National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Recently, the Tuscarawas County Commissioners signed a resolution naming October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Tuscarawas County. The resolution was requested by Natalie Lupi, Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities superintendent. “Expectation plus Opportunity equals Full Participation” is the official theme for October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It is intended to urge employers, as they seek to fill positions, to embrace the richness of America’s diversity by considering the talents of all workers, including workers with disabilities. “This is a time when our organization focuses on encouraging local employers to better understand the individuals we serve and to recognize an untapped workforce. Many people with disabilities are very willing and able to work in the community,” said Lupi.This year’s theme emphasizes the vision of the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): a world in which people with disabilities have unlimited employment opportunities. ODEP is the nation’s first assistant secretary-led office that addresses policies that impact upon the employment of people with disabilities. Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities shares that vision at a local level. One way the agency works toward that vision is through its Independence program.
Independence was founded in 1983 to offer job assessment, job placement, job training, and job follow-along to adults with special needs. The program’s goal is to improve the quality of life for adults with special needs by providing vocational services to find community employment. Services are offered at no cost to the employer or individual. For information on the Independence program, contact Tim Everline, Independence manager, at 330-339-9683.
Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities also encourages community members to participate in its community forum to share any questions or concerns. The forum has two scheduled sessions on Oct. 13, from 10-11 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. at the board office in Monroe Centre. For information, contact Erin Jones at 330-339-9573.