#IWantToWork Campaign

Joyce welcomes Josie Badger, a national disability rights leader and chair of the #IWantToWork campaign and Karen Priore, co-lead of the campaign for Giant Eagle, Inc. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania teenagers and young adults with disabilities want to work. While the state’s unemployment rate is close to 5%, 65 out of 100 Pennsylvanians with disabilities can’t find jobs, or have given up looking for work. At the same time, Pennsylvania has a workforce shortage crisis with more the 200,000 unfilled jobs on any given day. Josie will explain how the #IWantToWork campaign is the opportunity to help Pennsylvania move from rhetoric to action by joining 22 other states in adopting Employment First legislation and implementing policies that lead to more hiring of people with disabilities and providing qualified, motivated workers for Pennsylvania businesses. She will also share with listeners what they can do to support the campaign.