As the nation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi of The Arizona Republic says there is still much work to be done to help the disabled in Arizona find employment. According to her article, only three out of 10 of the state’s 365,000 working-age people with disabilities are employed. While many people assume that disabled are unable, unwilling or uninterested in working, a recent study from the Kessler Foundation tells a different story. According to the study, many Americans with a disability are largely striving for work.
Laszlo writes that in Arizona, 23,500 youth with disabilities between the ages of 16 and 20 are preparing to enter the workforce. Like many of their non-disabled peers, that “have high expectations and deserve the opportunity to achieve the American dream.” People with disabilities can work in restaurants, parks, assist aging seniors and be “super talents in developing computer software.”
According to the article, vocational rehabilitation programs in Arizona helped nearly 2,000 people with disabilities find work in 2012, but the state has done little to address the nearly 1 percent employment gap between those with disabilities and those without. In order to close this gap and break down barriers, Laszlo writes that funding to unsuccessful programs should be stopped and instead public-private philanthropic partnerships should be supported.
Southwest Mobility Has a Solution
If you benefit from assistance in getting around and are an individual who values their independence, Southwest Mobility has your solution. Specializing in the mobility needs of customers in Arizona since 1989, Southwest Mobility has a large selection of mobility and medical equipment for rent from some of the best manufacturers in the industry.
From scooters and wheelchairs to powerchairs and walkers, Southwest Mobility has the equipment you need to follow your favorite golfer on the course or get around the metro Phoenix AZ region. Committed to superior customer service, Southwest Mobility offers in-home demonstrations at no extra charge and free in-state delivery.
To browse available equipment for rent, you can stop by one of their two retail locations in Arizona, or visit their online rental store page at Rent It Today!
