United Spinal Applauds Passage of Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act: Jobs Bill for People with Disabilities Passes Congress Overwhelmingly

NEW YORK, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Spinal Association today praised the bipartisan passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by the U.S. House of Representatives, considered by many to be the most important disability legislation since the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990.

With a vote of 415-6 on July 9^th this past Wednesday, the U.S House of Representatives followed an earlier 95-3 vote for the bill in the U.S. Senate. The bill now moves to the desk of President Barack Obama, who has promised to sign the bill into law.

The bipartisan bill had wide support from dozens of business, labor, and disability organizations. 

The legislation will help prepare jobseekers for in-demand occupations in their communities through relevant skills training and job placement services.

Currently 70% of working age Americans with disabilities are outside of the workforce and more than 9 million working age Americans with disabilities are living on government benefits. This legislation will increase opportunities for people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) and for all people with disabilities.

United Spinal Association has worked for many years advocating for competitive integrated economic opportunities for people with disabilities and this important bill helps us get there," said James Weisman, United Spinal's executive vice president and general counsel.

The WIOA vote comes on the heels of United Spinal's signature annual policy event in Washington-DC at the end of June, Roll on Capitol Hill (ROCH), which highlights key advocacy priorities for its membership and the broader disability community to ensure that legislators include wheelchair users and all people with disabilities in policy debates on Capitol Hill.

For jobseekers with disabilities, WIOA sets high expectations, provides youth with disabilities with early-access to employment services and supports, improves employment outcomes by focusing on competitive, integrated employment opportunities, and promotes long-term employment success through customized employment, supported employment, assistive technology and other employment strategies.

For more information about the public policies that United Spinal addresses throughout the year, click here.

About United Spinal Association
United Spinal is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. It played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with SCI/D. United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation that has been used as a model for many United States cities.

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James Weisman
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Contact:
Ahvi Spindell                                                                 
Media Relations Services
United Spinal Association                                             
(212) 580-4567                                                                
[email protected]
Twitter @ahvispin

SOURCE United Spinal Association