By Laura Walling, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International
During October we’re proud to recognize National Disability Awareness Month (NDEAM) and celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy.
Dating back to 1945 and observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive policies and practices that benefit employees and employers alike. This year’s NDEAM theme is ““Access to Good Jobs for All,” and underscores the administration’s commitment to building an opportunity infrastructure, focusing not just on the number of people with disabilities employed, but the quality of opportunities available to them.
The administration has taken multiple steps to address challenges to helping historically underserved communities, including people with disabilities. President Biden signed Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” and directed all federal departments and agencies to examine their policies and programs. In April 2022, the department published its Equity Action Plan to support marginalized, vulnerable and underserved communities, and outline its efforts to advance equity across the department. Investments have been made to remove transportation challenges improve accessible workplace technology, strengthen mental health supports, and support competitive integrated employment.
Congress is working on these challenges as well. Several bills are pending that will strengthen employment opportunities and supports for people with disabilities, including revamping the Supplemental Security Income program by adjusting the total amount of benefits for people with disabilities across the nation, increasing their economic security and mobility; addressing the shortage of direct care and long-term care workers; and expanding access to affordable assistive technology. Furthermore, lawmakers are examining ways to include people with disabilities in every area of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act as the bill is up for reauthorization.
Goodwill wants to ensure that all Americans who want to work can, and that they have access to services that enable them to do so. We support local Goodwill leaders as they collaborate with disability stakeholders and we will continue to advocate for policies that result in increased employment opportunities and supports for people with disabilities. You can join our efforts and urge Congress to pass the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides necessary benefits to nearly 8 million low-income older adults and people with disabilities to help them meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. SSI’s strict asset limits have not kept pace with inflation, and haven’t been updated in decades. An individual on SSI is not allowed to have more than $2,000 in total financial resources at any time. Married couples are only allowed $3,000.
The bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would empower millions of people with disabilities to earn and save more money for their futures by raising asset limits and indexing the limits to inflation moving forward. Visit our Legislative Action Center to contact your lawmakers and ask them to support this change.
