Improving the employment opportunities of Arkansans with developmental disabilities is the goal of a program announced at the state Capitol today.
Melissa Stone, Director of the Division of Disability Services at the Department of Human Services says the number of people with disabilities in the workforce has increased over the past few years.
"We have people of all different capacities working at grocery stores, at gas stations, answering the phone for the governor's office, working at our store at DHS. I think these people are capable of doing everything," Stone said.
Stone hopes a program scheduled for later this month encourage more employers to hire those with disabilities.
"We're encouraging businesses across the state to allow a client with disabilities to come in and shadow them at their job, to show the potential that our clients have and to show our clients different work opportunities," said Stone.
The day of shadowing is scheduled for March 21.
Governor Asa Hutchinson proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
