ROANOKE – Less than 20-percent of people with a disability are employed across the country.
Lutheran Family Services is working to change that by helping people find and keep jobs.
They have a new space at the Minnick School where students can learn new skills and be evaluated.
They work with each person while they are looking for a job, identify their strengths, interests and help them through the application process with resumes and interviews.
The goal is to get them a job within three months.
Once they get a job, the person can get training and job coaching at no cost to the employer.
The Supported Employment Coordinator says people with disabilities are under employed and it's a real problem.
"We know the people with disabilities have strong work ethic. We know that they deserve every single opportunity any of the rest of us have. Just because somebody has a disability does not mean that they are not fully qualified to do a variety of positions in the community," said Ashley Thompson, with Lutheran Family Services. "Every single one of the students that comes through this program has brilliant skills and abilities and we match them with the right job in the community where those abilities and talents can shine."
They always need employers willing to take on new people. She says it's easier than people think to hire people with disabilities and you can get tax credits.
If you want more information or are interested in being an employer you can contact:
-Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services: (540) 204-9725
-Ashley Thompson at Lutheran Family Services: 540-774-7100 x1044 or athompson@lfsva.org