_{FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE}

_{July 26, 2024}

_CONTACT:

_{Yanci Nuñez | ynunez@alianzaamericas.org (312) 866-0312}

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Today, Alianza Americas, a network of organizations led by Latin American and Caribbean immigrants throughout the United States, celebrates the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA has made significant strides to ensure the right to equal opportunity for people with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination in many areas of public life, such as communications, education, employment, and transportation.

However, while the ADA is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to ensure that people with disabilities are not subjected to discrimination and fully participate in our society. Good jobs are a case in point. “The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is twice as high as the unemployment rate for people without disabilities. This points to the fact that, despite the prohibition of discrimination in employment of the ADA, persons with disabilities continue to be denied opportunities as a result of their condition,” said Christopher Ramos, Latinx and Immigration Community Organizer at Access Living. “We must address implicit biases in hiring practices and further incentivize employers to hire, retain, and provide accommodations to employees with disabilities,” added Ramos.

We also call on the federal government to create a special visa program for undocumented immigrants who suffer workplace injuries leading to a disability. They are workers who deserve protection. “Employees should not have to endure unsafe work environments, yet many unfortunately do. Undocumented workers, in particular, face a higher risk of workplace injuries compared to other workers,” said Michelle García, Manager of Organizing and Community Development at Access Living. “The federal government can and should create a special visa program, like those created for victims of crimes and human trafficking, so that undocumented immigrants that acquire a disability as a result of a workplace injury can access federal medical insurance programs and public assistance,” added García. 

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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.

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