The National Business & Disability Council

The ADA Turns 20!

April 2010 —

Monday, July 26, 2010 will mark the 20 anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed by George H.W. Bush on the South Lawn of the White House in 1990. It became known as the world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. In his speech to thousands, former President Bush closed his remarks and said "Today’s legislation brings us closer to that day when no American will ever again be deprived of their basic guarantees of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Enacted by the U.S. Congress, its intent is to prohibit discrimination based on disability, which is defined by the ADA as a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." Certain specific conditions are excluded as disabilities, such as current substance abuse and visual impairment which is correctable by prescription lenses.

The 2010 DiversityInc Top 50 List

April 2010 —

This year, 449 companies participated in the DiversityInc Top 50 challenge, which was up 12 percent from last year and 75 percent in the past four years. Every company that fills out the survey receives a free report card assessing performance in the four areas measured: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity. Companies must score above average in all four areas to earn a spot on the list. Research results found that:

Aggregate data from the 2010 DiversityInc Top 50 shows a sharp escalation in diversity initiatives. For example:

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An average of 22 percent of employees were members of employee-resource groups, compared with 19 percent last year and 5 percent five years ago

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Ninety percent have cross-cultural mentoring programs, compared with 82 percent last year and 42 percent five years ago

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An average of 39 percent of philanthropy went to multicultural charities, compared with 22 percent last year and 5 percent five years ago

February 2010 Disability Employment Statistics Released

February 2010 —

As previously reported, last year, questions used to identify persons with a disability in the civilian non-institutional population age 16 and older were added to the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of households conducted by the Bureau of Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that provides a comprehensive body of statistical data on labor force, employment, unemployment and persons not in the labor force.

The addition of these questions allowed BLS to begin releasing monthly labor force data from the CPS for persons with a disability. The collection of data is sponsored by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). Publication of CPS disability data began in February 2009 with the issuance of labor force data for January 2009. Beginning with the release of the January 2010 data on February 5, 2010, information on the employment status of persons by disability status was included as part of the Employment Situation news release.