Local Businesses Benefit from Hiring People with Disabilities

On March 17, the South Shore Employment Collaborative, in partnership with the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, and co-sponsors, Work Without Limits and Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, will host a free workshop regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and the benefits of diversifying your workforce by hiring people with disabilities.

The facts show that businesses can actually boost their competitive edge by making people with disabilities an integral part of their workforce and their customer base. The "Diversify Your Workforce" event will include speakers ranging from model employers to state legislators, and cover topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, tax incentives for employers, accommodations for employees, and success stories from the workforce.

The event will kick off at 8 a.m. at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Conference Center with breakfast, coffee and networking, and an introduction to the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress' "Your Next Star" Campaign. The keynote speaker will be Katherine Hesse, an attorney specializing in employment law who will discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, CVS and the South Shore YMCA will share their experiences with employing people with disabilities. To close the event, there will be an individual from the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress who will speak.

Seats are limited, so go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diversify-your- workforce-registration-31636988083 to reserve your space now.