(Wheaton, IL March 17, 2010) – Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital’s Vice President of Physician Services and Organizational Planning, John Brady, DHA, has been named to the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force.

The Task Force is responsible for analyzing state programs and policies to determine what changes, recommendations, and innovations may be needed to enhance economic and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. These recommendations will then be made directly to the General Assembly and the Governor. The Task Force was formed in response to a number of important findings by the General Assembly regarding employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

The findings revealed, among others, that many qualified persons with disabilities are unable to obtain competitive employment; the unemployment rate for these qualified individuals far exceeds the unemployment rate of persons without disabilities; and there has been a history of barriers to equal employment opportunity for persons with disabilities in Illinois in both public and private sectors.

Brady holds one of fifteen voluntary public positions on the Task Force, which is comprised of both public members and representatives of the state government. The public members consist of statewide organizations, such as Marianjoy, that advocate for persons with physical, developmental and psychiatric disabilities.

While Marianjoy is widely recognized as a provider of high-quality rehabilitative therapy, the not-for-profit healthcare organization also founded AbilityLinks.org, a free, nationwide program dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities locate employment opportunities.

For additional information on the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force and Marianjoy’s involvement, please contact John Brady at (630) 909-7520 or via e-mail at [email protected].