The California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities

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Benefits to Employers

The California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities offers employers the resources needed to develop an understanding of how people with disabilities can become and remain valuable employees. By increasing employers' awareness of the productivity of this qualified pool of applicants, we are better able to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities as well. As employers throughout California are scrambling to find qualified applicants, we represent the portion of our population that remains underutilized. We are here to help you tap this valuable resource.

  • According to a Harris Poll taken in 1986, two out of three people with disabilities are not working. And of those, two out of three want to work. That number stands today.

  • According to a Harris Poll of over 900 managers, 19 out of 20 managers give employees with disabilities a "good" or "excellent" rating on their job performance. They say employees with disabilities work as hard or harder than their employees who do not have disabilities.

  • According to 75% of the employers surveyed, the average cost of hiring people with disabilities is the same as hiring a person without a disability.

Through our Quarterly Business Conferences, we are able to offer a forum where employers and professionals in the field of disability employment can network with each other to increase employers' understanding of working with disabled employees. Our training programs, guest speakers and participation in our various subcommittees provide employers an environment rich with information and resources. In cooperation with one of our many partners, Pacific Disability Business and Technical Assistance Center, we have helped many employers learn how to interpret and implement the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and numerous other policies for people with disabilities.

Through our Windmills disability awareness training program and other educational and informational resources, we help dispel myths and stereotypes that hinder full inclusion of people with disabilities and can assist employers with all aspects of hiring and retaining employees with disabilities.

Our Youth Programs increase opportunities for youth with disabilities to enjoy full participation in all aspects of life, including education and employment.

"There are thousands of employers in the United States who have made the commitment to hire people with disabilities, and they have learned that this decision has also been a good one for the bottom line of their businesses."

Tony Coelho, former Chair of the President's Committee
on Employment of People with Disabilities


The California Business Leadership Network

The Business Leadership Network (BLN) is a national, employer-led program working with state Governor's Committees and private businesses to stimulate best disability employment practices and enhance employment opportunities for job candidates with disabilities. This program offers employers the following:

  • Pertinent disability employment information;

  • Access to qualified job applicants;

  • A network of companies sharing information on specific disability employment issues;

  • The opportunity to provide training and work experience for job seekers with disabilities; and

  • Recognition for best disability employment practices.

The California Business Leadership Network (CABLN) is an extension of the nationwide BLN. Initiated in 1998 by the California Governor's Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons, and with IBM taking the key leadership role in its development, over 40 companies currently are active members in California.

For more information, please visit the CABLN web site at www.cabln.org

Other Benefits to Employers
Offered by the Employment Development Department

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) -- The WOTC is available to employers who hire individuals from certain target groups, including people with disabilities. Employers may be able to reduce their federal tax liability by as much as $2400 per new hire. For more information contact the WOTC Center at (916) 774-4374 or www.edd.ca.gov/wotcind.htm

Disabled Access Credit -- This tax credit helps small businesses cover the cost of making their businesses accessible. Employers may qualify for up to $5000 in tax credits. For more information, contact the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-11040 or www.irs.gov

Architectural and Transportation Tax Deduction -- Businesses may take an annual deduction of up to $15,000 for expenses incurred to remove physical, structrual, and transportation barriers. For more information, contact the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-11040 or www.irs.gov

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This website and many California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) activities are funded through
Friends of the GCEPD, a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation.

Please send comments/questions regarding this site to: dgounder@edd.ca.gov