Enable America Applauds President's Plan to Help Military Veterans

Washington, DC, November 13, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Enable America, a non-profit organization devoted to empowering people with disabilities to achieve independence through employment, is applauding President Barack Obama’s executive order on behalf of military veterans looking for work.

“Just as we have supported wounded warriors in improving job opportunities through employment mentoring programs, President Obama understands the need to support the brave men and woman who have served our country,” said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Enable America.

On Monday the President created the Council on Veterans Employment, part of a program designed to make the federal government a model for employment of military veterans. The program aims to provide more federal employment opportunities for veterans, while creating an example for civilian businesses to follow.

“Honoring our sacred trust with America’s veterans means doing all we can to help them find work when they come home so they never feel as if the American Dream they fought to defend is out of reach for them and their families,” the President said. “But this initiative is about more than repaying our debt for their courageous service and selfless sacrifice. It’s also about continuing to fill the ranks of federal employees with men and women who possess the skills, dedication, and sense of duty that Americans deserve from their public servants. And few embody those qualities like our nation’s veterans.”

The President’s action creates an interagency Council on Veterans Employment that will advise the President and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management on the employment initiative. It will be chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

“Veterans have shown unmatched dedication to public service,” Secretary Shinseki said. “They offer leadership and technical skills that are in high demand, whether in the public or private workforce.”

Enable America has been working this month to support veterans as well, coordinating on-the-job employment mentoring programs to those with disabilities. To promote the effort, Enable America declared November Disabled Veterans Employment Mentoring Month.

Enable America is well positioned to mentor disabled veterans, as the organization has a strong history of supporting wounded warriors. Its VetConnect program enhances existing rehabilitation programs for wounded war fighters. To date VetConnect has assisted more than 200 veterans and their families by linking them to peers who share similar experiences.

“Employment mentoring provides invaluable experience to all people with disabilities,” said Steve LaBour, Executive Director of Enable America. “Given Enable America’s VetConnect experience, and the growth of our mentoring program, focusing November on helping to improve job opportunities for wounded warriors is an ideal way for us to help those who have sacrificed so much and ask for so little in return - a job.”

Disabled veterans interested in signing up for the program, as well as businesses that want to learn more about serving as mentor organizations, are encouraged to contact Enable America through its web site, EnableAmerica.org, or by calling 877-ENABLED.

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About Enable America: Enable America was established in 2002 by attorney Richard Salem as a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities, including our nation’s wounded warriors.