National Governors Association Addresses Employment of People with Disabilities

August 2013 — The National Governors Association (NGA) held its 105^th Summer Meeting, providing an opportunity for governors from all states to convene and “share experiences and discuss critical issues facing [the] states.”  One key issue considered during the three-day meeting was that of employment of people with disabilities. NGA Chair and Delaware Governor Jack Markell released A Blueprint for Governors, a report highlighting employment strategies determined during the year-long NGA Initiative “A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities.” A Blueprint for Governors emphasizes that people with disabilities are a key part of the workforce and that states should “make disability employment part of the state workforce development strategy” in addition to working to prepare youth with disabilities for the future workforce. The report also notes that states need to support businesses working to hire people with disabilities by serving as a model employer and providing businesses with a point of contact at the state level who can provide information on disability services, assistive technology and vocational rehabilitation. Governor Markell noted, ”A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities looks at ways both state government and businesses can partner to bring opportunities to individuals with disabilities in the competitive labor market. We’re making strides on this front, but the work is far from over.”