Diversity Works South Central Indiana

The goal of Diversity Works is to increase employment of people with disabilities in our area by improving awareness among businesses regarding the resources for and the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.

Diversity Works is designed to:

• Provide Monroe County employers with access to an overlooked pool of applicants with disabilities.
  
• Develop and distribute information to companies about hiring people with disabilities.
  
• Network with employers to share information on specific disability employment issues.
  
• Recognize exemplary disability employment practices.
  Assist businesses to access a largely untapped market for their goods and services.

DEVELOPMENT
Diversity Works is a product of the City of Bloomington and a needs assessment completed in 2000. In that year, a number of community members came together to identify gaps resulting in the exclusion of people with disabilities from everyday community life in Monroe County. One of the major need areas identified was employment. The Task Force assigned responsibility for implementing activities to resolve these issues to the Mayor's Council for Community Accessibility (CCA). A subcommittee was formed by the CCA that began meeting in 2001. Diversity Works is a result of information provided by employers, service providers, and people with disabilities about how to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

THE STRUCTURE
Diversity Works of South Central Indiana is comprised of a steering committee including CCA members, employment service providers, and state agencies charged with employment support. The steering committee is charged with ensuring the activities outlined are completed efficiently and effectively.

The Diversity Works business leaders provide direction, feedback and resources as needed. This group is responsible for establishing business-to-business connections and ensuring that the needs of ALL employers in our community are considered in developing resources for local business to hire people with disabilities.