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As Elon Musk looks on, Trump says he's giving DOGE even more power; Officials monitor latest AR bird flu outbreak; NV lawmaker proposes new date for Indigenous Peoples Day; NM lawmaker says journalists of all stripes need protection; Closure of EPA branch would harm VA environment.

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A court weighs the right of New York City noncitizens to vote in local elections, Vice President Vance suggests courts can't overrule a president, and states increasingly challenge the validity of student IDs at the ballot box.

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Medical debt, which tops $90 billion has an outsized impact on rural communities, a new photography book shares the story of 5,000 schools built for Black students between 1912 and 1937, and anti-hunger advocates champion SNAP.

Iowans with disabilities see employment gains but challenges remain

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Monday, October 21, 2024   

State data show more Iowans with disabilities are employed. And advocates with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council point out that - during this National Disability Employment Awareness Month - the increase is positive, but barriers remain.

The latest numbers show almost 91,000 Iowans with disabilities are employed - half of them at least part-time.

Kristine Graves is one of them. She answers the phones at the Iowa Warm Line - a service for people who need someone to talk with but are not facing an immediate mental health crisis.

Graves said while being employed gives her purpose, there is a downside.

"The money part - it causes a barrier to getting services that you might need, because you're making more money," said Graves. "They didn't give you that time - like, 'We'll give you six months to get cut off.' They just kind of did it overnight."

The newest state data show that 6% of the Iowa labor force lives with some form of disability.

Alex Watters, a quadriplegic and member of the city council in Sioux City, is also the alumni engagement director at Morningside University.

Watters said the benefit eligibility issue keeps some qualified people out of the workforce. He said he has had to limit the amount of work he can accept, which he said affects his upward mobility.

"I've had to turn down raises," said Watters. "I have had to deny paychecks through the city or different things, turn down speaking engagement - all because if I go over the income limit, I suddenly lose all of my benefits. And then I'm stuck. Then I'm forced to pay out of pocket, which results in tens of thousands of dollars per year."

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees equal opportunity for public accommodations,
commercial facilities, transportation and employment.




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