Hartford Business Journal

24 Hartford Business Journal • December 17, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com OTHER VOICES People with disabilities are eager to work By James T. Brett W ith more than 6 million unfilled positions and companies reporting that they are challenged to find skilled workers, job training and continuing education is more important than ever. Recently the Trump administration issued an executive order to expand opportunities for apprentice- ships to help many "forgot- ten" Americans secure jobs. Still, there is another often overlooked segment of the workforce who could benefit from this training initiative: people with disabilities. Indeed, including people with disabili- ties in this initiative could make progress toward easing the high rate of unemploy- ment faced by these talented workers. Companies, too, would benefit by focus- ing on inclusion and taking advantage of the skills and expertise that people with disabilities bring to their jobs. Much progress has been made in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in our lifetime. Still, challenges persist, particularly in the area of employment. The unemployment rate remains high among people with disabilities. In 2017, the Department of Labor found: • The average unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 9.2 per- cent, nearly double that of people without disabilities (4.2 percent). • The labor force participation rate was only 18.7 percent for people with disabilities compared with 65.7 per- cent for people without disabilities. • People with disabilities are more likely to work part time (32 per- cent), compared with 17 percent for people without disabilities. Many work for less than minimum wage. At the same time, numerous surveys report that people with disabilities want to work. A 2015 Kessler Founda- tion study found that more than 68 percent of people with disabilities are striving to work. These activities were defined as people preparing for work, searching for work or looking for more hours at an existing job. Undiscovered talent Many companies recognize that people with disabilities can contribute to their competitive advantage. As noted in Training Industry magazine, people who spend their lives facing obstacles and meeting challenges can bring unique problem-solving skills to the workplace. People with disabilities, eager to work, demonstrate their value to an organization with enthusiasm, low absenteeism, higher productivity and higher retention rates. In 2014, research by the Institute for Corporate Productivity revealed that companies that hired individuals with intellectual and developmental dis- abilities (IDD) found that the workers exceeded expectations: • 75 percent of employers said hiring people with IDD was a positive experience; fully one-third said the experience exceeded expectations. Technology is changing the nature of work. Today, many employees work independently, or at remote locations. Assistive technology has also made it possible for more people with dis- abilities to secure successful careers. Adoption of universal design helps all workers, including people with disabil- ities, physically access and function in the workplace. Many companies find they can connect with a significant pool of workers just by introducing a few low-cost accommodations. Certainly, the strength of a well- trained and educated workforce is key to our nation's ability to compete globally. To be sure, remaining competitive is inherent to America's DNA. And so is innovation. Our techno- logical advancements, combined with thoughtful workforce-development policies, can increase access to quality jobs for people with disabilities. Everyone deserves the chance to experience the dignity of work and to contribute to their community. James T. Brett is the president and CEO of the New England Council and a member of the National Council on Disability. POLITICAL INSIGHTS Lessons from the 2018 election season By Steve Jewett W ith votes still being counted, Democrats and Republicans come out of 2018 with no certainty on how the 2020 presidential election will play out. Here are seven 2018 election trends that may repeat in 2020. The "Democratic Wave" happened. Pundits spent the past year predict- ing just how big the wave would be, particularly among women turning out to vote who were still upset by Hillary Clinton losing to President Trump. The wave was bigger in some states like Michigan, which went for Trump in 2016, but elected an entire statewide ticket of Demo- cratic women. Georgia vot- ers almost elect- ed a Democratic black woman as governor, which would have been historic. Even conservative Kansas now has a Democratic woman as its governor. The big question is whether Demo- crats can keep up the same enthusi- asm and turnout for 2020. Republicans had good turnout too, not so much a wave, but a late surge. It was enough to hold on to Florida, Ohio and Georgia where hopeful Democratic candidates thought their overperformance in turnout would propel them to wins in these Republican-leaning states. It was President Trump who mo- tivated his base in the final weeks to vote. It started with the Kavanaugh hearings and moved into a three-week tour of states where Trump spun the issues of the caravan, China's trade war, mass shootings and a new tax cut. It worked better than expected and gives Trump's team hope he may repeat the same rally late in 2020. Democrats won the cycle. They mo- bilized their vote with a broad message of "don't let it happen again" and won the top prizes of taking back the House and winning seven new governorships. Democrats fielded an unprecedent- ed number of women candidates and candidates of color. They didn't all win, but Democrats solidified their ad- vantage in representing the growing diversity of the nation's population. Thirty incoming Democratic Con- gress members had never run for of- fice before. This 2018 cycle produced a new generation of diverse candidates and gave optimism to people con- sidering running primaries against entrenched incumbents. Democrats' faith is restored go- ing into 2020, but they should not mistake this as a landslide. Compared to past mid-term election corrections, this was average: Clinton lost 54 House seats, Obama 64 and Trump 40. For Democrats, their big chal- lenge going forward is setting a new agenda — their version of Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America." If the economy and consumer confidence remain strong, then Democrats will be challenged to find wedge issues against Trump other than his boorish behavior continuing to motivate their base voter. Democrats did not gain a "man- date," but rather a fresh opportunity to present a "change" message. Much of that message will depend on what openings President Trump hands them at the start of the new Congress. Democrats that won in swing states learned to talk about local policy, not just about Trump. If Democratic lead- ership doesn't have a unified domestic policy message, Trump will divide and conquer them with his simple but ef- fective messages. Obamacare, which turned Demo- crats upside down in the 2014 election, has come full circle in Democrats' favor. More campaign TV ads ran about health care than any other issue in 2018. People enjoy the benefits, coverage of pre-existing conditions is popular, and the spooky "death panels" never happened. If Republicans make any move to reduce healthcare benefits, such as defunding Planned Parenthood, Demo- crats need to go full bore to protect it. Democrats are looking at a presidential primary field of 20-plus candidates. It's the full ideological spectrum, from Bernie Sanders to Mike Bloomberg. This does not bode well for their unification. 2020 may require Democrats to nominate a dif- ferent type of candidate to beat this most unconventional president. Democrats should consider mov- ing their national convention a little earlier, as they will need time to come together and prepare for a challenging 2020 autumn. Steve Jewett is managing partner of McDowell Jewett Communications in Hartford and served as senior advisor to Gov.-elect Ned Lamont. Opinion & Commentary James T. Brett Steve Jewett

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