New Jersey Governor’s Conference on Employment for People with Disabilities

By Kelly Rouba

In New Jersey, nearly 70 percent of in-state residents with disabilities are currently unemployed. In an effort to combat the staggering statistic, top state officials hosted the first New Jersey Governor’s Conference on Employment for People with Disabilities.

The two-day event took place on October 11 and 12 and attracted over 450 people, was a groundbreaking initiative designed to increase disability awareness among service providers, business owners, and employment professionals. Individuals with disabilities were also provided with resources to better prepare them to enter the job market.

“This conference brought the issue of employment right up there with housing and transportation and everything else, and it shows that it’s an issue that’s important to the Governor, and the Commissioners of Labor, Disability Services, and Human Services, and business leaders,” said Javier Robles, deputy director of the state’s Division of Disability Services and chairman of the conference planning committee.

Although, Gov. Jon S. Corzine could not attend the Commissioner of Human Services Jennifer Velez and Commissioner David Socolow of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development where there on his behalf. The first day of the conference was geared towards meeting the needs of consumers with disabilities. Throughout the day, participants had the opportunity to attend several different employment-related workshops. Topics ranged from knowing your rights on the job to pursuing self-employment.

“Some of the workshops were really innovative,” Robles said. “The whole entrepreneur track is something you don’t usually see and I think the education track received high remarks. The conference was an opportunity for us to touch base with the people who are unemployed or looking for jobs or are in school.”

Another workshop explored work incentives for individuals who are currently receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and are afraid to explore the possibility of working due to their fear of losing benefits. “I think all those things contribute to unemployment, and I think there’s been a long history of encouraging people with disabilities not to work,” Robles said. “Why would you want to work when you can collect Social Security?”

Consumers learned useful job-hunting skills and get the chance to network with employers and representatives from various state agencies geared towards helping individuals with all types of disabilities find employment.

“Consumers received a lot of information about programs at the state and federal level, and they networked with a lot of people and organizations that assist people with disabilities.

The keynote speaker was Ashley Lauren Fisher. A quadriplegic, Fisher co-owns the four-star restaurant Pazzo Pazzo in Morristown, NJ. She also dabbles in acting. Before her diving accident, Fisher appeared on MTV as a dancer and even graced the stage at Carnegie Hall. I remarks concentrated on people's ability to overcome obstacles and get the job done.

“The keynote speaker was great, Robles said. “I think there’s a misconception about the abilities people with disabilities bring to the table and about what it would take to get people working in terms of accommodations, what it would cost to bring them on board, and whether they would make a difference in terms of a business’ bottom line.”

Sherlock Washington, CEO of S W Unlimited LLC and chair of the entrepreneurial track, echoed Robles’ sentiments and said that employers are often afraid to hire individuals with disabilities. “I think it’s because of the unknown variables out there for those individuals who are trying to interview them…they don’t know how to deal with people with disabilities,” said Washington, who has a visual impairment.

The second day of the DiscoverAbility conference was opened by the Commissioner of Labor, David Socolow and attended by business leaders, human resource professionals, and government agencies; The participants were addressed by employers who have successfully hired individuals with disabilities. They shared how hiring people with disabilities can make a substantial difference to their bottom line.

“This type of conference is extremely important, especially the second day, for the companies and corporations that attended,” Washington said. “We get out there and show them the success of people with disabilities; we show them the technology that can be used to help a person with a disability do their job effectively. It will kind of allay their fears and break down some of those barriers.”

Robles added, “I think day two, offer businesses the opportunity to gain a new appreciation for their employees with disabilities. They are definitely motivated and people who want to work. As a person living with a disability, I know they are people with great problem solving skills. They show up to work on time, are reliable, and want to prove themselves. It’s definitely a win-win situation for employers.”

Business leaders also learned about the newly established New Jersey Business Leadership Network, which is dedicated to improving employer access to qualified workers with disabilities; attendees also got to see a demonstration of the organization’s job board Web site, www.AccessibleEmployment.org.

“Hopefully, as the unemployment rate of people with disabilities becomes a broader issue, we will get more problem solving, more employment, and more change for people disabilities,” Robles said.

“This was a great conference,” Washington added. “I am just very pleased the Governor has taken the opportunity to tap into this untapped resource. We are shedding some light on the situation that people with disabilities have. It kind of benefits the individuals (with disabilities), the community, and corporations.”