Enable America Congratulates Voters for Advancing the Rights of People with Disabilities

Tampa, FL, November 09, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Enable America, a nonprofit working to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including disabled veterans and wounded warriors, congratulates voters for advancing the rights of people with disabilities in two 2012 election issues.

“This was a historic election, with the presidential race and many important national issues in the spotlight,” said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Enable America. “But not to be overlooked are the steady advances we continue to make. The results of the 2012 election are further proof that Americans support people with disabilities, and will take action on our behalf when presented with the proper opportunity.”

One of these issues was in Montgomery County, Maryland. Question A asked voters to amend the county charter and give Montgomery County the ability to hire qualified individuals with physical and mental disabilities on a noncompetitive basis. Unofficial results with more than 90 percent of precincts counted show voters agree, by a margin of four to one.

“I’m very pleased with the overwhelming support of the voters for the county’s effort to expand opportunities for hiring qualified people with disabilities,” said County Councilman Philip M. Andrews of Gaithersburg. “I’m delighted and looking forward to working with my colleagues and the County Executive to implement this program which will help Montgomery County do everything it can, as a government, to a be a model employer for people with disabilities.”

Based on the passage of Question A, Andrews says he will introduce a new hiring program to the council next week.

Another issue in Hillsborough County, Florida, addressed a change in the language of the county charter. In prohibiting discrimination, voters agreed the antiquated language of “physical handicap” should be replaced by “disability.”

“Handicap is an inaccurate label and an unfair description for Americans with disabilities, citizens who have not only the desire, but the right to be described in terms of what they are capable of achieving,” Salem said. “Disability means an inability to execute some class of movement, or pick up sensory information, as those who are blind or deaf. But it does not define the potential or capability of accomplishment. We thank the voters of Hillsborough County for recognizing the importance of this issue.”

Since 2002, Enable America has worked nationwide to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year. Direct engagement programs build bridges to employers. Programs that include Career Mentoring Days, Job Skills Workshops, VetConnect, Community Connections and Business to Business meetings all work to educate and unite members of the disability community and improve employment opportunities for the more than 56 million Americans with disabilities.

In conjunction with Veterans Day, Enable America declared November as its Disabled Veteran Employment Mentoring Month. For the fourth annual year, the organization is devoting this month’s programs to serving wounded warriors and disabled veterans.

People with disabilities who would like to participate in future Enable America events, as well as companies interested in sponsoring a program at their site, can find out more and register on the group’s website, EnableAmerica.org.