Governor Bentley Speaks at Inaugural Governor’s Summit on Disability Employment

By: Jake Jacobs, Aide-de-Camp & Public Affairs Specialist

BIRMINGHAM (Governor’s Office) – Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday spoke at the Inaugural Governor’s Summit on Disability Employment at The Club in Birmingham. The Governor announced the Summit in May 2016, during a tour of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham. The purpose of the Summit is to help increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Alabama.

The host committee for the Summit includes the Governor’s Office, Department of Labor, Governor’s Office on Disability, Department of Mental Health, Department of Rehabilitation Services and United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham. The Summit featured a broad array of seminars and presentations covering such topics as: “Current Barriers,” “Best Practices,” “Success Stories,” “Resources” and a “Governor’s Challenge”.

“I am proud of the host committee and Summit partners who have made this idea a success,” Governor Bentley said. “This Summit is significant for the tens of thousands of Alabamians who are seeking employment despite their disability.”

The Governor’s Summit on Disability Employment brought together key state agencies with businesses around the state to promote recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals with disabilities. Employers will benefit from a wide pool of available talent, skill sets and creative business solutions that are available in the workforce.

“The Governor’s Summit on Disability Employment is an excellent opportunity to bring ready, willing and able employees to great employers,” Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Jim Perdue said. “I commend Governor Bentley for his vision, commitment and leadership to make sure everyone has the opportunity to work.”

There are over 84,000 Alabamians with disabilities between the ages of 16 and 64 that are unemployed or under-employed and wish to participate in the workforce. This Summit takes proactive steps in identifying and removing barriers between these individuals and jobs that are available to them. The Summit was attended by over 100 guests and numerous state partners and businesses from around Alabama.

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