During a joint hearing, this past week, of the House Ways and Means Subcommittees, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) emphasized the need to remove systemic barriers that prevent Americans with disabilities from fully participating in the workforce.
“America should always be the land of opportunity,” Yakym said during the hearing titled Untapped Talent: Advancing Employment Opportunities for Americans with Disabilities. “Government has a responsibility to help bring that opportunity closer to every citizen. If someone wants to work, we must make sure they have every chance to do so—especially Americans with disabilities.”
Yakym specifically called for reforms to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) system, urging improvements to the return-to-work process for beneficiaries. He also stressed the importance of protecting ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) savings accounts so that individuals with disabilities can build financial independence without jeopardizing their eligibility for essential government benefits.
The congressman spotlighted two Indiana-based organizations as successful models for empowering individuals with disabilities:
ADEC (Elkhart County): This nonprofit provides tailored training and job placement services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ADEC’s Skills and Training Center focuses on matching each person’s unique abilities and goals with meaningful employment opportunities in the local community.
Bosma Enterprises (Indianapolis): A leading employer of blind and visually impaired individuals, Bosma offers training and job opportunities in fields such as logistics, IT, packaging, and health products. The organization partners with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and plays a significant role in the federal AbilityOne program, which provides jobs for people with significant disabilities.
Rep. Yakym praised these organizations for “leading by example” and showing how public-private collaboration can improve outcomes for people with disabilities. He called on Congress to look to such programs when crafting policies aimed at expanding workforce inclusion.
The full hearing is available to view online through the House Ways and Means Committee’s website.
