Workforce Diversity: Building the Workforce of the Future

Success Story

 Speaker:
Susan Bandy
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Extension of McLean County joined community partners in 2003 to establish a comprehensive community support system that focuses on creating competitive employment opportunities. This project, Employment Within Business, serves the target audience of students and adults with developmental disabilities.

Employment Within Business provides information to local businesses regarding diversifying the workforce, addressing issues of disabled populations, accommodations, litigation, and workforce culture that must be in place to promote a diversified workplace. Extensive educational resources have been developed to provide clear and accurate information to local businesses. This information highlights the many advantages a business can experience by hiring a diversified workforce, including the developmentally disabled. The creation of a comprehensive community support system model will also be shared.

This project has been proven very successful in addressing workforce needs of the community as businesses attempt to train and retain a skilled workforce. This model is applicable in any community.

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For more information about the conference, contact the conference co-chairs: Cindy Bigger, cbigger@umn.edu, (888) 241-0843, or Rick Maurer, richard.maurer@uky.edu, (859) 257-7582.

For questions, comments or concerns about the 2006 NACDEP Conference website, contact emilye@srdc.msstate.edu.