EFE Tapped for Mayoral Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities

President and CEO Zena Naiditch, government officials, and members of the business, civic, economic development and disability communities have been named to the Mayoral Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities created by Mayor Richard M. Daley in October 2002. It is the first-of-its kind municipal level Task Force, succeeding the mandate established by President Clinton's unprecedented Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities created in 1998.

Co-chaired by David Hanson, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD); Jackie Edens, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development; and William Osborne, Chairman and CEO of Northern Trust Bank, the Task Force will report to the Mayor over the next three years, with the first report being issued on 0May 2, 2003.

"We have a unique opportunity to break down barriers and attitudes that have traditionally prevented people with disabilities from working," said MOPD Commissioner Hanson. "And in doing so, we will create real employment opportunities for people with disabilities in ways that will benefit all Chicagoans. The diversity and caliber of the Task Force members assembled is a clear indication that Chicago understands the complexity of these issues and what must be done to effectively address these problems and solve them."

Charged with developing a citywide plan to find more jobs for people with disabilities in an effort to reduce the estimated 70 percent unemployment rate, the Task Force will be addressing barriers to transportation, housing, health care and education. It will also develop "best practices" models for the public and private sectors to increase employment, as well as addressing the more subtle forms of discrimination that exist in the workplace and in our society.

The benefits realized from implementing the Task Force's recommendations are expected to be both financial and social in nature. By increasing the employment rate of people with disabilities, important financial benefits will be realized, such as the generation of increased tax revenues, greater consumer spending and the savings of tax dollars currently used inefficiently to assist people with disabilities. As more employees with disabilities enter the workforce, there will naturally be a greater sense of independence and self esteem - long overdue for this population.

Over the next three years, the Task Force will formulate policies and recommend programs to the Mayor for increasing the employment of people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. An estimated 20 percent of people in Chicago have at least one disability. The goal is to elevate their employment to a rate that approximates that of the general adult population.

The Task Force is divided into five Work Groups, each addressing a specific employment-related goal and including additional people not serving on the Task Force itself. The goals include a statistical analysis of the employment rate of people with disabilities in Chicago; revision of Chicago's procurement policies to increase economic and professional opportunities for people with disabilities; evolution of Chicago as a model employer of people with disabilities; improvement of employment outcomes for youth with disabilities; and establishment of private-public sector partnerships designed to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities both locally and nationally.

Naiditch is participating in the Partnerships Work Group, with Work Group Leader Marca Bristo, President and CEO of Access Living, and Associate Group Leader Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. The group is evenly represented by governmental agencies and leaders of businesses, including McDonald's, Walgreen's and Boeing. EFE Senior Attorney Howard Rosenblum is Associate Group Leader for the Employment Barriers Work Group. Senior Advocate Kevin Irvine has been assigned to the Youth Work Group.

"I am honored to have this opportunity to work with business and government leaders on behalf of the disability community to find practical steps the city can take to increase the employment of people with disabilities in Chicago," said Naiditch. "Given EFE's 17-year history of advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in Illinois, I am confident that our in-depth understanding of the barriers encountered by people with disabilities and the obligations of government and businesses under the ADA will be a valuable contribution to the goals of the Task Force."

According to Edens, studies have shown that employees with disabilities have above-average records in job performance, dependability, attendance and safety. She believes that everyone will benefit if they are fully incorporated into the workforce.

Osborne agreed, saying that one of the goals of the Task Force is to make Chicago businesses more productive through the employment of people with disabilities. "Disabled Americans are an untapped resource that can help both the City and the private sector address the critical need to recruit and retain skilled workers so that we remain competitive in today's global marketplace," he said. =

Subscribe to the Equalizer | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use