Ways the State Has Failed Its Disabled Population

 

 

Although the state has made substantial progress in the last century, introducing numerous reforms and acts for disabled people, it still isn’t enough.

The government recently celebrated the 31^st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy designed to protect disabled Americans in public and the workplace.

However, research shows that despite all the progress made, there are still underlying issues that impact the lives of people with disabilities.

Economic Well-Being

Studies show that despite the introduction of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the economic well-being of disabled people hasn’t improved.

Actual earnings for people with disabilities grew in the 1960s and 1970s but started to plummet immediately after. People with disabilities haven’t made progress in their earnings over time, despite advancements in education and job opportunities. Moreover, people with disabilities were marginalized in the early 2000s because their earnings remained stagnant despite the economic boom.

Moreover, research also shows that the employment rate for people with disabilities has declined over the past 25 years. The figures account for the government’s assistance and the rise of the tertiary sector. Experts believe the numbers would be worse without governmental intervention.

In addition, studies also show that there’s underlying discrimination depending on the type of disability people suffer. People with mental or cognitive impairment face worse employment outcomes than people with physical disabilities, regardless of the occupation.

Furthermore, people with disabilities tend to earn at least 26 percent less than their healthy-bodied counterparts. Interestingly, research also shows that disabilities tend to have a more detrimental impact on men’s careers than women.

In short, despite the ADA’s introduction, people with disabilities face significant employment and earning disadvantages that vary by disability type and other individual characteristics.

Limited Benefits and Bureaucratic Inefficiency

People with disabilities also suffer because the state-provided benefits aren’t sufficient for their survival. Statistics by the Social Security Administration show that 1 in 4 Americans with disabilities is living in poverty. Moreover, the primary reason people exit the SSA’s program is not that they’re returning to work but rather due to death.

In addition, bureaucratic inefficiency also causes numerous problems for people with disabilities. The government’s efforts to support people with disabilities during the global COVID-19 pandemic have been dismal. The Social Security Administration’s offices were closed for long durations, causing applications to stockpile. Many disabled Americans were left to fend for themselves due to the inefficiency of the SSA.  

Furthermore, bureaucratic inefficiency also results in the SSA approving only a third of applications, causing further stress and problems for disabled Americans.

Seek Legal Assistance to Expedite the Process

If you’re still waiting to receive approval from the SSA, you should consider hiring a social security disability lawyer to assist you. The Social Security Administration states that most applications take three to five months for approval. However, the pandemic has resulted in many applications still lingering in limbo.

A disability lawyer can help assess your case. If you’re living in Little Rock, Arkansas, consider contacting the law offices of Lisa Douglas. They house some of the best social security lawyers in Little Rock. In addition, they also have experts who are criminal attorneys, personal injury lawyers, and nursing home lawyers.

Contact them today to seek their assistance.