Delaware’s New Law- Governor Signs “Employment First” Bill

This week, Governor Markell signed legislation to further help open the door for people with disabilities to work side-by-side with other employees.

House Bill 319 would require state agencies that provide services to persons with disabilities consider, as their first option, employment in an integrated setting for persons with disabilities. The bill also establishes an Employment First Oversight Commission as part of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities to review goals and objectives and prepare an annual report.

According to the January 2011 Current Population Survey, approximately 17 percent of Americans with disabilities are employed, compared to 63 percent of individuals without disabilities. The low employment rate has forced people who could live independently to depend heavily on others to define and support their choices. Additionally, only 22 percent of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are employed participate in integrated employment. The rest are segregated from the rest of the workforce.

This legislation rides parallel to the initiative he is championing during his yearlong tenure as chair of the National Governors Association. That initiative, titled A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities, aims to increase employment among individuals with disabilities.

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