President's Task Force for Adults with Disabilities
Written by Becky Ogle
Then executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities
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Tony Coelho Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities;
Ascent and Consummation 1998 - 2001
It is easy to forget the stagnant unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities, especially after the landmark passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of1990, which Tony Coelho introduced while still a Member of the U.S. Congress in 1988. However sweeping the ADA is Tony always said, the ADA isn’t an employment law. It only leveled the playing field and he knew much more needed to be done.
Just as Tony had stepped into the abyss as a young brash Congressman he did so again when President Clinton named him co-chair of a Presidential Task Force
on Employment of Adults with Disabilities created by Executive Order 13078 on March 13, 1998.
President Clinton handpicked Tony Coelho to lead the charge as Co-Chair of the Task Force, standing shoulder to shoulder with esteemed Cabinet Secretaries, despite not holding the prestigious title himself. This decision underscored President Clinton’s recognition of the task force’s significance and his belief in Tony Coelho’s abilities to effectively lead the initiative.
Tony joined forces with his co-chair, Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman, and the other Cabinet Secretaries. They got off to a roaring start, setting a dynamic and collaborative tone for their mission to chart a new course for improving employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Tony Coelho went to work immediately effectively guided and motivated his fellow Task Force members (cabinet secretaries) ensuring that the shared vision was successfully implemented. He skillfully leveraged his leadership to navigate challenges and inspire collaboration amongst the team, ultimately driving impactful and lasting change.
While it’s a monumental task to encompass all the remarkable achievements of the task force, certain standout accomplishments must be highlighted. One such achievement is the establishment of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary at the Department of Labor.
Another noteworthy monumental feat was the task force’s herculean effort in developing a groundbreaking methodology to be used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Up to that point in time, the Census Bureau had not included a question about disabilities and their employment status, making this development a significant advancement.
Granted the Task Force was comprised of Cabinet Secretaries and Tony Coelho, it is safe to say that without the leadership and commitment of Tony Coelho much of the accomplishments would not come to fruition.