STATEMENT – 1/30/2025
Trigger Warning: Discussion of ableist language and disability discrimination
Response to President Trump’s Remarks on FAA Hiring and Disability Inclusion
No matter what position you hold or what party you belong to, suggesting that hiring people with disabilities jeopardizes safety perpetuates a damaging stigma against our community that already endures the highest unemployment rate in America. Today, in a press conference at the White House, President Trump attempted to link the tragic plane crash in Washington D.C. to vital efforts aimed at hiring individuals with disabilities. While the disability community finds this statement extremely dangerous, we know that disability rights are nonpartisan, and all communities should be alarmed. Implying that hiring people with disabilities compromises safety fuels harmful stigma against a group that already faces the highest unemployment rate in America.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), a mere 21.3% of people with disabilities are employed, in stark contrast to 65.4% of those without disabilities. Disability inclusion programs, such as those within the FAA, do not compromise or lower safety standards; rather, they dismantle unjust barriers for qualified and capable workers.
People with disabilities are not liabilities—we are valuable contributors to every industry, including aviation and public safety. Suggesting otherwise is not only inaccurate but also exacerbates the deeply rooted bias that keeps our community facing the highest unemployment rates.
It is critical that discussions about employment remain fact-based and fair, ensuring that every individual is judged on their skills and abilities, not outdated prejudices. Instead of casting blame, we should be working to address the systemic barriers that keep people with disabilities out of the workforce.
Below is a link to the full recording of President Trump’s statement. Please be advised: This statement includes inaccurate claims about the capability and qualifications of people with disabilities, ableist language, and a listing of various disabilities in a way that misrepresents disability inclusion in the workforce. Such rhetoric reinforces harmful stereotypes and undermines the contributions of skilled professionals with disabilities.
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