Texas HireAbility Employer Forum to Focus on Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining Individuals with Disabilities
Date: Oct. 2, 2019
Media Contact: Cisco Gamez
Phone: 512-463-8556
AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in partnership with the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, Workforce Solutions Borderplex and Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services (TWS-VRS) hosted area employers, human resource professionals and employment stakeholders at the Texas HireAbility Employer Forum at the El Paso Zoo on Wednesday, October 2.
The forum provided an opportunity for discussion on best practices for hiring and retaining people with disabilities, creating a culture of inclusivity through leadership, and illustrating how a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to business improvements.
“We are proud to partner with the Governor’s Committee and we thank our Workforce Solutions board partners for hosting Texas HireAbility events like this one throughout the state to help connect employers to talented Texans with disabilities,” said TWC Chairman and Commissioner Representing the Public Bryan Daniel. “Our Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services teams, in collaboration with Workforce Solutions board partners, work with job seekers who have disabilities and employers needing a talented workforce, so our Texas economy can benefit from the skills and talents people with disabilities bring to every workplace.”
This year’s Texas HireAbility Employer Forum featured national disability employment advocate Michael Murray, Director of the Employer Policy Team in the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor. Participating employers in panel discussions included El Paso Electric, Providence Healthcare and SAP, as well as TWC employment attorneys, experts on the Americans with Disabilities Act, assistive technology.
“As we celebrate the workforce contributions of people with disabilities during October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, let us be reminded that the unemployment rate for people with a disability is still too high and we must continue to make workforce inclusivity a priority,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “Forums like Texas HireAbility which include an open dialogue among stakeholders and leading companies like El Paso Electric, Providence and SAP are helping us pave the way and meet our goal of increasing employment among those with disabilities and for Texas to benefit from a more diverse workforce talent.”
Business Relations teams from Workforce Solutions Borderplex and Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services were on site to answer questions from participating businesses. These teams partner to help educate employers on disability awareness and establishing practices to recruit, hire and retain employees with disabilities. The teams also provide employer assistance with candidate screening, matching and job training – all at no cost to employers.
“I am proud to see our Texas employers attend this forum and learn even more about making inclusion and diversity a priority in their workplace. We continue to encourage all employers to take advantage of this talent pipeline, said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “Resources like the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities webinars and TWC Hireability events are essential to helping Texas employers continue their tradition of inclusion and accessibility.”
For more information about TWC-VRS services, contact your local Texas Workforce Solutions Office or visit our Texas HireAbility webpage at texasworkforce.org/partners/texas-hireability.
###cg
The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.
