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Over the New Year holiday, I reflected on the activities the The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (the "GCEPD") undertook in 2011. It was a busy year!

Members of the committee attended the Business and Industry Expo as well as the Society for Human Resource Management annual conference. Both venues allow businesses the opportunity to access information about the GCEPD and how we can be of assistance. During my shift, I was heartened by the number of folks who came by and wanted to learn more about employing people with disabilities.

In October, we collaborated with St. Michael’s College to sponsor “The Art of Possibility: Living and Working with a Disability”. Members of the GCEPD worked with faculty, staff, and students from St. Mike’s to create an event that focused on the realities, challenges, and rewards of hiring and including individuals with a disability in the workforce. Instructor of Philosophy Patrick Standen offered an inspiring keynote address that challenged the participant’s notions of what consitutes a disability. He also set the tone for a day filled with candid, vibrant interactions between the particpants and panel members. Participants were able to experience activities such as wheelchair basketball, hand cycling, beep ball, and bocci ball. Since these programs were held outside and in public areas, we had multiple passersby stop, visit, and experience something new. Our first panel focused on the benefits of being a true equal opportunity employer. The presenters dove into the nuts and bolts practical rewards of including individuals with disabilities on their workforce teams. While their messages focused on the practical, the result was inspiring as myths were raised and exploded. Our second group of panelists consisted of employees with disabilities who shared the wisdom gained from their employment experiences. The discussion was lively, frank, and galvanizing.
 

In addition to the folks from St. Mike’s and the GCEPD who put together a solid program, I want to thank Patrick Standen for his intriguing keynote address. Kudos go to the employers who encouraged the rest of us to broaden our hiring practices. They included Jodi Whalen, the owner of August First Bakery in Burlington; George Murphy, the general manager of Shaw’s Supermarket in Montpelier, James Constantino of Aramark at Johnson State College, and Jackie Murphy, Director of Admissions at Saint Michael’s College. I was very proud to also be a member of this panel, accompanied by Dave Lawrence, an X-Ray Technologist at Copley Hospital. Our deep thanks also go to the members of the disability community who provided their insights. They included Owen Milne, (former) Development Director, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility; Ben Chater, Esq.; Cleary Buckley, architect; Ed Paquin, Executive Director, Disability Rights Vermont; and Eric Rose, Director of IT, Vermont Country Store.

You can read more about this event in our March newsletter!

And so we begin another year with several initiatives simmering. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do for you, our current activities, or becoming a member of the GCEPD, please contact GCEPD Executive Coordinator Melita DeBellis at melita@gcepd.org or call 802-434-6600. 

Sincerely,

 April Tuck, Chair of the GCEPD