: Getting Community Businesses On Board

[Guest guest]

Please forward to Emmet. Thanks Do you know of any mentally impaired adults working in an elementary school? My daughter has been volunteering. She is 20. I would really like any suggestions you may have. Thanks, emmettx4@... wrote: Hi , Thank you for the kind words. I think the best way to gain the attention of local

businesses is to establish a plan with your local groups that have interest in this topic and then give companies information at multiple levels. Remember, the key here is that most businesses are not trying to exclude people with disabilities, but they have a fear of the unknown and they hear things like Target & Starbucks being sued for disability related issues and this piles on to their already established stigmas. We need to get to businesses and show them why they will WIN with an aggresive disability outreach. So, I recommend: 1) Calling your local Chamber of Commerce and asking if they may want information to pass out to members, a story for their newsletter, or to co-host an informational session on business & disability. 2) Call the offices of your local leadership (mayor, state reps, US reps) and ask if they want more information on how to educate the local business coomunity

on the benefits of a disability outreach and ask them to support you moving forward. 3) Going individually to local businesses as a customer and asking about their recruiting/marketiung efforts to the disability community and being able to give them more information if they ask. 4) Going to local and state industry associations and asking them how/if they are including the disability community into their planning. One important thing to remember is that for companies who have worked with special education or vocational rehabilitation professionals in the past, they often report a lack of follow through or "false promises" from these individuals. I think it is important to develop a packet of information and/or partnerships with your local transition program/community based organization so businesses can gain the follow-up that they need. So, if you find a manager

who says, "I really want to do more outreach to the disability community" - you can give information, support, and resources to help them do just that. I have developed a list of 20 reasons why a business should undertake an outreach effort to the disability community. This list can be tailored to each business based on their industry, size, location, and needs. The great thing here is that there are so many "benefits" to sell, but you need people who can help a company develop internal expertise and build external partners. In a message dated 11/6/2006 6:58:43 AM Pacific Standard Time, karenthomaswowway writes: Hi . I am a mother of a 14 year old boy with Autism. You have given me hope

that my son can work in the community he has lived his whole life in. I agree with your Sept. 25 posting to this group that we need to put a greater emphasis on educating the business community that hiring our children will benefit their businesses. All of the wonderful work you have done with Walgreens and other companies has proven that, with the right supports, our chilren can be successful and productive employees. Diversity and inclusion are hot topics now and many companies are more sensitive to hiring and marketing to all people in the community.How do we best do educate our local communities? I live in Naperville but this could apply to any town. Do we get the Chamber of Commerce members, Vocational teachers from the High Schools and local service providers together and show them what has been done in other businesses? Or should we get together a handout on some bullet points and talk to business owners 1

on 1? How would you recommend spreading the word?I've heard you speak at an Autism Community Connection Meeting in Naperville a couple years ago. You are very knowledgable and an engaging speaker. We need your expertise throughout the state!!! Maybe you could train us to be effective job advocates for our children in our own communities:)

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[Guest guest]

This is some great information being shared here today, thank you to

everyone who has posted. On the subject of getting community

businesses on board, one of your suggestions was to approach a

local Chamber; & to remember they may be afraid of 'lack of support

and followup'. You then recc. reaching out to 'partners'....

Let's use the example from earlier today, say she approaches her

local Chamber and they say 'yes!! we'd like more information about

hiring people with disabilities'...then what does she do?

When you talk about local groups partnering, who are you referring to?

(parent support groups, voc rehab people, transition people, who?)

And am I understanding you -- that because we are residents of the

community as well as consumers/customers, hearing from us could

potentially carry more weight with a Chamber than having a Voc Rehab

or agency professional approach them?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/6/2006 1:41:21 PM Pacific Standard Time, jeruefamily@... writes:

This is some great information being shared here today, thank you to everyone who has posted. On the subject of getting community businesses on board, one of your suggestions was to approach a local Chamber; & to remember they may be afraid of 'lack of support and followup'. You then recc. reaching out to 'partners'....Let's use the example from earlier today, say she approaches her local Chamber and they say 'yes!! we'd like more information about hiring people with disabilities'...then what does she do?

** I think it is a good idea to put a small packet of information on business & disability together. Laurie - I can help you do this and you can keep it in a file on here so everyone can access.When you talk about local groups partnering, who are you referring to? (parent support groups, voc rehab people, transition people, who?) ** I am thinking about your local Transition or Voc Rehab people, the individuals that can help you follow-up with services if a business is interested. So, in Naperville you may speak with Cornerstone, Spectrum, your local DRS office, or maybe the Transition Program at 204.And am I understanding you -- that because we are residents of the community as well as consumers/customers, hearing from us could potentially carry more weight with a Chamber than having a Voc Rehab or agency professional approach them?

** Yes, you all have the power - as a customer group you are so valuable to businesses which makes you valuable to the chamber.