FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Oct. 4, 2021) San Antonio, TX – At the National Organization on Disability’s (NOD) annual forum, Endeavors Unlimited was honored as a NOD Leading Disability Employer for the second year in a row. Now in its seventh year, the NOD Leading Disability Employer Seal recognizes companies that are committed to building an inclusive workforce by adopting exemplary employment practices for people with disabilities.
Endeavors Unlimited (EU) is a nonprofit landscaping, custodial, and sanitation business that employs people with disabilities, empowering them to achieve independence and stability. EU is a branch of Endeavors that furthers the organization’s mission of uplifting people in need, specifically people who have been overlooked or underserved due to physical or mental disabilities.
Endeavors’ Job Supportive Services also connect people with disabilities to employers. Employers benefit from on-site training, help identifying and obtaining accommodations, and information about tax credits.
“Texas has the second largest population of people with disabilities but ranks among the worst states at supporting and employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said James Bower, EU regional manager.
According to the American Network of Community Options and Resources, Texas ranked 49th in 2019 among all states in efforts to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Americans with disabilities — especially women and people of color — have faced historic employment gaps even though companies employing people with disabilities outperform those that do not,” Endeavors President and CEO Jon Allman said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these inequities, particularly the disproportionate share of people with disabilities employed in the hardest-hit industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its 2020 labor force characteristics, reporting that across all age groups, individuals with disabilities were much less likely to be employed than those with no disabilities.
As of February 2020, only 17.9% of Americans of working age (between ages 16 and 64) with disabilities participated in the workforce, compared to 61.8% of Americans without a disability. The unemployment rate for individuals with a disability also increased by 5.3% from 2019.
EU operates offices in El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. People with disabilities and employers can learn more about the organization at https://endeavors.org/endeavors-unlimited/. Endeavors also provides employers Job Supportive Services in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Employers can learn more about its services at https://endeavors.org/job-supportive-services/.
ABOUT ENDEAVORS
Headquartered in San Antonio, Endeavors is a national service organization that has been assisting vulnerable populations since 1969. Endeavors offers an array of services and programs supporting children, families, migrants, Veterans and those struggling with mental illness, disabilities, disasters or emergencies. Endeavors serves people in crisis with personalized services. For more information, visit www.endeavors.org.
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