October is National Disability Employment Month and Ohio Valley Goodwill is Putting People to Work!

SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Goodwill ® is calling on all local employers in both the public and private sectors to join us in making a commitment to hiring qualified people with disabilities. As America continues to pull itself out of the recession, the unemployment rate among adults with disabilities stands at 14.1 percent “” that’s nearly twice the unemployment rate for people without disabilities. This is a shameful statistic that we should all work to address. Employing Americans with disabilities is not about charity. Most employers report no cost or very low costs associated with making workplace accommodations for people with disabilities. Those who do make accommodations for employees with disabilities report multiple benefits including improved employee retention, increased worker productivity, and ultimately cost savings due to reduced turnover. At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we know firsthand the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive workforce and believe that all people, including those with disabilities, deserve to be integrated into the workforce to make our economy stronger. Almost 3000 people annually receive skill training and employment assistance from Ohio Valley Goodwill which contributes to the overall economic health of our community. To mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Goodwill stands with the U.S. Department of Labor and encourages companies and organizations to build more inclusive business cultures that value diversity and encourage leaders to recruit, hire, retain and advance qualified individuals with disabilities. In the end, everyone will benefit. This year please join Goodwill on the occasion of National Disability Employment month, to help people go to work in our community. To find out more about Ohio Valley Goodwill’s programs and services, visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org.