By Cameron Kerkau, managing editor.
UPDATE: This event has been cancelled with plans for it to be rescheduled at a later date.
Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor, Brian Calley, is touring the state with a message of accessibility for workers who struggle with disabilities. On Nov. 15 at 10 a.m., Calley will be joining a panel in the Lecture Theater on Delta’s main campus. Moderated by Political Science Professor Lisa Lawrason, the panel plans to recognize what an asset people with disabilities can be to the workforce.
“I hope that people who attend, especially those who struggle with some kind of disability, will see how valuable they are… and I hope that employers that attend can maybe break down any stereotypes or reservations that they have about hiring people with disabilities,” says Lawrason.
This event is part of Calley’s and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein’s Hidden Talent Initiative Tour, which seeks to showcase the opportunities in which Michigan businesses can strengthen themselves by hiring people with disabilities.
“People that may have physical disabilities, or visual as Supreme Court Justice Bernstein does, have great intellect and they can bring a lot to the workforce but sometimes people don’t think about the added value of making accommodations and helping those people get into the workforce,” says Pamela Clark, Executive Director of the Delta College Foundation and Institutional Advancement.
Clark says that since Delta isn’t a relatively large employer, the topic has been adapted to be more focused for students.
“Students are gonna leave here and go into the workforce. What should they be thinking about as they join a workforce? What about the co-workers they may join? How should they be viewing the talents of those that they would be working with?” says Clark.
The public is welcomed to attend the panel which will be taking questions in a town hall format.
“I hope that this conversation goes two ways. That it’s not just the Lieutenant Governor talking at people, but that people also have the opportunity to give some feedback on the struggles that they have and maybe policy solutions that he could advocate to help address those struggles,” says Lawrason.
Clark says that while Delta does a decent job accommodating it’s students with disabilities, there is always room for improvement.
“I think you can always learn more about different things that you can do to help students learn so that they don’t feel frustrated,” says Clark. “We’re always reaching out and trying to learn.”
Have a question for Calley, but can’t make it to the panel? Tweet it to us @DeltaCollegiate or contact us on Facebook.
