The Land of Opportunity Broadens for those with Disabilities 
Business network forum focuses on corporate accessibility.

BALTIMORE – The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and the Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities will join Baltimore-area business leaders on Friday, April 20, 2007 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Eastside One-Stop Career Center located at 3001 East Madison Street during a business network forum “Making the Case for Accessibility in the Corporate Environment” to spotlight the need for key decision makers to adjust the workplace in order to secure and maintain a diverse and qualified workforce – which includes those candidates with disabilities.

Top executives from global-based businesses will share their insight on the importance of accommodating the need for those with disabilities, the recruitment process, the return on investment, virtual outsourcing and positive outcomes. Global corporations who are taking the lead in making corporate accessibility for anyone with a disability will present a case statement for their reason in hiring those individuals. Forum participants include:

Nicole Dechirico, vocational specialist, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Creative Alternatives Program, K. Anne-Rivers Forchke, Worldwide public sector marketing manager IBM Research: Human Ability & Accessibility Center, Merry Korn, CEO and Mike Testa, CIO, Pearl Interactive and Katherine McCary, vice president of ACT and president of US Business Leadership Network.

As an increasing population of the workforce ages, disabilities are becoming more prevalent. According to the American Association of People with Disabilities, more than 50 million Americans are living with some form of disability. One out of every five Americans have a disability. Nearly half the people with disabilities are of an employable age. However, only one-third are employed, and the percentage who say they want to work has increased.

With the imminent workforce deficit ranging in the millions because Baby Boomers are retiring and leaving traditional employment, there is a great need to hire qualified, skilled candidates to fill those positions.

To participate in this free business network forum, please call 410-396-9030.