BRIEF: Disabilities Employment Month Kicks off with awards breakfast

Daily Star-Journal - 9/27/2016

Sept. 27--WARRENSBURG -- Business and community leaders received Rise Up Awards following a free breakfast Tuesday at the Johnson County Board of Services' Ridgeview Café.

The awards recognized County Commissioner Scott Sader, David Young and Cross-Eyed Cricket for their support of disabled community members, and Western Missouri Medical Center and Chrysler Dodge Jeep for hiring the board's sheltered workshop employees, agency Director Scott Holmberg said.

While the breakfast line grew and a crowd filled the dining room, Holmberg in his office said October is Disabilities Employment Month. The message employers should get, he said, is disabled people want to work.

"This really kicks that off," he said. "Chrysler and the hospital are examples of people who have taken our employees and worked with them."

While some ate breakfast, other employees on the workshop floor handled various assignments. One worker, Debbie Presley, put together caps for batteries used by a Warrensburg business, EnerSys.

The workshop provides services to businesses and trains employees, Holmberg said.

"We're enhancing the vocational aspect," he said.

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