Fall 2005
In This Issue:
- October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Our Employers are Stars - PSA's to air on WRIC-TV8
- Calendar of Events - Schedule of October Activities Statewide
- Resources
- The Bottom Line Benefits for Companies that Recruit and Hire People with Disabilities
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
Throughout the month of October, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), along with community partners across the Commonwealth, will be hosting and participating in events statewide to 1) acknowledge stellar employers who have demonstrated a commitment to hiring people with disabilities and 2) celebrate the positive contributions that workers with disabilities bring to our workforce. This year's theme, "Workers with Disabilities: Ready for Tomorrow's Jobs Today" reaffirms the belief that as companies face an increasing shortage of qualified workers, people with disabilities represent a labor pool of individuals ready, willing, and ABLE to work.
The Department of Labor has provided a free poster that can be used to promote awareness in your workplace. This year's Disability Employment Awareness Month Poster: "Workers with Disabilities: Ready for Tomorrow's Jobs Today" is available in hard copy and downloadable (PDF) format. Go to http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm.
\Our Employers are the STARS of the Show!
Tune in to WRIC-TV8 (covering Richmond and the Tri-Cities) throughout the month of October and hear what some of our local employers have to say about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. The following businesses -- Home Depot, CADMUS, VMeals, Imperial Plaza, and ARAMARK -- will be featured in 15-second commercials beginning October 3, 2005 and can be seen during "Good Morning Richmond" and "Good Morning America", Mondays through Wednesdays.
To view their vignettes, just click on any of the images below. (* You will need QuickTime to view these files.) If you do not have Quicktime, you can download it for free from the Apple Web Site at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html.
These videos are not closed-captioned, so if you would like to read the script for each, you may download it in Word Format.
Calendar of Events
The following events and activities have been scheduled statewide in celebration of October's Disability Employment Awareness Month. Hope to see you there!
October 3- 31
Event: A series of Public Service Announcements (PSA)
Where: WRIC-TV8, an ABC affiliate that serves Richmond and the Tri-Cities area
Details: As part of the awareness campaign, these PSA's will highlight several local employers providing testimony of their positive experiences in hiring individuals with disabilities.
October 5
Event: Awards Luncheon
Where: Town Hall in Marion, Virginia
Details: This event will involve local officials in awareness activities and awards presentations. The Mayor will also declare October as National Disability Awareness Month.
October 5
Event: Manassas Employer Appreciation
Where: Manassas, Virginia
Details: This event is an annual awards ceremony that recognizes area employers for demonstrating best practices in hiring and supporting workers with disabilities.
October 6
Event: Employer Partners Recognition Brunch
Where: Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, Virginia
Details: Hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center for Employment, this event will recognize employer partners (particularly those involved in the External Training Option and Student Internship program) who have assisted in gaining increased independence and meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities.
October 8
Event: Second Annual Regional Disability Awareness Day
Where: Cook's Corner Facility in Urbanna, Virginia
Details: This event will include free health screenings, guest speakers, and vendors from business and organizations. This year's theme is "Love Comes is All Shapes, Sizes, and Abilities".
October 12
Event: Awards Luncheon
Where: Salem Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia
Details: This event will recognize outstanding local employers who have demonstrated a commitment to hiring and supporting employees with disabilities, as well as consumers who have reached successful employment.
October 12
Event: Employer Luncheon
Where: Richlands, Virginia
Details: A local employer will be recognized for their outstanding work in hiring and supporting workers with disabilities. Activities will also include an awards presentation, as well as a declaration from the Mayor that October is Disability Awareness Month.
October 12
Event: Awards Breakfast
Where: Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville, Virginia
Details: This event is hosted by the Martinsville DRS Office, in conjunction with the Martinsville Area Disabilities Employment Network (MADEN). Awards will be given to employers, as well as consumers, in a variety of categories. Featured speaker will be DRS Commissioner, Jim Rothrock.
October 13
Event: Disability Awareness Event and Recognition Ceremony
Where: House Mountain Inn in Lexington, Virginia
Details: Mr. Walter Ghant, Staff Recruitment Specialist with James Madison University, will give a train-the-trainer presentation on teaching soft skills to employees. The event will also include an overview of Employment Network activities and will be followed by an awards luncheon.
October 14
Event: Awards Luncheon
Where: Community Center in Wytheville, Virginia
Details: This event will include awareness activities and awards presentations. Town officials will also be present.
October 18
Event: Employer Resource and Recognition Day
Where: DRS Albemarle Office Building
Details: Hosted by the Charlottesville Area Workforce Network, this combined event will feature various speakers and displays that include the Rehabilitation Engineering Mobile Unit, VATS and many other service providers for employers. The Employer Recognition ceremony will acknowledge local businesses who have demonstrated outstanding work toward the recruitment, employment and support of people with disabilities.
October 19
Event: Recognition Luncheon
Where: Region 2000 Career Center in Lynchburg, Virginia
Details: This event will honor outstanding employers in the Lynchburg area that have been open and supportive of hiring people with disabilities, as well as recognize outstanding consumers who have reached successful employment. Robin Huber, Director of "On Our Own" of Roanoke will serve as guest speaker.
October 19
Event: Awards Program
Where: New River Competitiveness Center in Radford, Virginia
Details: In conjunction with the New River Valley Job Fair Expo, this awards program will be held during lunch prior to the opening of the job fair. Eleven employers and nine consumers will be recognized. A presentation about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit will also be part of the agenda.
October 19
Event: Employer Recognition Luncheon
Where: Winchester, Virginia
Details: This event will include an appreciation and awards presentation to local employers, as well as networking opportunities.
October 20
Event: Awards Luncheon
Where: Crossroads in Galax, Virginia
Details: Galax EAC has partnered with DRS to sponsor this event. The luncheon will involve awareness activities and an awards presentation.
October 25
Event: Disability Awareness Awards Breakfast
Where: Eggleston Services Training in Hampton, Virginia
Details: This event was made possible through a collaborative partnership between DRS, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. The event will honor select businesses who have demonstrated best practices in hiring and supporting workers with disabilities. Presentations will be made by DRS Commissioner Jim Rothrock and others.
October 25
Event: Awards Luncheon
Where: Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia
Details: Pam Clark, Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2004-2005, will speak of her experience as a person with a disability and her work with the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA). The event will also include awards given to Employers of the Year, as well as other presentations.
October 27
Event: Employer Recognition Ceremony
Where: Marriott Washington Dulles Airport in Dulles, Virginia
Details: The keynote speaker will talk about hiring veterans with disabilities and awards will be presented.
October 27
Event: DRS Northern VA Regional Employer Recognition Event
Where:
Details:
October 27
Event: Awards Luncheon and ADA workshop
Where: Holiday Inn in Staunton, Virginia
Details: This event is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Regional Committee for Disability Employment Awareness. It will feature Exhibitor displays, a silent auction, and an awards presentation for Employee of the Year, Employer or Training Site of the Year, Mentor of the Year, and the Pete Giesen Humanitarian Award. The ADA workshop will be from 2:30 - 4:30.
November 4
Event: Awards Breakfast
Where: Stradford Conference Center in Danville, Virginia
Details: This event is a collaborative effort between DRS and the Danville Area Disabilities Employment Network. It will include a breakfast, keynote speaker and awards for outstanding employers, customer achievement and local humanitarian awards.
RESOURCES:
Website for Employer Resources
As workforce professionals know, the most successful companies have identified strategies to retain, retrain, and hire a diverse employee base. The ForEmployers.com website helps businesses tap into a growing labor pool that includes people with disabilities. Whether the concern is age-related conditions, injuries on the job, or bringing on new staff with disabilities, ForEmployers.com can help. Topics include accommodations, demographic data, and success stories. Go to:
ForEmployers.com -- http://www.foremployers.com
Mental Health Friendly Workplaces
Despite persisting stigma and misconceptions, millions of people face mental health challenges. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 22% percent of American adults have a diagnosable mental condition in a given year. Mental health friendly practices can bring companies greater productivity, reduced insurance costs, and improved retention. Workforce staff have identified a need for assistance on serving customers with mental illness and making the business case to employers. In response, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has developed an employer toolkit to address mental health in the workplace. Elements include promising practices, ready-to-use internal communication documents for employees, and supervisor training materials. Go to:
Employer Mental Health Toolkit -- http://www.allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/business.html
source: NCWD/A News (National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult)
The Bottom Line Benefits for Companies that Recruit and Hire People with Disabilities:
- Companies that recruit people with disabilities widen their ecruiting net and increase chances of finding the best candidates to fill the growing number of available jobs.
- People with disabilities are an important part of a diverse workforce. Diverse employees bring new perspectives and solutions to challenges all companies face.
- People with disabilities bring new product knowledge to your business. Features that make things easier for people with disabilities often makes things easier for everyone.
- Skills needed to manage a person's disability (e.g. problem solving, perseverance, planning, people skills) are skills also valued by business.
- Industry reports consistently rate workers with disabilities as average or above average in performance, quality and quantity of work, flexibility to demands, attendance and safety.
- The experience of working with an individual with a disability raises the morale of other employees.
- People with disabilities have better retention rates and are more loyal to the companies that hire them.
- Bringing back an employee who acquires a disability saves in hiring and training costs, lowers corporate insurance premiums and engenders a culture that all employees are valued and not considered disposable.
- People with disabilities command an estimated $180 billion disposable income. Businesses can tap into this revenue by providing facilities and services that are disability-friendly.
- Hiring and accommodating people with disabilities fosters goodwill in your community.
