DeWine encourages businesses not to exclude people with disabilities
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WKEF) -- Governor Mike DeWine made a visit to Springfield to speak with a non-profit organization that serves people with disabilities and offers safe, inclusive workplaces for their clients.
DeWine met with representatives at The Abilities Connection on Monday. The governor's visit coincides with Developmental Disability Awareness Month, which is observed in March.
DeWine says getting the disabled the training, practice, and placement into the workforce is fulfilling a need in the community.
“We want more and more people to work in the community," said DeWine. "If you look at people with disabilities in Ohio and across the country, their unemployment rate is two to three times higher than everyone else. We have jobs that are there, and things that need to be done.”
DeWine encourages businesses to not exclude people with disabilities.
“Look to them, because many of them are fulfilling jobs and doing a great job, and what business people tell me is that people with disabilities show up more, they’re more reliable than any other workers they have,” DeWine said.
Jim Zahora, chief executive officer of The Abilities Connection, said TAC in 2020 celebrated manufactured 1 million cargo nets for the U.S. military since 2005.
"A million nets is a lot of nets but that's not really the number we focus on," Zahora said. "This contract, through its million nets, gave jobs to over 500 people with disabilities through the 15 years we've manufactured the nets."
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