According to the U.S. Census Bureau, employment rates for working-age
individuals who are minorities are significantly lower than for the
non-minority population.
People with a
disability overall (population 21-64) |
52.3 |
76.9 |
26.1 |
African-American |
36.6 |
69.0 |
19.2 |
Asian/Pacific
Islander |
48.1 |
69.0 |
23.1 |
Native
American |
41.0 |
66.2 |
9.2 |
Hispanic
origin |
44.8 |
70.8 |
21.1 |
In order to address the employment issues facing minorities with
disabilities, the Office of Disability Policy (ODEP) has been working with
various minority organizations. In the last several months, the NAACP, the
National Urban League and ASPIRA have each formed partnerships with ODEP and
have made commitments to establish new High School/High Tech programs serving
minority youth with disabilities. The ODEP's High School/High Tech program is
designed to provide young people with disabilities opportunities to explore
high tech careers, and includes such activities as shadowing, mentoring, and
internships in technology-related businesses.
The NAACP's High School/High Tech program will serve Baltimore City. The
National Urban League has started two programs in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska.
ASPIRA has established its program in Newark, New Jersey. In addition to
serving minority students with disabilities, each of these three national
minority organization will use these demonstration programs as models to be
replicated by their members in other parts of the country.
At the invitation of NAACP's President and CEO Kweise Mfume, ODEP will
provide training on the employment of minorities with disabilities to NAACP's
national and regional leadership. This training, which is designed to raise the
level of the NAACP's awareness of and active involvement in these issues, will
be made available at a regional conference, as well as at the NAACP Annual
Convention in 2000.
The Office of Disability Employment Policy is pursuing similar
collaborative working relationships with other minority organizations, and
continues its collaborative working relationship with the Howard University
Research and Training Center (HURTC).
|