By Caroline Casey: For Complete Post, Click Here…
Its time to end the mass exclusion of 15% of the global population with a disability. This mass exclusion can not be left to Governments and charities alone, it needs the most powerful force on the planet, business leadership. CEOs make choices and choices create cultures.
Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is only too familiar with this, having been instrumental in the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which celebrated its 30th birthday earlier this year. Most recently he worked with President elect Joe Biden to help draft the incoming administrations disability policy statement.
Additionally, in pursuit of the policy issues which he has dedicated his career to, including those relating to disability inclusion, Senator Harkin established the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement, a non-partisan institute.
Is he happy with the progress that has been made over the past three decades since this major ADA legislation came into effect?
“Yes, but in a measured way. There were four goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act: full participation, equal opportunity, independent living and economic self-sufficiency. The last one referring to employment and jobs.
