From the Contra Costa [CA] Times:

More people with disabilities need jobs than ever before, but their job prospects are worse than ever, say disability advocacy organizations. Despite intense efforts to develop jobs and train workers, organizations say they have little to show for it.

“It’s more difficult than ever for people to find employment but especially (for those) with disabilities,” said Delores Mason, the executive director of the Disabled Resource Center [a job assistance organization near Long Beach] …. “(Federal laws) say not to discriminate against people with disabilities, but (some employers) do,” she said.

Fritzine Gutierrez (above) has been a baker and sandwich maker for two years, but was unemployed for the previous ten because of her mental illness.

“Since I came here, it’s totally transformed me because they let me know there’s a future and hope,” she said, as she scooped out dough with a spoon. “I’ll be able to do something productive in my life.”

Earlier post: It’s estimated that more than 70 percent of working-aged people with disabilities are not working, and 90 percent of them live in poverty.

Related posts here.

(Photo from Contra Costa Times)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 2:30 pm and is filed under employment/jobs, NOT2BEMISSED. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.