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Value of employees with disabilities celebrated in October
October 20, 2016
Oct. 20, 2016FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Shown above, from left, are state Rep. Vanessa Guerra, Lelon Chism of Saginaw, state Rep. Jim Runestad and Shelby Hall of Milford.
LANSING, Mich. – Shelby Hall of Milford took her state representative to work to help Hall make pizza as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Lelon Chism of Saginaw gave a few pointers on basketball to his state representative at Chism’s job at the Saginaw YMCA.
Take Your Legislator to Work is part of an October-long celebration in Michigan of the contributions of workers with disabilities. October also is Investing in Abilities Month in Michigan, celebrating the value of a diverse workforce that is inclusive of the skills and talents of people with disabilities.
Hall, who has a developmental disability, had state Rep. Jim Runestad of White Lake job shadow her at Little Caesars in Milford. Chism, who has an intellectual disability, took state Rep. Vanessa Guerra of Saginaw to work with him.
Gov. Rick Snyder proclaimed October as Investing in Abilities Month to encourage employers to hire qualified people with disabilities while focusing on their abilities and increasing the public’s awareness of the contributions and skills of Michigan workers with disabilities.
This year, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council, both part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, are promoting the month with various activities in October and in other months as well.
Michigan Rehabilitation held its annual 2016 MRS Champion Awards Ceremony in conjunction with the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services on Sept. 8. The Developmental Disabilities Council is holding its annual “Take Your Legislator to Work” campaign throughout the months of July to October. The campaign concludes with a closing ceremony 10 a.m. Oct. 28 in Constitution Hall, 528 Allegan St., Lansing.
The national theme for 2016 is “#Inclusion Works” – with the hashtag intended to spur individuals and groups to post images and stimulate discussion on social media about the many ways “inclusion works.”
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