To meet labor demands for employers and improve gainful employment opportunities for people with disabilities, public relations campaigns and expanding workforce models have required creating a working partnerships amongst businesses and employment service providers at both the local and state level so that individuals with disabilities have greater access to competitive jobs.

• I AM SUCCESS/WE ARE SUCCESS

This marketing campaign highlights the abilities of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. The campaign is being linked to the Think Beyond the Label national marketing campaign.

The Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions has created the I AM SUCCESS shows individuals with disabilities employed in a wide variety of industries. The WE ARE SUCCESS marketing campaign focuses on employers, offering resources to employers,
presentation materials, and features employers who have hired individuals with disabilities.

Contact Information: Sheila Mahon-Keene, Sheila@mds-nh.org

• Think Beyond the Label

Think Beyond the Label is a national marketing campaign funded by the MIG's around the US and is committed to making the business case for employing people with disabilities. The goal is simple: to raise awareness that hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense. Employees with disabilities have unique, competitively relevant knowledge and perspectives about work processes, bringing different perspectives to meeting work requirements and goals successfully. The GSEP is partnering with the Division for Resources and Economic Development and Vocational Rehabilitation to create customized web pages for employers to access information and resources available for
hiring an inclusive workforce and tax incentives.

Contact Information: Denise Sleeper-Concord, Denise.Sleeper@dhhs.state.nh.us

• Employment Leadership Award

New Hampshire provides awards to businesses recognized as leaders in their commitment to employing workers with disabilities.

This ceremony highlights employers who not only recognize the skills and contributions that people with disabilities bring to their workforce, but who also adopt inclusive
policies and hiring practices that allow people with disabilities to fairly compete for employment. You can assist in creating a more disability inclusive workforce by sharing information about employers who are successfully hiring people with disabilities.

Contact Information: Denise Sleeper-Concord, Denise.Sleeper@dhhs.state.nh.us

• River Valley Employment Initiative (RVEI) Collaborative

RVEI created a collaborative of “Key Partners” consisting of agencies, businesses, schools, and individuals to develop RVEI’s regional Strategic Plan.

Every agency and business involved had something relevant to add to the Strategic Plan, which revolved around 6 goals, each having a related task force.

Contact Information: Cotton Cleveland-Claremont, cotton@mathersassociates.com

• River Valley Courageous Human Resources Workshop

An intensive workshop on hiring individuals with disabilities. This training was approved for 3 hours of HRCI credit. The centerpiece was a “Reverse Job Fair” where the
participants/employers who were being trained went to visit 10 agency tables to learn more what each one offers. This training was filmed by Steven High School students
and may be borrowed by contacting Cotton Cleveland, RVEI Facilitator.

Contact Information: Cotton Cleveland-Claremont, cotton@mathersassociates.com

• New Employment Options and Granite State Independent Living (GSIL)

This proposal offers employer-based training program to assist individuals with disability related barriers gain independent careers. The Employer Based Training Proposal was developed and written by Jeff Galbo, President of New Employment Options, LLC (NEO), utilizes a program offered by the NH Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, called
On-the-Job Training (OJT). NEO began focusing specifically on career-based employment when considering an OJT program without exception. The OJT program is an impressive option for assisting individuals with barriers due to a disability to acquire and maintain career-orientated independent employment.

Contact Information: Emily Manire-Nashua, emanire@linkabilities.org