People with disabilities are the country’s largest minority group – 20% of all Hoosiers. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all families include a member with a disability. Our aging population means the number of people with disabilities is growing – 50% of Americans over 65 have a disability.
Recent breakthroughs in education, rehabilitation, assistive technology, and transportation have added many people with disabilities to the work force. Information indicates that investment in employment support provides substantial returns including:
- Increased wages resulting in increased tax to the state
- VR Data
- People in supported employment earn 5 times those in other programs
- Reductions in costs for long-term services
- Medicaid costs
- SECT center data
- Increased productivity within Hoosier businesses
- 97% have above average safety records.
- 90% deliver above average job performance.
- 86% have above average attendance.
- Every $1 employers spend in disability-related accommodations saves $34 in Worker’s Compensation, insurance and training costs.
- Additional incentives make it easier than ever to hire
- Architectural / Transportation Tax Deduction – up to $15,000 per year.
- Small Business Tax Credit – 50% credit for expenditures between $250 and $10,250.
