Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities

Mark Schultz, the current Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), discusses the tremendous potential of people with disabilities to successfully obtain jobs in the community. Commissioner Schultz stresses the importance of high expectations - that all people with disabilities can and should work and be able to pursue their dreams. He identifies some of the key issues that should be considered and programs/initiatives that may be helpful throughout an individual’s employment journey, even in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.TranscriptRon Hager:This is Ron Hagar with the National Disability Rights Network. And with me is Mark Schultz, who's the assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, or OSERS. He's also the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, RSA. Where are you? Are you in Washington?Mark Schultz:No, I'm actually in Nebraska.Ron Hager:You're in Nebraska and I'm in Buffalo, New York.Mark Schultz:Yeah. It's amazing how much we've been able to accomplish through this.Ron Hager:Yeah, yeah. So Mark, such a pleasure to have you with us this afternoon. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us today…