Since the introduction of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, the government has made it easier and less expensive for you to diversify your workforce. While the ADA is often thought of as punitive, since it mandates against discrimination based on disability, it also carries a system of incentives and assistive programs for employers. By employing people with disabilities, you can make a big difference in the life of someone who will really benefit from it, and help dispel misconceptions about disability.
Federal Tax Incentives
The Internal Revenue Code includes several provisions to assist in the employment of individuals with disabilities. A $5,000 small-business tax credit is available to cover the cost of providing reasonable accommodations for access, so you can install ramps, obtain Braille signage, obtain adaptive equipment such as screen readers or job materials in alternative formats, all to permit you to diversify your workforce without unbalancing your budget. Architectural costs are also covered by another rebate, which provides up to $15,000 for the removal of barriers, including providing accessible parking spaces, ramps, and curb cuts, as well as adjusting the widths of doorways and walkways to accommodate wheelchairs, and setting up wheelchair-accessible water fountains and restrooms.
Enhance Employee Awarenes
The benefits of diversifying your workforce aren’t just financial. Having people with disabilities working alongside the rest of your employees will help raise awareness about the social issues that they face, such as the prejudices that many people have about people with disabilities, and the difficulty of living in a world that’s not always fully accessible, and thereby enhance the sensitivity of your staff. Diversifying your workforce shows them that you are a compassionate employer who has social issues in mind, which can improve employee morale.
Make a Difference
People with disabilities represent an enormous pool of talent that is underserved and underutilized. It is difficult as a person with disabilities to get a complete education and a good job, because many employers don’t know how to provide an accessible workplace, or are afraid that it will be prohibitively costly. As a result, many people with disabilities are unable to get jobs that they are entirely qualified for. At Citizens Development Center we aim to show you that’s not too expensive or difficult to employ people who have disabilities, and by diversifying your workforce, you’re doing something good for your company, and for a family that needs your help.
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