Roy Grizzard has been a role model for many people with disabilities. When he was still in his 20s, Grizzard began to lose his sight to retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disorder of the retina. According to medical experts, about 100,000 people in the U.S. have the disorder.Since then, Dr. Roy W. Grizzard has been a leader in the fight for employment rights for people with disabilities.
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao recently announced the departure effective June 30, 2007 of Dr. W. Roy Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, or ODEP. Dr. Grizzard has led the ODEP since its inception as a separate agency in 2002. No replacement for Dr. Grizzard has been announced at this time.
In a touching tribute, Secretary Chao said, “Roy Grizzard will go down in history as the first assistant secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy.” Secretary Chao added, “He established the first ODEP office. He has worked to advance the agency’s mission to enhance employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. He has been a tireless advocate for helping Americans with disabilities succeed in the workplace.”
Doctors describe retinitis pigmentosa (or RP) patients as having a range of vision that gradually shrinks until it’s like looking through a straw. As the disease progresses, people with RP gradually lose their peripheral vision. Their field of vision narrows progressively until, like Dr. Grizzard, they cannot see above, to the sides or below them. They can see only a tiny circle in the center of the eye. Eventually this vision too, will likely fade away.
Grizzard became legally blind by the age of 40. Despite that, Grizzard earned a doctorate. He worked first as a teacher and school administrator before accepting a position leading a state agency and finally as head of the ODEP.
“A large part of my success was because I came in contact with people who focused on my abilities – not my disability,” Grizzard said. “They gave me an opportunity to succeed, and I took it.”
Throughout his career at ODEP, Grizzard’s goal has been to do the same for others with disabilities. As head of the ODEP, Grizzard oversaw an agency that promotes jobs for the 54 million disabled Americans. The agency provides training, outreach, education, grants, assistance technology and small-business opportunities for those with disabilities.
“One major ingredient to be able to live independently for people with a disability is to have viable employment opportunities,” Grizzard said. He added that he has been proud to help individuals with disabilities “to be able to live independently, to be able to support their families and to be integrated in a competitive work force.”
Under Grizzard’s leadership, the agency has also built partnerships with employers and state and local agencies to raise awareness of the benefits that disabled workers bring to the workplace. One of those was the much ballyhooed alliance with SHRM, the Society of Humane Resource Managers. SHRM is the largest organization of Human Resource Managers, with 500 chapters across the globe.
“Hiring people with disabilities is good business for business,” Grizzard said. “People with a disability provide a loyal employee – an employee who’s going to give a good day’s work for a good day’s pay.”
Reflecting on his time at the ODEP, Grizzard admitted covering many bases. “I’m a cheerleader, I’m a preacher, I’m an encourager. As Assistant Secretary I have responsibility for providing leadership to the office to do all of those things,” he said.
Dr. Grizzard admits mixed emotions regarding this major life change. He will miss the daily interaction with his staff, but is looking forward to spending more time with his family.
A resident of Ashland, Virginia, Grizzard will no longer have to take the train to Washington every Monday and return on Friday to spend the weekend at his family’s home. His wife, Nancy, is a real estate agent in Ashland. Grizzard’s three children and three grandchildren all live in the area.
On a personal note, Secretary Chao added,”[Dr. Grizzard’s ] colleagues at the U.S. Department of Labor wish him, his wife Nancy and their family well in this new chapter of their life.”
