Supporting Employment for People with Disabilities

By Marianne Durrant

Part of our agency’s mission is to walk alongside people as they fulfill lives of endless possibility. For many people we support, that includes their ability to pursue meaningful careers in fields they are passionate about.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is recognized every October and celebrates the talent and skills people with disabilities bring to the workforce. In 2023, it was reported that 22.5% of people with a disability were employed, the highest recorded ratio in our nation’s history. Yet, this is only about half of the employment rate for people without a disability.

Our Project SEARCH program was established as a partnership between Heritage Christian Services and the Jewish Home to provide people with disabilities training in the soft skills required to succeed in a variety of professional environments. We’ve had the pleasure of supporting people since the program’s inception in finding jobs that align with their personal interests. They are writing newsletters for senior living facilities, working in human resources roles, supporting the technical direction for local news stations and so much more.

Being employed can open the door for a person to feel more confident in themselves and be a part of a welcoming community. We owe it to people with disabilities to provide them with welcoming communities that can sustain them, and for many, that can mean a healthy and supportive workplace.