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National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is creating excitement all throughout Bakersfield. The month kicked off with Mayor Harvey L. Hall presenting the HIRE Luncheon, numerous businesses were represented at the Talent Knows No Limits Job Fair and the PathPoint Job Clubs will continue on the last Wednesday of every month. Please check out articles and news releases for information regarding current and upcoming events.
Topic: HIRE Committee (News Release)
Contact: Marlene B. Heise 323-8594 (wk); 978-8594 (Cell) heisemedia@sbcglobal.net
To find out more: www.hire-us.net
The HIRE (Helping Incorporate Reliable Employees) Committee …
Connecting Bakersfield businesses with people with disabilities.
Helping Incorporate Reliable Employees (HIRE) Committee was created in 2005. Dr. Clark, Chief
Executive Officer of Kern Regional Center, was the guiding force in establishing a vision to
assemble a committee of individuals that represent different agencies that support people with
disabilities who are looking for employment.
Mayor Harvey L. Hall was a catalyst for the inception of the HIRE Committee and initiated
conversations with various agencies that led to the development of the HIRE Committee. The
HIRE Committee is a collaborative effort of many local and non-profit organizations joining together
for the greater good to promote the positive image of people with disabilities.
Many times the general public has an image of people with disabilities that isn’t correct. “We know
people with disabilities that are white collar professionals like lawyers,” states Aaron Markovits,
Project Director at the Kern Regional Center. “Goals, hopes and dreams are no different for
people with disabilities than the rest of us. We all want a part of the American Dream so that we
can own a home, support a family and pay taxes.”
The HIRE (Helping Incorporate Reliable Employees) Committee’s work is especially important in
Bakersfield because:
• At least 20% of our population are people with disabilities;
• 40% of working age adults with disabilities live in poverty;
• Two-thirds of working aged adults with disabilities are unemployed;
• 2 out of every 3 unemployed people with disabilities would like to be employed, and
• In Kern County 33% of people with disabilities are employed, as opposed to 64% of people
without disabilities.
According to Mayor Hall, “disabilities do not mean that these people can not be a productive force
in employment. These disabilities shouldn’t discourage employers from employing these
dedicated and productive individuals. That is why community awareness and education is
paramount to the HIRE Committee. “