BUCKHANNON — The West Virginia Statewide Disability Employment Open House brought together organizations from across the Mountain State to showcase their efforts in supporting employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The open house took place Wednesday, September 25, at the Buckhannon Upshur Work Adjustment Center.
Among the assortment of organization representatives was Andrea Higginbotham, the contract administrator for the West Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. She explained the role of her organization in the state’s disability employment landscape and how the program leverages the state government’s purchasing power to create jobs for individuals with disabilities.
“We are the central nonprofit agency that runs the state use program for West Virginia,” Higginbotham said. “A large portion of what we do is janitorial, but that’s not all; we have all kinds of services,” she added.
WVARF partners with Community Rehabilitation Programs, or CRPs, to hire individuals with disabilities and connect them with employment opportunities through state contracts.
One of the CRPs involved is The Op Shop in Fairmont. Eric Freeman, its executive director, explained how his organization employs people with disabilities, primarily through janitorial work.
“We have about 130 individuals working for us,” Freeman noted.
The Op Shop maintains contracts with Fairmont State University, Meadowbrook rest areas, and various state agencies, giving many of their employees meaningful work experiences. Freeman also shared that the organization diversifies its services.
“We also do screen printing, offset printing—that’s kind of a side business,” he said, stressing that their main goal is to provide a sense of purpose to individuals with disabilities.
Annetta Johnson, executive director of Livability in Morgantown, shared that her organization, a Center for Independent Living, serves people with disabilities across 13 counties in North Central West Virginia.
“All of our programs are for people with disabilities, and we have a wide variety of them,” she said. Livability recently began participating in the CRP program, offering work training through the Division of Rehabilitation Services, or DRS, to help people with disabilities gain the skills necessary for employment.
Meanwhile, Precision Services, located in Gassaway, focuses on document imaging and microfilm services. They also maintain a janitorial contract for the Burnsville rest area. A representative explained that their rehabilitation program teaches workers computer and software skills, helping them develop critical abilities for future employment.
“We create for the customers and give people jobs,” they noted, highlighting the tangible impact of their work on both employees and clients.
Mary Dean, business manager for the Buckhannon Upshur Work Adjustment Center, detailed the products and services her team creates, ranging from wood bases for basket weavers to survey and tomato stakes.
“We make all kinds of things, and 75% of our labor force consists of individuals with certified disabilities,” Dean explained.
She emphasized that their contracts, including a state-use contract for survey stakes, create valuable jobs for people with disabilities in the community.
“We create for the customers and give people jobs,” she reiterated, showcasing some of the handmade wooden items the center produces.
One of the overarching themes of the open house was the collaborative effort among these organizations to improve the state’s employment statistics for individuals with disabilities.
“West Virginia has the highest percentage of individuals with disabilities and the lowest percentage of them in the workforce,” Higginbotham said. “That’s something we don’t like to hear, and we want to try to rectify it.”
The open house highlighted how the work being done by these organizations is part of a larger initiative to close that gap and ensure that more people with disabilities can find meaningful employment.
Brenda Dasher, who works at Livability’s Elkins office, shared additional details about their assistive technology program, which is offered through the West Virginia Assistive Technology System.
“We have different kinds of equipment that you can borrow before you buy it. If it doesn’t work, you don’t have to buy it; we love ADA,” she added, underscoring the importance of accessible technology for individuals with disabilities.
Through partnerships like those showcased at the statewide open house, representatives from these organizations are actively working to address the employment gap for individuals with disabilities in West Virginia. Organization leaders said their aim is not only to provide jobs but also to help individuals build independence and confidence, making a positive impact in communities across the state.
“We’re here to show what we can do for the community and bring visibility to these opportunities for people with disabilities,” Higginbotham noted. “Together, we’re working to change the workforce landscape for good.”
