The Jackie Robinson Strategy

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President

www.RespectAbilityUSA.org
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Challenges
57 million Americans with disabilities are largely
viewed with PITY, not for their ABILITIES

Approximately 70% of working-age Americans with
disabilities dont have jobs. No improvement in the
24 years since passage of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).

Indeed, the gap between % of people with and
without disabilities in the workforce INCREASED!



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While women and minority groups have been able to enter the
workforce, the employment gap between Americans with and
without work limitations has expanded. (Civilians aged 16-64)





Trend line based on a work limitation measure of disability --- Do you have
a disability or health condition that limits the kind or amount of work you can
do?
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Increase in Disability Rolls Due to Aging Baby
Boomers, But $ Savings will Come with Young
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Research conducted by the Disability Compendium shows a
stark contrast between the percentage of people with and
without disabilities who are outside of the workforce:




Employment Rate, 2012
By Disability Type

75%
0
20
40
60
80
No Disability Disability Hearing Vision Cognitive Ambulatory Self-Care Ind. Living
33%
49%
23%
24%
16%
15%
37%
Source: Disability Compendium
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1. The majority of Americans with disabilities who are working-age want to
work. They represent a talent pool of 9 million Americans who can make
companies and organizations stronger and better.

2. Hiring people with disabilities
can make companies more
profitable. Nationally Walgreens,
EY, AMC & others have found this
to be true as employees with
disabilities, when aligned with
their talents and interests, are
more productive, loyal and have
fewer work place accidents than
employees without disabilities.
3. Hiring Americans with disabilities
can save money for taxpayers. The
U.S. spends billions each year on
benefits to people who, in most
cases, would rather have a hand up
than a hand out. They need to be
included in employment because of
the talents they bring to the table.
Their work and commitments to
success can be a part of how the U.S.
can compete successfully.

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More Than Half of Likely Voters are Connected to Someone
with a Disability
Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?
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Party Identification
Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?
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No Downside for Candidates to Support Policies for Those
with Disabilities
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55
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More likely Less likely No difference
Much more likely Much less likely
Would you be more or less likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who is committed to
making policies and programs to help those with disabilities a national priority, or would it
make no difference to your vote?
+41
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Opportunities
503 Rules Create New Opportunities for Inclusive
Federal Contractors (7% of workforce to be people with
disabilities), 402 works for veterans.

WIOA passed Senate 95-3, House 416-6, President will
sign it TODAY.

WIOA: EVERY STATE must produce a unified strategic
plan for providing training, employment services and
vocational education in a coordinated way.



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Fedspending.org
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Example: Contracts
Performed in Wisconsin (FY 2011)

Top 5 Contractor Parent Companies:
Oshkosh Corporation
$4,720,688,212
Wisconsin Physicians Service
Insurance Corporation
$148,403,532
General Electric Company
$104,174,979
National Presto Industries Inc.
$104,079,936
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
$65,551,668


http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?&fiscal_year=2011&stateCode=WI
&sortp=u&datype=T&reptype=p&database=fpds&detail=0
First African American to play in Major League
Baseball in the modern era, starting in 1947.
By starting him at first base, the Brooklyn
Dodgers ended racial segregation in the MLB
under the leadership of Branch Rickey with the
full support of the team.
When they hired Jackie, the Dodgers enjoyed
more athletic success, sold more tickets, and
gained a larger fan base.
Jackies Athletic Awards:
Selected for six consecutive All-Star Games (1949
1954)
Won the National League Most Valuable Player Award
in 1949
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962

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Jackie Robinson
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Superstars with Disabilities
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Albert Einstein:
Autism Spectrum
Thomas
Jefferson:
Dyslexia
Ludwig von
Beethoven:
Deaf
Frida Kahlo: Post-
polio syndrome &
Spina bifida
Peter Falk:
Used prosthetic
eye
Christopher
Reeve:
Quadriplegia
Franklin D.
Roosevelt: Post-
polio syndrome
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Superstars with Disabilities
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Derrick Coleman:
Deaf
Richard Branson:
Dyslexia
Lauren Potter:
Down
syndrome
Stephen
Hawking: ALS
Stevie Wonder:
Blind
Whoopi Goldberg:
Dyslexia
Amy Purdy: Uses
prosthetic legs
Marlee Matlin:
Deaf
Peter Orfalea:
ADD/ADHD &
Dyslexia
Michael J. Fox:
Parkinsons
Disease
Find Your Employer Heroes
Every state needs at least 200 leadership employers.
Walgreens, EY, AMC Theaters, Hospitals, Senior living
among others have found they can do good and do
well at the same time.



http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=
4272981&page=1#.UcyOVD7wKA0

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/night
ly-news/19562689#19562689
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EY (Ernst & Young)
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Professional employment
opportunities
One school year or 9 months
10 12 young adults with a variety of
intellectual and developmental disabilities
Instructor and job coaches
Immersed in host business culture
Rotations through unpaid internships with
continual feedback
Outcome of employment in the community
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Project SEARCH: Program Description
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The Project SEARCH Definition
of a Successful Outcome:
Competitive employment in
an integrated setting
Year-round work
16 hours per week or more
Minimum wage or higher

273 programs in 44 states
2500 young people per year
60% healthcare, 40% broad
mix of business types
68% employment
88% employee benefit
eligible
35% take employee benefits,
usually at 5 years
Benefits alone save roughly 1
million dollars over a lifetime
Family involvement
curriculum to drive familial
change in attitude

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Project SEARCH: HUGE $ SAVER!
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Project SEARCH: Serial Funding
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Lessons Learned from Project SEARCH
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The Wisconsin Board for People with
Developmental Disabilities has created a
PROMISE grant, which includes work experiences
and apprenticeships.
Lets Get to Work results have shown that a
combination of strategies aimed at youth, family,
community/employer expectations, and service
systems get the full return on investment.
If only 10% of youth enrolled in PROMISE are off
SSI cash benefits as a result of the project, the
entire $32.5 million grant pays for itself!
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PROMISE Grant
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Poll: Greatest Barriers to Finding Job with Competitive Wages
(chart shows answers from 720 PwDs seeking employment)




7%
12%
0
0
6%
6%
6%
6%
10%
14%
15%
18%
7%
10%
1%
1%
4%
8%
9%
9%
12%
13%
13%
14%
Other
N/A
I don't really want to work
My family doesn't want me to work
I don't interview well due to my disability
Employers are afraid of legal issues surrounding hiring PwDs
I am overqualified for most jobs I am offered
I Don't Have Enough Training or Education
Transportation Issues
Employers think I will be less successful than someone without a disability
If I work too much I will lose government benefits that I need
Health or Medical Issues
1st Choice
2nd Choice
32%
28%
27%
22%
15%
10%
15%
14%
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National Disability Coalition
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Established by Social Security.
Gives stakeholders the opportunity to share
their ideas and experiences directly with
policy makers.
Online forum three times per year starts
Sept. 24, 2014.


http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ndc/index.htm
Impactful Change for PwDs to Find Work



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F/F/P/V Friends, Family, Professionals and Volunteers
What do you think would make the most impact in helping people
with disabilities to find a job?
PwD
Combined
F/F/P/V
Combined
Change in attitudes so that employers see the positive value of hiring
people with disabilities.
40% 38%
More training for employers on successfully recruiting, hiring, and
accommodating employees with disabilities.
37% 34%
A change in disability benefits so that recipients could work without
risking losing them altogether.
41% 30%
Better school-based training and transition services to prepare
people with disabilities for work.
20% 29%
More internship and early work opportunities for young people with
disabilities.
20% 26%
More and better programs that assist people with disabilities with
finding work.
23% 25%
More government incentives and laws for companies to hire people
with disabilities.
21% 19%



Survey Fielded November 6 December 2, 2013 3839 Respondents, 1969 People with
Disabili es 17

What one word or phrase sums up the biggest obstacle to
people with disabili es finding and succeeding in a job?
(answer included, but not limited to)
Word Clouds are generated from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.
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What one word or phrase sums up the biggest obstacle to
people with disabilities finding and succeeding in a job?
(answer included, but not limited to)


National Governors Association
Jobs for People with Disabilities
Governor Jack Markell of Delaware
Past Chair, National Governors Association



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Key NGA Recommendations
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1. Make disability employment part of the state
workforce development strategy.
2. Find and support businesses in their efforts to
employ people with disabilities.
3. Be a model employer by increasing the number of
people with disabilities working in state government.
4. Prepare youth with disabilities for careers that use
their full potential, providing employers with a
pipeline of skilled workers.
5. Make the best use of limited resources to advance
employment opportunities for people with
disabilities.

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Theory of Change Needs to Work!
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A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H = SUCCESS
Voc. Rehab. ALONE is not the answer.
You cant push hiring PwDs and expect it to work without
changing public perception. People wont buy what they
dont think is best.
Need to create DEMAND for talents, companies with
inclusive cultures, and individuals with skills that match
needs.
Dont be selling a bag phone
Focus on Better Bottom Line.

WIOA: EVERY STATE must produce a unified strategic plan for
providing training, employment services and vocational
education in a coordinated way!
Plus, Governors bring together silos of government:
Workforce development
Tax and other incentives
Healthcare
Transportation
Education
Voc. Rehab.
State can be a model inclusive employer
Can encourage state contractors to be inclusive

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A: Governors at the Helm
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Need to show the ABILITY of people with
disabilities
Every State Needs Heroes: Model employers
others can follow
Media Lens through which employers see the
issue.
Celebrity endorsements and public service ads
Governors public events with media/op-eds
Conferences with Chamber/Biz Councils etc.
USBLN and RespectAbility can partner!
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B: From Stigma to Better Bottom Line
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Figure 1. Scatter plot and cluster analysis of competence and warmth
ratings for 20 groups.
From Universal dimensions of social cognition: Warmth and competence by
Susan T. Fiske, Amy J.C. Cuddy, and Peter Glick
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People with Disabilities Seen as Warm, But Not
Competent
Employers need great first experiences with
hiring PwDs! Remember, negative info
processed more quickly and deeply than
positive
Maslows hierarchy it needs to be for
profits/survival, not charity
Train HR directors and managers
Centralized supports
Ongoing helpline
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C: Great 1
st
Impression w/Employers Vital!
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USBLN, The National Employment Team (CSAVR),
and Best Buddies.
Set up for success with the right potential
employees.
RespectAbility offers you focus groups and polling
of employers to get their input and buy-in!
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C: Great 1
st
Impression w/Employers Vital!
(cont.)
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Employers/HR Pros Need Training!
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You will need more than 200 employers/work
sites that have at least 200 employees each. They
will have an HR person and can expand to hire
numerous employees over time.
Those employers should have diverse jobs (e.g.,
hospitals, senior living communities, big hotels)
and be stable or expanding.
Must have market-driven needs for talent.
USBLN and The National Employment Team
(CSAVR) are great partners.
Federal contractors can play a role as well.
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D: You Need >200 Big Employers
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Project SEARCH (outstanding metrics/savings for
young PwDs)
Voc. Rehab. (especially for acquired disabilities)
Supported internships/apprenticeships (note
WIOA offers reimbursements now!)
Create large scale faith-based groups and other
mentoring programs
Community colleges/schools (note SSA grant
open now)
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E: Training for Talent is Key
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F: Employment-First Vision
Line up programs from pre-birth to transition to work to be
Employment First:
Prenatal counseling resources when a parent finds out they
are having a child with Down syndrome etc. to let them
know there is a job path
Infants and toddler programs: Inspirational resources on
career options for people with disabilities
Supports for community service work so that teens with
disabilities can volunteer to help in the community they
need to see and be seen for having the ability to contribute
(Summers of Service)
School IEPs that lead to independence and jobs
Early work opportunities, including supported summer
internships for teens with disabilities.

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G: Triage for Early Wins
Initial creaming will create best practices and
positive buzz which will give future broader
opportunities! Start with focus on YOUNG, RECENT
DISABILITIES, and the SUPER motivated to work!
Focus on 14-25 year olds. i.e., Braid and blend
funding to have final year in school for non-
diploma bound students to do Project SEARCH type
program.
Delay focus on long-term unemployed and
sheltered workshops.
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G: Triage for Early Wins (cont.)
Initial creaming will create best practices and positive
buzz which will give future broader opportunities!
Start with focus on YOUNG, RECENT DISABILITIES, and
the SUPER motivated to work!
Immediate Voc. Rehab. and other services for recently-
employed literate adults with newly acquired
disabilities.
Support highly motivated PwDs who REALLY want to
work
Consider the equation 14k X # of working age PwDs in
your state per year in benefits (plus healthcare) or the
alternative of converting even a portion of them from
benefit recipients into taxpayers. Savings of at least
300K pp.

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H: Disability Groups are Ready to Help
Non-profits committed to jobs for PwDs will stand at your
side and help!
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RespectAbilityUSA Focus Groups
Stanley Greenberg, PhD
Served as polling advisor to presidents and prime ministers, CEOs, and
dozens of tough campaigns in the US and around the world, including
President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, British Prime Minister
Tony Blair.


Whit Ayres, PhD
Key Republican pollster and strategist, does NPR poll with Greenberg.
President of the American Association of Political Consultants.


Meagan Buren
Deeply experienced with focus groups and polls on jobs for people with
disabilities.

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People with a Disability & Families
Employers
Providers
Support System
Future
Employment
Limited Belief & Aspirations
Cant
Not Ready
Passive
Perceived Safety of Segregation
Benefit Risk
Reliance on System
Unprepared for Transition
To:
Full Belief & Desire
Yes I Can
Yes You Can
Active
Dignity of Risk & Integration
Benefit Management
Utilize System to Bolster
Natural Supports
Prepared for Transition

Fragmented, Agency Centric To:
Silos
Not my mission
Focus on Persons Deficits
Measured on Process
Lack of Coordination
Funding Gaps
Policy Deterrents
Coordinated, Person Centric
Integrated
Common Goals
Focus on Persons Abilities
Measured on Outcomes
Coordinated
Sufficient & Flexible Funding
Policy Enablers
Benevolent Agnostics To:
Sympathetic Hiring
Lack of Knowledge
Randomly Solicited
Tolerant of Job Coaches
Cost / Risk Focus
Active Recruiters
Asset Based Hiring
Knowledgeable
Relationship Based Matching
Respect for Job Coaches
Cost / Benefit Focus

Current
Employment
Service Definition Driven
Focus on Persons Deficits
Legacy Services
Readiness Model
Little Collaboration
No Standard Training
No Certification
Outsider to Employers
Process Compliance Driven
Low Pay / Esteem
To:
Holistic Outcome Driven
Focus on Persons Abilities
Best Practice Services
Trained / Certified
Part of Employer Team
Rewarded for Outcomes
Improved Pay / Stature
Area Mental Health
Vocational Rehabilitation
Dept of Social Services
Social Security
Workforce Development
Housing Authority
DPI
Community Colleges
Universities
Community Agencies
Employment First
Vision
What Must Change?
Goal: Increase
Employment for
People with
Disabilities
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Theory of Change
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A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H = SUCCESS
A: Governors at the Helm
B. From Stigma to Better Bottom Line
C: Great 1
st
Impression Vital!
D: You Need >200 Big Employers
E: Training for Talent is Key
F: Employment-First Vision
G: Triage for Early Wins
H: Disability Groups are Ready to Help







http://nga.org/cms/site
s/NGA/home/governors
/staff-directories--
contact-infor/col2-
content/governors-
office-addresses-and-
w.html
http://www.usa.gov/Co
ntact/Governors.shtml
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Contact YOUR Governor
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Let Us Know if We Can Help
We have many resources for policy makers and employers on our website and are
ready to help!
RespectAbilityUSA
4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350
Bethesda, MD 20814

www.RespectAbilityUSA.org
Cell: (202) 365 0787
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi
President
JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.org



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