FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Parks (213) 485-1617
Tuesday, April 9, 2002
City of Los Angeles Launches Groundbreaking Program
to Help Employers Hire Qualified Employees with Disabilities
Actor Robert David Hall Partners to Promote Innovative Program
Los Angeles, CA – In the wake of a rebounding economy, the City of Los Angeles and the newly established WorkSource California centers, serving job seekers and the employers who hire them, will host a kick-off of a new and innovative program, The EmployABILITY Partnership. The event will be held Thursday June 20, 2002 at the Metro North WorkSource Center operated by Goodwill Industries of Southern California, 342 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles at 10:00 am. Special Guest will be actor Robert David Hall from the CBS TV Hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. As a double amputee resulting from an automobile accident, Mr. Hall has become one of the few actors who are recognized for his craft and not his disability.
Corporate and small business employers will be on hand to gain valuable information on legal guidelines and “best business practices” related to interviewing, hiring and accommodating persons with disabilities. The program, administered by the City’s Community Development Department, supports employers’ efforts to build and maintain profits, by providing:
- Information regarding tax credits and incentives for hiring persons with disabilities and for providing accessible work environments.
- Access to a “free” web site that provides legal and professional guidelines for recruiting and interviewing potential employees with disabilities.
- Connection to WorkSource centers located through Los Angeles to assist in meeting hiring needs.
- E-mail alerts of changes in California disability law affecting employers.
EmployAbility Partnership Kick-OffThe EmployAbility Partnership, a collaboration of both governmental and specialized private sector organizations, are working together to improve services to the disabled within the Los Angeles WorkSource California system. This consortium has assisted in the development of innovative programs to help people with disabilities to build careers, and to assist the employers who hire them. These programs include:
- EmployABILITY Network website: provides information to employers and WorkSource staff on disability law, employment practices, and profitable hiring strategies.
- LEGACY Training & Certification: on-line training to equip WorkSource staff to provide high quality services to customers with disabilities.
- Empowerment Team: A group of highly trained disability specialists provide technical support and consultation to WorkSource centers and employers.
- EmployABILITY Hotline: toll-free source of disability-related information and referrals to available local resources.
Within the City of Los Angeles, there are approximately 262,000 persons with disabilities that are eligible for employment. Out of that number, 30% currently work full or part-time, compared with 80% of persons without disabilities – a gap of 50 percentage points. The main reason for this disparity is a lack of knowledge among employers of the work capabilities of persons with disabilities. The EmployABILITY Network (www.employ-ability.org) facilitates WorkSource staff services to employers by providing information that dispels popular myths, and explains the benefits of including persons with disabilities as part of profitable hiring strategies.
“I am proud that the WIB has taken the lead in unveiling this ground-breaking EmployABILITY program, that helps employers tap into the hidden labor pool of qualified persons with disabilities”, said Charlie Woo, President of the Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board (WIB).
Lillian Kawasaki, General Manager of the Community Development Department of the City of Los Angeles states “This program reflects the City’s commitment to ensuring a strong link between business and the disabled community as a significant component of a well-prepared workforce. This effort represents a model partnership between employers and the communities we serve.”
“We are impressed with the initiative Los Angeles City has taken to ensure that customers with disabilities are served through the One-Stop [WorkSource] system,” says Bill Burke, Chief of the California Employment Development Department.
To reserve a place for this event, call (213) 485-4350. For additional information on the EmployABILITY Partnership, call 866-521-7867. For additional press information, contact Susan Parks at (213) 485-1617.
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