Report: R.I. ranked 32nd in employed of disabled in ’14

RESPECTABILITY,  a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates for the disabled, said Rhode Island ranked 32nd for having a disability employment rate of 33.9 percent in 2014. / COURTESY RESPECTABILITY
RESPECTABILITY, a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates for the disabled, said Rhode Island ranked 32nd for having a disability employment rate of 33.9 percent in 2014. / COURTESY RESPECTABILITY

PROVIDENCE – RespectAbility said that Rhode Island, as of 2014, ranked 32nd in employment of disabled persons, with only 33.9 percent of all 63,400 working-age Rhode Islanders who identify as disabled being employed.

RespectAbility also found that as of 2014, Rhode Island has a 43.8 percent employment gap separating disabled and non-disabled adults, which correlates to 40th place among measured states. In addition, as of 2013, an additional 5,000 disabled youth, ages 16 to 20, were looking to enter the workforce.

South Dakota ranked the best in the report for having 50.1 percent of its disabled employed. Massachusetts ranked 29th with 35.5 percent employed.

RespectAbility, a nonpartisan group that advocates for the disabled based in Washington, D.C., released the findings in a report Monday that polled the presidential candidates about their opinions on 16 disability questions covering everything from economic impact to stigma, education, safety, transportation, housing, health care and foreign affairs.

- Advertisement -

It said only Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders completed the questionnaire, while Republican candidate John Kasich filled out part of it. Republican candidates Ted Cruz and Donald Trump failed to fill out the questionnaire, the group said.

Rhode Island’s presidential primary is Tuesday.

RespectAbility president Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi said it’s important to understand each of the candidate’s policies regarding disabled persons.

“Our community is looking for jobs so we can achieve the American dream, just like anyone else. The candidates have hugely different ideas about how to deal with the issues. Thus, it’s extremely important to read their full answers so you can understand their vast differences,” she said.

Clinton’s response can be found HERE.

Sanders’ response can be found HERE.

Kasich’s response can be found HERE

No posts to display