February 11, 2013
The National Business & Disability Council (NBDC) at The Viscardi Center, a comprehensive resource for Fortune 1000 companies seeking to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace, marketplace and supply chain, has signed a corporate sponsor agreement with DiversityInc. This new partnership offers both organizations the opportunity to enhance their efforts to educate businesses on the value of hiring people with disabilities and how this market can be the cornerstone of a larger business strategy.
“The unemployment rate for people with disabilities continues to be far greater than the general unemployment rate,” explained Laura M. Francis, Executive Director at the National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center. “Partnerships such as this with DiversityInc give us the opportunity to regularly communicate with businesses about the need for on-going disability initiatives. We believe that a strong workforce is an inclusive workforce.”
In December 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Monthly Employment Report, only 18% of all people with a disability ages 16 and older were employed, as compared with 63.9% of the population with no disability.
“I deeply admire the work of The Viscardi Center and share their conviction that hiring people with disabilities is documented to be good for business,” said Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc. “It’s good for you as a human being, too.”
NBDC’s services are offered through tiered membership levels or on a consultant basis and assist businesses in developing strategies to implement, grow, measure and create solid disability programs. These include talent acquisition, advancement and retention strategies; customized training seminars and workshops; facility accessibility surveys; and an information hotline for disability-related employment issue.
Founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who served as disability advisor to eight U.S. presidents and became one of the world’s leading advocates, The Viscardi Center provides Pre-K through High School education, school-to-work transition services, vocational training, career counseling and placement, assistive technology and workforce diversification assistance to children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. A global leader, it employs more than 300 professionals, including experts in education, human resources and technology. Learn more at viscardicenter.org.