[Nfbc-info] Can someone explain

Sun Jun 14 19:36:07 UTC 2009

Hi Mike, 

I believe the difference you find is that "mental impairment" is a very
large classification. I know you noted that there are various causes of
blindness. However, all of these causes lead to the different
progressions of the same end result. However, "mental impairments" are
numerous. Additionally, the impairments do not all have the same causes
nor the same symptoms. They are not all varying degrees along the same
spectrum. Thus, I think lumping them all together, particularly for this
exercise, does not parse out your data enough in order to draw any
meaningful conclusions. If you wish to draw a meaningful conclusion
about employment of people with disabilities, you need to separate out
all of the disabilities. Even in the category of mental impairment for
example, Schizophrenia is much different than say a Learning Disability.
Both of these disabilities have different causes and symptoms, and would
most definitely have much different impacts on one's ability to gain
employment. 

Best-

Jonathan

Jonathan T. Lyens MPA 
Email: jonathan at lyens.com 
Fax: (321) 256-8896 
Skype: jlyens 
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Michael Peterson
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 7:16 AM
To: NFB of California List
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Can someone explain

    Hi Angela. Just as blindness encompasses a variety of conditions
mental 
impairment encompasses everyone from a slow learner to some one with a 
severe mental impairment.
My problem with this site isn't their definition of mental impairment
That 
90% comes from a different article.
My problem is the site says unemployment statistics are totally schewed
and 
that the unemployment rate for those with disabilities though three or
four 
times higher than the main stream and are actually   only 30per cent or
40 
per cent.
My request for clarification regarding the mental impairment statistic 
ismade because
 those who compile and use the statistic that states the blind are the 
highest underemployed group must have access to the other statistics 
including the statistics for mental impairment otherwise they wouldn't
make 
the claim that the blind are the highest 70% to 76% unemployed.
They didn't just dream up that statistic they had to be familiar with
the 
disabilities literature to make the claim.

The site I was looking at suggests those figures are vastly inflated by
the 
blind and other disability groups maybe unintentionally.
I don't agree with this site's challenge but I'm looking for information

that will refute it.
Just by knowing blind persons and who works and who doesn't I see the 
probability of our statistic being right and one thing not taken in to 
account those who are not in the work force for x number of months or
years 
drop of the "unemployment roles although they still are unemployed. The 
author of the site says college students aren't considered as unemployed
if 
they are full time but in fact a college student recently laid off or
fired 
who decides to go back to school could be a part of the unemployment
rate 
and might even be drawing unemployment.

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Angela fowler" <fowlers at syix.com>
To: "'NFB of California List'" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 4:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Can someone explain

> Define "mental impairment."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On
> Behalf Of Michael Peterson
> Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:27 PM
> To: NFB of California List
> Subject: [Nfbc-info] Can someone explain
>
> Hi all.  This week my 680 seminar in rehabilitation class is having a
> discussion on mental impairment.
> During this discussion the statistics cited suggest the unemployment
rate
> for people with a mental impairment is about 90 per cent.
> We on a regular basis say that the blind are the highest unemployed
> disability group with about 76 to 80 per cent unemployment.
> Which is correct and how can I verify the figures are misused if the
> mentally impaired aren't the highest unemployed population?
> Thanks
> Mike
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