Friday, June 10, 2016
Greetings:
I
am writing to you because I am asking for your help. Since April of this year, I have visited the
offices of the North Carolina State Legislature on a weekly basis. Additionally, I have emailed and faxed all
the legislatures I could. The purpose
being is to change the problem. The
problem is the disabled and disabled veterans need help. They need help in being employed. They need help to bring down the unemployment
and suicide rates. I kindly ask that you
visit the website below and consider collaborating and supporting a Bill
through the US Congress to resolve the issues herein outlined.
In
the 70s, the 504 Rehabilitation Act was passed to make places accessible to the
disabled. In the 90s, the Americans with
Disabilities Act was passed to broaden the accessibility of disabled
people. However, it is 2016, and the
unemployment rate among the disabled remains the same. A disabled person is 2x more likely to be
unemployed and living in poverty. The
unemployment rate among the disabled remains 2/3. Suicide among veterans is 3x times higher
than civilians.
My
name is Reinaldo Olavarria, and I have been unemployed since 2010. I have placed several applications in for
employment, but, the last time I was even called for an interview was about three
months ago for a retail outlet position.
Prior to then, the last time I was called for an interview was
2011. It is not due to an absence of
submitting application, or identifying myself as disabled on government
application. All I know is the interviews
I did get to go on, it was clear by the
expressions of interviewers, that a disabled candidate for employment is not a
viable option.
What
I am asking then is for one thing, the passing of affirmative action
legislation to get the disabled employment.
Targeted legislation for people with identified mobility impairments
primarily. Why? The last job I had was working for Durham
County Social Services. I became
unemployed because I resigned my
position there after a workplace accident.
What happened? I was using my
wheelchair while at the workplace, and, they had a wheelchair accessible
visitor entrance, but the employee entrance had a step, and was not accessible
for wheelchair users. Well, one day,
while going down the step, my chair flipped backwards, and I received a head
injury, TBI, and, that caused me to be out of work, and eventually lead to my
resignation.
Please
visit the following websites to see the facts, the legislation being requested,
and personal stories regarding the impact of being a person with a disability:
·
Open
letter to Yall;
·
Actual
Written Copy of Proposed Legislation
·
Public
Policy Paper;
·
My
Resume.
·
Combined
Website Where You Can Find All Resources and Links
What
I am asking for is one of two things.
First, can you help to change the laws, by supporting the enactment of affirmative action legislation
to ensure the disabled, mobility impairment, get hired. It is 2016, and, we should not be receiving a
government check, but should be employed and contributing to society.
What
I ask is to open the doors to employment, by enacting legislation that the
government sector must set aside and make an effort to employ people with
disabilities with a target on mobility impairments. I know they are just not doing it by just
going to any government building and/or service center and looking for that
“one disabled” employee. I have not seen
“one” in a long time, and have visited many service sites.
If
you find it in your heart to help by proposing and getting legislation enacted,
of the affirmative action type, to ensure that least in the government sector,
the recruitment and employment of the disabled is placed as a priority, and, to
get “these people” off the government rolls and into jobs.
No comments:
Post a Comment