self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. These three diverse cities, in partnership with their local free tax preparation and asset building coalition and the Workforce Development Centers, DPNs, and/or One Stop Career Centers, have partnered to educate and assist people with disabilities to:
