Americans Overwhelmingly Support Employment for People with Disabilities

New Harris Poll commissioned by SourceAmerica confirms efforts to increase opportunities for millions of people with disabilities who do not have jobs

Vienna, VA – June 16, 2014: While only 26 percent of employed Americans believe they work alongside people with disabilities, a new Harris Poll commissioned by SourceAmerica shows that 96 percent of working Americans support the right of people with disabilities to be actively employed.

SourceAmerica, a national nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities through its network of over 1,000 community-based agencies, conducted the online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, 18 and older earlier this month to assess current attitudes toward Americans with disabilities in the workplace.

The findings enhance ongoing nationwide efforts to create jobs for people with significant disabilities. Over 50 self-advocates will make hundreds of visits on Capitol Hill this week during SourceAmerica’s annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference to ensure Americans with disabilities have more access to employment opportunities. Currently, more than 80 percent of people with disabilities do not have jobs.

The poll results also suggest that 91 percent of employed Americans believe qualified people with disabilities should be hired for the same positions as those without disabilities. An equally large percentage, 92 percent, believes that it is important for our workplaces to embrace a diverse workforce, including individuals with disabilities.

In addition, the results confirm a 2013 SourceAmerica survey that shows nine out of 10 customers are satisfied that the quality of work from a person with disability is as high as those without, and demonstrates SourceAmerica's commitment to creating job opportunities for people with significant disabilities.

About SourceAmerica
Established in 1974, SourceAmerica creates job opportunities for a skilled and dedicated workforce: people with significant disabilities. We are the vital link between this exceptional workforce, a network of more than 1,000 community-based nonprofits, and the federal government and commercial companies that need the products and services this workforce provides. Headquartered in Vienna, VA, SourceAmerica provides the agency network with business development, contract management, legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology support, engineering and technical assistance, and extensive professional training needed for successful nonprofit management. SourceAmerica is an AbilityOne® authorized enterprise.

Abbreviated Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of SourceAmerica from June 4-6, 2014 among 2,036 adults ages 18 and older, of which 1,126 are employed. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Matt Warnock at mwarnock@sourceamerica.org

About Nielsen & The Harris Poll
On February 3, 2014, Nielsen acquired Harris Interactive and The Harris Poll. Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NYSE: NLSN) is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence and mobile measurement. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA and Diemen, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.

Media Contact:
Matt Warnock
mailto:mwarnock@sourceamerica.org
571-226-4526