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Halting exclusion
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Regarding "Law May Set Hiring Goals for Disabled, Veterans: Businesses Bemoan the Potential Costs" (June 30): Several Pittsburgh companies, including Highmark Inc., Bayer Corp., Giant Eagle, Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, Lanxess and my company, Bender Consulting Services Inc., committed our support to strengthening the regulations associated with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, to both the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the White House.
Pittsburgh CEOs represented the majority of those who, in writing, supported enforcing these regulations as a way of improving employment of Americans with disabilities. Our companies have been hiring people with disabilities for years, not for charity, but because individuals within this talent pool perform and demonstrate results in the workplace.
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) support employment and empowerment of people with disabilities. The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, amid similar protests by the business community. President Bush said, "Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down."
Americans with disabilities, which include veterans with disabilities, really want to work and gain freedom through competitive employment.
Let's celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26 by joining these Pittsburgh CEOs to support Section 503 reform and help to bring down that shameful wall of exclusion!
JOYCE BENDER
CEO
Bender Consulting Services
Robinson
First Published July 11, 2012 12:00 am
