[nabs-l] unemployment rate?

Tue Feb 15 06:50:23 UTC 2011

The question of the 70 percent unemployment is a interesting one, and I am glad you ask it, Kirt.

I believe all, and especially those of us who read this list, need an injection of education about what the numbers mean, who is tallying them, and how this information is used.

Department of Labor data will likely become the golden standard when it comes to accuracy, reliability, and public policy. We must take time to learn the nuances here, and hopefully someone has taken the time to explain the issue.

Perhaps a Braille Monitor article will do this justice.

It is only a matter of time before we need to start explaining the 70 percent disparity in lots more detail than a simple blanket statement.

It is important to understand the full picture, and crucial to speak from the point of view of one who is fully informed about the facts.

What are the facts about unemployment for blind people? 

One is that we are undertrained, and therefore under-skilled.

Another is that employers steer away from hiring the disabled in general, and the blind in particular.

Another sad fact is that some have become accustomed with the status quo, feer losing bennefits, and lack motivation to reach up to full employment.

This last point is likely why so many are counted amongst those not looking for a job. Controversial but true.

Sincerely,

Antonio Guimaraes

On Feb 13, 2011, at 6:42 PM, David Andrews wrote:

> Arrielle:
> 
> The Department of Labor doesn't count you if you aren't "actively looking for a job.  So, I think they say the rate of unemployment for disabled persons is around 14 percent -- but if 56 percent of our population isn't even counted in that figure, primarily because they have been unemployed for so long they get discouraged, etc., this is a problem.
> 
> The 70 percent figure, as originally was "70 percent are unemployed or underemployed."  Over the years the under employment part has gotten dropped off -- nevertheless, I don't think anyone knows what our unemployment figure is.
> 
> As someone working in rehab, and in contact with DOL programs my educated guess is that our unemployment rate is probably 40 percent or worse.
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
> At 04:33 PM 2/13/2011, you wrote:
>> Hi Kurt and all,
>> 
>> Since I do psychological research related to blindness and
>> rehabilitation, I often have to look up statistics on unemployment and
>> other disadvantages blind Americans face when I write grants or make
>> presentations about my research. I have been quite troubled by the
>> lack of accurate statistics or by the use of statistics that classify
>> people with other disabilities in the same category as the blind.
>> Recently, beginning in 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
>> began collecting disability-specific employment data. You can find a
>> summary by going to
>> http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=15&SubTopicID=177
>> 
>> The survey defines "vision loss" as an affirmative answer to the
>> question, "Are you blind or have trouble seeing, even with glasses"?
>> It's  important to note that according to the BLS there are three
>> levels of employment: employed, unemployed but  seeking employment,
>> and "not in the labor force". While only 6% of blind working-age
>> adults (aged 16-64) were classified as "unemployed but seeking
>> employment" in September 2010, a frightening 56% were classified as
>> "not in the labor force". As a result of this extensive
>> non-participation in the labor force, only 38% of  all working-age
>> blind adults were classified as employed, with 6% unemployed but
>> seeking work and the remaining 56% "not in the labor force". By
>> comparison, the "labor force nonparticipation" rate for nondisabled
>> adults, including those over the age of 65, is 30%,  so it's likely to
>> be much lower in the working-age population.
>> 
>> Of course I don't really know what "not in the labor force" means. One
>> problem is that people are classified as blind if they answer "yes" to
>> the blindness question even if they also answer "yes" to other
>> questions about additional disabilities.  So at this time there's no
>> real estimate for people who are just blind. I also don't know if
>> someone is counted as "not in the labor force" if they're just not
>> actively seeking a job in the month of the survey. But, clearly, there
>> is a problem if our rate of workforce non-participation is at least
>> double that of the nondisabled population. And, if you look at just
>> those blind adults who are actively seeking work, their unemployment
>> rate is 13.4%--also significantly higher than that for the
>> sighted/nondisabled population.
>> 
>> Arielle
>> 
>> On 2/13/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> > Its an old AFB stastic and I heard it includes those with other challenges,
>> > like cognitive impairment.
>> > For other western countries, goole will help.
>> > Something like the Canadian National institute for the blind may help.
>> > AFB may also have stats for other countries.
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Joshua Lester
>> > Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2011 4:50 PM
>> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] unemployment rate?
>> >
>> > This can be on the NABS list. In order to get a better answer, though,
>> > you must put it on the NFB talk list.
>> > Blessings, Joshua
>> >
>> > On 2/13/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> Dear nabs list,
>> >>   I'm not really sure where to ask, but I have a few questions about
>> >> our infamous 70 percent unemployment rate.  So here goes:
>> >> 1.  When was the last time we obtained statistics about the
>> >> unemployment rate of blind people?  (in other words, has it changed at
>> >> all, because I've been hearing 70 percent for a long, long time.)
>> >> 2.  Does this include cognatively disabled people, or is it 70 percent
>> >> of those of us who are only blind?  (I'm not really concerned about
>> >> how people with other physical disabilities impact that statistic)
>> >> 3.  What are the unemployment rates for other blind people in western
>> >> European countries?  (that one might be addressed to the gentleman on
>> >> the list who suggests we all pack our bags and get the heck out of
>> >> America)
>> >> And finally....  *big drumroll*
>> >> 4.  Of the blind people employed in the United States, what percentage
>> >> work in the blindness field?
>> >>   Best,
>> >> Kirt
>> >> P.S.  That last question wasn't meant in any kind of condescending or
>> >> judgmental way at all, I'm just curious.  As I've said earlier, I
>> >> respect qualified blind people who work in the blindness arena.
>> >>
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Arielle Silverman
>> President, National Association of Blind Students
>> Phone:  602-502-2255
>> Email:
>> nabs.president at gmail.com
>> Website:
>> www.nabslink.org
> 
> 
> 
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