Celebrating the ADA
This summer marked the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. This powerful civil rights law, passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. You may be asking yourself, “What does the ADA have to do with Job Corps?” Quite a lot, as it turns out.
Job Corps is important for advancing workplace equity and inclusion for opportunity youth—and that includes youth with disabilities. This program has given many young people with disabilities an opportunity to learn skills and create a path for themselves to transition to the working world. Around 25% to 30% of Job Corps students have disabilities. That includes many disabilities that you might not be able to see, such as learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
These students have a right to certain accommodations they need to be able to learn and achieve success in the program, as outlined in the ADA. It’s our job to make sure they understand their rights, provide for them while they’re with us, and empower them to enter the workforce and continue to advocate for themselves.
A stronger workforce benefits everyone—and a stronger workforce includes people with disabilities. Thank you for all you do to ensure that Job Corps serves as an entry point for young people of all kinds to succeed in their careers.