The focus of this section is on one of the most underutilized minority—people with disabilities. According to the Disability Funders Network, the disability community is the largest minority group in the U.S. Between 1990 and 2000 the number of Americans with disabilities increased 25 percent, outpacing any other subgroup of the U.S. population. Estimates suggest that there are over 9.6 million unemployed working-age people with disabilities who would prefer to be working.
 

Many U.S. employers fear that the reasonable accommodations required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will lead to costs that are prohibitive. However, the average accommodation expense is less than $500 and may cost under $200. In addition, tax incentives and other monetary payments may be available. Employers may be unaware of the many resources available to help them.
 

Another misperception of employers is that people with disabilities are not likely to be the best qualified applicants for professional jobs in their agencies or organizations. Focusing on what workers with disabilities cannot do, they remain unaware of the wide range of skills knowledge and abilities present in this population.

Additional information is available via the Resource Box.