“I think it’s been an out of sight, out of mind situation,” said Carol Glazer, president of the National Organization on Disability. “It’s no different for doctors than it is for anybody else who has limited experience with a certain group of people and doesn’t understand their daily lives, their wants, their needs, and their abilities.”

“There is no excuse for treating an entire class of American workers differently from others based solely on the characteristic of disability. President Biden understands this. He sends a powerful message that all Americans, including those with disabilities, must have a chance to have the financial freedom and security we all desire. “

“As our country continues to grapple with civil unrest and a global pandemic, the time is now for all companies to advance their disability inclusion practices and build a stronger more inclusive workforce,” said NOD President Carol Glazer. “Individuals with disabilities make up 20 percent of the U.S. population, the largest diversity group, and including them in hiring decisions increases a company’s talent pool exponentially. The 2021 Tracker is the only tool in the field providing a company with the data to improve their disability self-ID rates and workforce inclusion practices, as well as offering a deeper understanding of which key activities correlate to improved outcomes.”

Gov. Tom Ridge, Chairman of the National Organization on Disability, remembers the life and legacy of Dick Thornburgh, the 41st governor of Pennsylvania, who passed away December 31, 2020. As Attorney General to President George H.W. Bush, Gov. Thornburgh played a significant role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Before the ADA there were no curb cuts and people who had mental health or what was then called ‘mental retardation’ would be sent away to institutions. People with disabilities weren’t seen. They were out of sight, out of mind. One of the things the ADA did is, it brought people with disabilities into public life,” Carol explains.