NOD News
Kessler Foundation Awards NOD $500,000 for Next Generation of Surveys on Disability in America
NEW YORK, NY, January 1, 2010 — The National Organization on Disability (NOD) received a $500,000 grant from the Kessler Foundation to conduct two Harris Interactive polls updating information on quality of life for Americans with disabilities and employment of people with disabilities.
The first poll, whose release will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, will update data on the participation levels of Americans with disabilities, as compared to those without disabilities. The second poll will gather information from both employers and working-age individuals with disabilities to address the issues underlying the employment gap.
Since the 1980s NOD, in collaboration with Harris Interactive, has provided critical statistical information on the participation levels of people with disabilities in key life activities. Says NOD President Carol Glazer, “Kessler’s support means that NOD can continue to shed light on the experience of people with disabilities in America. Moreover, it will help us get to the heart of the employment gap so that we can better understand how to overcome it.”
NOD is a 28-year old non-profit organization whose mission is to expand the participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. With a focus on employment, NOD accomplishes its mission by piloting innovative programs, evaluating results and communicating lessons to employers, policymakers, researchers and service providers.
The New Jersey-based Kessler Foundation is a public charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with physical disabilities caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, injuries to the brain and spinal cord, and other chronic conditions. Through its Program Center, the Foundation provides support that ensures vocational training and placement opportunities for people with disabilities in their communities.
