Nevada Second in Report as 10 Best States for Disability Employment
Submitted by editor on Thu, 08/03/2017 - 3:47pm
The state of Nevada ranks second in successfully employing people with disabilities, behind Arkansas, in a new report for the 10 best states for disability employment released by U.S. News and World Reports.
The ranking was determined “based on an analysis of each state's gap in the unemployment rate. That gap is calculated as the ratio of people in the labor force with a disability over people in the labor force without a disability,” as stated on the website for U.S. News and World Reports. This means Nevada is employing people with disabilities at a closer rate to people without disabilities than other states.
“We couldn’t be more proud that Nevada’s commitment to employing people with disabilities has been recognized nationwide,” said Don Soderberg, director of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, which is responsible for the state’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation that assists people with disabilities in preparing for and securing employment. “We are pleased to be a major contributor to helping people with disabilities obtain employment and receive the tools and training they need to be successful in the workforce.”
The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation is a government funded program that provides free services to people with disabilities, including job placement, skills training, education support and assistive technology to ensure people with disabilities are successful in competitive, integrated employment, said Shelley Hendren, aministrator for DETR’s Rehabilitation Division.
The Bureau has long been a national leader in its innovative programs for people with disabilities with staff regularly being invited to share best practices with other states. Some of the many services include programs for students transitioning out of high school, business ownership opportunities for blind and visually impaired individuals, training and job placement with numerous employers statewide, including MGM, Zulily, Boyd Gaming, Starbucks, Tesla, Panasonic, Oracle and many others.
“The Bureau continues to engage in innovative practices, community collaborations and staunch advocacy efforts to help people with disabilities achieve their goals of being successful in the workforce,” Hendren said. “We diligently work with employers to help them understand how easy it is to accommodate people with disabilities. When employers see that minimal to no supports are needed for invidividuals with disabilities they are more likely to consider them for jobs for which they are qualified.”
David Sorensen, a former client of the Bureau who now works full time in state government said he is pleased that Nevada has been recognized for its success in hiring people with disabilities and hopes that more employers will recognize that people with disabilities are more than capable of contributing to the workforce.
“People with disabilities are hard workers, dependable and have a great attitude and work ethic,” Sorensen said.
“Before I came to Vocational Rehabilitation I was laid off and was worried that I would end up homeless, as I once was. However, the programs and services I received from Vocational Rehabilitation helped me become employed for the last 15 years.”
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