Governor Commends Ticket to Work During Industry Tour Celebration
Governor Mike Johanns praised Nebraska Ticket to Work for its role in giving people with disabilities more opportunities to explore employment options. The governor's comments came during the Nebraska Workforce Development - Department of Labor Celebration of Labor Industry Tour kickoff event at the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004.
The Celebration of Industry Labor Tour honored employers for expanding opportunities for Nebraskans with disabilities. Nebraska Ticket to Work has helped raise awareness among employers with a media campaign about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.
Since Nebraska Ticket to Work was launched in November of 2003, nearly 30,000 Nebraskans have received a ticket from the Social Security Administration, according to statistics provided by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System.
"The Ticket to Work program is one way the state helps link opportunities with abilities," Johanns said. "Because of this program, many adults with disabilities have a chance to pursue meaningful employment opportunities for the first time. Because of Ticket to Work, the focus has shifted from disabilities to abilities. Barriers to the workplace have been removed, and an untapped pool of very motivated workers is available to meet the needs of large and small businesses in every industry throughout Nebraska."
The purpose of the Industry Tour Celebration was to publicly recognize businesses that actively recruit and employ people with disabilities. The Nebraska Workforce Development - Department of Labor partnered with Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation and the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired to present the celebration tour. The initial focus of Ticket to Work in Nebraska, part of a nationwide program, was to point out the many benefits of hiring people with disabilities. These benefits include tapping into the abilities of this underutilized group of people because it's good business.
In January 2004, Ticket to Work launched a media campaign that featured actor Christopher Reeve delivering the message: "It's about ability, not disability." This media campaign was aimed at business leaders in Nebraska and consisted of television commercials and radio advertisements that were shown and heard in every corner of the state. In addition, Ticket to Work launched a two-phased public relations campaign to spotlight Nebraska businesses that hire people with disabilities.
During the Industry Tour, 150 businesses throughout the state were recognized by Gov. Johanns. The tour made stops in Lincoln, Scottsbluff, North Platte, Columbus and Omaha. "These business leaders in our state believe that hiring people with disabilities is not just a good thing to do, but it is good business," Johanns said. The theme of this year's Industry Tour was "Linking Opportunities with Abilities: Honoring Employers Who Make a Difference." "I believe that by honoring employers who embrace the idea of hiring workers with disabilities, we are bringing awareness to a very important issue," Johanns said. "Today's celebration is about helping people realize their true potential. It's about diminishing the false assumptions that become barricades to very deserving citizens. And, most importantly, it's about building better lives for our Nebraska citizens."
People who have questions about Nebraska Ticket to Work are encouraged to call the Hotline for Disability Services at 1-800-742-7594 TTY, where they will be put in touch with people who can assist them through the process.
(September 9, 2004)