Employment is more than what we do; for many, it is our identity. Additionally, the employment of people with disabilities is seen not only as a civil rights issue but also as a practical factor for business. However, in 2020, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 17.9 percent of individuals with a disability were employed, down from 19.3 percent in 2019. For those without a disability, 61.8 percent were employed in 2020, down from 66.3 percent in 2019. Unemployment rates for persons with and without a disability both increased from 2019 to 2020, to 12.6 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Data on both groups for 2020 reflect the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. But the numbers are vastly different between the two groups, and there is a critical need to shrink that gap.¹

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