Assistant Secretary Neil Romano’s Labor Day 2008 Message
Neil Romano, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy
As we gather this Labor Day with family and friends, let us celebrate the contributions to our economy by all of our nation’s workers with disabilities. This year, let us especially honor our returning injured and wounded service men and women. Our wounded warriors, as do all people with disabilities, want to continue to contribute to the economic growth of America. They are America’s people, America’s talent, America’s strength.
The rapid growth of technology, the importance of human capital in a global economy and flexible work environments are transforming the American workplace. These advances offer new and unprecedented employment opportunities for the nation’s more than 40 million people with disabilities.
Today more than ever, individuals with disabilities have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in the workplace. And our injured and wounded returning military bring unique skills to the workplace – leadership, teamwork, and an accelerated learning curve. In general, people with disabilities offer businesses a competitive edge. They are qualified, dedicated problem solvers with a demonstrated ability to adapt to different situations and circumstances – highly coveted attributes in the 21st Century workplace.
Of course, despite all that has changed, the underlying principles guiding America’s industriousness remain the same. We are a nation of ingenuity and innovation. It’s about talent, and every day across America talented people with disabilities are helping to drive our economy and nation into the future.
For information on supporting our returning injured and wounded military in the workplace, visit ODEP’s new Web site at www.americasheroesatwork.gov.
This Labor Day, I am pleased to pay tribute to the contributions of all of America’s workers with disabilities.
