Twenty years ago, the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gave people with disabilities better access to goods, resources and services, including job opportunities.

While people with disabilities have made great strides since this landmark civil rights law was signed on July 26, 1990, this group of Americans still has a higher than average unemployment rate at more than 14 percent, and they make up just about 22 percent of our workforce, compared to nearly 71 percent of people without disabilities.

Goodwill Industries has served people with disabilities for over a hundred years. The organization provides job training and the career support people need to find jobs, earn paychecks and take care of themselves and their families.

People with disabilities sometimes face negative stereotypes; however, they have skills and talents just like other workers and offer a unique perspective that brings diversity to a workplace. Contrary to popular belief, many people with disabilities require little to no accommodations to do their jobs.

Goodwill believes that people with disabilities are an asset to the workplace, and we encourage employers to be more inclusive of people with disabilities.

Brooke LochoreVice president, public relationsGoodwill Industries of Tallahassee, Fla.