DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH MARKED

Cape Girardeau has joined in the observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October with the signing of a proclamation by Mayor Albert M. Spradling III.

Joining Spradling in the signing at the Missouri Job Service office here Monday were Jackie Cecil, manager of the office; Dennis Shuck, employment service supervisor at the office; Ray Doerschlen, Disabled Veterans representative; and Steve Fuemmeler, employment service counselor and American Disability Act representative at the office.

The annual observance is coordinated nationally by the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities at the direction of Congress to help eliminate bias in the workplace and encourage employment of people with disabilities.

"People with disabilities represent the nation's largest pool of talented, skilled, knowledgeable and hard-working persons," said the proclamation. "They are diverse, encompassing the full spectrum of race, religion, national origin, age and gender. Small-business and industry leaders, labor leaders and community leaders have called for a diverse and capable work force to propel our economy into the next century."

Census Bureau figures reveal 49 million people with disabilities in America. Approximately two-thirds with severe disabilities who are eligible to work are unable to find employment.

It is important, said Spradling in the proclamation, for the city to move toward that diversity in the work force.

"I call on all citizens of Cape Girardeau to observe this month with apporpriate programs and activities that affirm our determination to fulfill the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and achieve full employment for people with disabilities," said the proclamation. "Ability plus Diversity equals Economic Strength," is the theme of the observance.

"America has the resources and technology to build a world-class educational system, create jobs, provide training and assure access to the marketplace for people with disabilities," said Tony Coelho, chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. "We have the tools, but for these tools to work we must create an environment that acknowledges individual ability and accepts the value of diversity both in the workplace in the other aspects of our lives."

Coelho also urged business leaders in Cape Girardeau to open the doors to the workplace by providing people with disabilities an equal opportunity to compete for jobs based on qualifications.