Monday, February 12, 2007

Report finds low employment rate for disabled Hispanics

As a physically disabled Hispanic in the U.S. the following disturbs me: a report entitled Proyecto Visión and recently released by the World Institute on Disability showed that Hispanics with disabilities suffer from a very low employment rate. According to the director of the report:

“Many disabled Latinos live down to…diminished expectations. They become overwhelmed by isolation, are disconnected from the service delivery system and don't have disabled Latino professionals to look up to or network with. Unfortunately, even those who do access resources often are not receiving appropriate service.”

Not all the news in the Proyecto Visión is grim, however, in that it describes several steps that can be taken to improve vocational programs as well as how employers can better attract disabled Hispanics into the workforce. Hopefully necessary improvements can be taken by the government and the private sector in order to improve the lives of disabled Hispanics who face the difficulties of belonging to at least two minorities groups in the U.S.

Links- Ability Magazine, proyectovision.net

Image- retailacademy.org

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