The Able to Work Consortium is a group of business leaders focused on facilitating a fundamental shift in attitudes and awareness about the abilities of people with disabilities. It is managed by the National Business & Disability Council, a leading national resource for the successful integration of persons with disabilities into the workforce and consumer marketplace.

The Consortium’s main goals are to 1) increase employment of persons with disabilities, 2) demonstrate successful employment strategies and best practices, 3) raise public awareness of the value of employees with disabilities bring to the workplace and 4) establish partnerships with corporations to advance the mission of the Able to Work .

The goals and objectives of the Consortium are certainly being met according to Jeffrey Schaffer. Jeffrey was in a car accident that left his hip shattered on one side and his foot crushed on the other side. Jeffrey became an advocate for individuals with disabilities in his firm. He formed a task force to improve employment opportunities within the company and for the 54 million individuals with disabilities in this country.

In agreement with Jeffrey’s views, the Consortium believes that what makes an organization ready to assimilate individuals with disabilities are advocacy, awareness and accommodations. The senior leaders of companies and corporations must advocate treating individuals with disabilities as a valued and important segment of a diverse employment base. The communications, human resources and training experts in the organization must collaborate to raise the awareness of all employees on the value, rights, desires and diversity of members of this group.

The Consortium is working to make sure that recruiters and managers with hiring authority gain more comprehensive training. While the numbers of unemployed disabled citizens who are capable of working is quite staggering (81%), 79% would prefer to be working. As the Consortium works to decrease the number of capable unemployed citizens with disabilities, it is important that companies and corporations take the initiative to learn more and do more.

For more information on projects of Able to Work, write to Able to Work c/o National Business & Disability Council 201 I.U. Willets Rd., Albertson, NY 11507, or call (516) 873-9607. You may also visit their website at www.abletowork.org.