Life With An Intellectual Disability
Living with an intellectual disability can be a struggle due to an inability to learn or meet established criteria for advancement in a school setting. This is just one reason why many of the individuals who make up the two percent of Americans who are afflicted with an intellectual disability depend on Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income to make ends meet.
These benefits are often meager though and many of those with an intellectual disability have a desire to works; however, this type of disability often keeps employers from considering hiring someone who has been diagnosed with such a condition. That may soon change though if one organization has anything to do with it.
“I’m In To Hire” Program
The Best Buddies “I’m In To Hire” program challenges employers and companies across the United States to find work for and hire local citizens who are afflicted with an intellectual disability. The organization adds that it is a win-win for those involved, considering the disabled are able to earn a living wage—as much as $40,000 a year—while companies get dedicated, hard working employees. Th program also significantly reduces the amount of money needed to fund disability programs.
So far, more than 100,000 employers have pledged to participate in the program. Best Buddies hopes to reach a goal of getting one million disabled individuals employed within the next decade.
Get Involved
At Newlin Disability, our Social Security Disability lawyers recognize the sense of pride and accomplishment that can go into a hard days work. That’s why we encourage you, if you’re an employer, to consider hiring one of the 85 percent of individuals with an intellectual disability who are unemployed for a job. Even if you aren’t an employer, we encourage you to pledge your support to the cause by signing up to raise awareness about the issue.
