March 7, 2013

by: Renee Canfield

Impact of Sequester on People with Disabilities

February 27, 2013, Washington, D.C. – Seth Harris, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, told the CEO Council of the National Organization on Disability (NOD) that the federal sequestration cuts would deal a devastating blow to people with disabilities. In particular, Acting Secretary Harris noted that the cuts would lead to an estimated 75,000 fewer people being served by the federal Vocational Rehabilitation program, which helps people with disabilities find work and live more independently.

“These programs are absolutely vital to the empowerment of people with disabilities, and their full inclusion supports our nation’s economic security,” said Acting Secretary Harris. “The cuts are going to mean fewer people with disabilities are going to be able to get a job. Their lives will be diminished and the entire economy will suffer.”

Sequestration is a series of automatic, across-the-board cuts to government agencies, totaling $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

Acting Secretary Harris also noted that cuts to special education funding would potentially eliminate 7,200 teachers, aides and other staff involved in the IDEA process, which ensures students with disabilities have equal access to public education.

Shared from the National Organization on Disability (NOD) website:

http://www.nod.org/news/u.s._acting_labor_secretary_seth_harris_tells_nod_sequestration_cuts_would_/

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