Tell Congress: People with Disabilities, Older Adults and Veterans Want to Work! - online Petition!

as shared by ...

People with disabilities, older adults and veterans need access to employment services and supports to help them find jobs in their communities. Congress can make a big difference by fully funding key federal employment programs. Did you know: The unemployment rate of people with disabilities is regularly more than double the rate of people without disabilities. It takes an unemployed older worker much longer to get back into the workforce, 35 weeks on average, compared to 26 weeks for a younger worker. Young veterans are two times greater risk to become homeless than their non-veteran counterparts. Employment is critical for individuals with disabilities, older adults and veterans in achieving greater independence and economic self-sufficiency. Easter Seals helps these jobseekers develop new skills and find jobs in their communities through federal employment programs, such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Senior Community Service Employment Program and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. Congress is now making its initial decisions on what level of funding to recommend for federal employment programs. On Tuesday, June 24, Easter Seals volunteers, clients and supporters from across the country will take to Capitol Hill as part of Easter Seals 2014 Advocacy Summit to urge Congress to increase access to employment services and supports by fully funding these federal employment programs. We need your voice too! TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress -- People with Disabilities, Older Adults and Veterans Want to Work!   Sincerely, Katy Beh Neas Senior Vice President - Government Relations Easter Seals and its affiliates are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Easter Seals Headquarters, 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60606