Charlie Brereton Director at Montana Department of Public Health | LinkedIn
Charlie Brereton Director at Montana Department of Public Health | LinkedIn
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will host a Disability Employment Conference from May 30 to June 1 in Butte at the Hotel Finlen. This event is designed for Montana businesses.
"The conference will provide employers in Montana with valuable information related to recruitment, hiring, training, advancing, and retaining individuals with disabilities in the workplace," said Chanda Hermanson of the DPHHS Disability Employment and Transitions Division.
Key topics on the agenda include neurodiversity recruitment, mental health in the workplace, service animals in the workplace, tax credits for hiring individuals with disabilities, and wrongful discharge.
Hermanson oversees the Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services (VRBS) program. This initiative helps connect individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities by providing necessary tools for success.
VRBS offers counselors who assist businesses in finding and retaining qualified candidates. They also address accessibility issues, offer consultation on transportation concerns, and provide training on disability inclusion.
Hermanson emphasized VRBS's support for businesses employing or wishing to employ individuals with disabilities. "We can help Montana’s businesses with their staffing and recruitment needs, provide consultation on tax credits, design customized training, and provide assessments to help identify equipment or other accommodations that might be needed to help someone who has a disability be successful at work," Hermanson stated.
The conference will begin on May 30 with a presentation by Mentra on neurodiversity recruitment from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mentra assists employers in understanding how to hire neurodiverse individuals such as those with autism or dyslexia.
There is no registration fee for attending the conference; however, registration is required through Eventbrite. A block of rooms is available at Hotel Finlen at a state rate of $97 plus tax per night. The full agenda can be accessed online.
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