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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

OPA Press Release: New Report Outlines Next Steps to Increase Employment of Adults With Disabilities [12/17/99]

For more information call: (202) 693-4650

The signing today of the Work Incentives Improvement Act was accompanied by the release of the latest report from the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities.

The report, "Re-charting the Course: If Not Now, When?", is the task force's second report to the president and was released by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman, who chairs the task force, and Tony Coelho, who is vice chair.

The report details the progress of the task force and makes further recommendations towards increasing the employment of adults with disabilities. At a time when employment is at the highest it has been in 30 years, nearly three-fourths of working-age adults with disabilities are unemployed or under-employed.

"People with disabilities want to work and to participate fully in their communities," Secretary Herman said. "The bill signed today will make that possible for many people who should not have to choose between work and health care coverage. This second report also includes our recommendations for ways to open more doors."

The bill, which was endorsed by the task force, passed Congress and was signed today by President Clinton in a ceremony at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. The bill gives states options for continuing Medicaid coverage for people with disabilities who have jobs, even when their income exceeds the limits for Medicaid coverage. It also improves Social Security disability coverage for vocational rehabilitation.

In the report delivered to Clinton today, the task force recommends the creation of an office of disability policy within the Labor Department; an exemption on income limits for working adults with disabilities who live in subsidized housing; and the inclusion of youth with disabilities in health and work readiness programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The task force reports are available on the Labor Department home page at www.dol.gov by clicking on the disabilities task force icon.

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.