On Friday, September 28, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce will host a first-of-its-kind event, the Project Ability Summit, from 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Morgan’s Wonderland Event Center. At the onset of his chairmanship of your Chamber, Shaun Kennedy launched a task force to look into ways for businesses to recruit, onboard, and retain individuals from the intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) community. Knowing from personal experience the great potential, motivation and talent within the community, Shaun convened the Project Ability Task Force. Representatives from H-E-B, Whataburger, Bank of America, Morgan’s Wonderland, the Unicorn Center, SA Works, and Lighthouse for the Blind came together to join Shaun’s efforts.
During the exploratory phase, the task force identified both issues of concern and cases of success related to hiring people with IDD. On a mission to raise awareness and develop resources for the business community the group brought Texas Workforce Solutions – Vocational Rehabilitation, Alamo Area Council of Governments, and Workforce Solutions Alamo into the conversation.
The Project Ability Summit was designed by the task force with the objectives of fostering a productive conversation about: best practices for recruiting, onboarding, training, and retaining people from the IDD community; resources available for facilitating and guiding both organizations and employees; open conversation about concerns, challenges, and perceptions of hiring people from the IDD community; and understanding of how school districts prepare students for employment.
The Summit will feature an overview of facts, statistics, and workforce opportunities among the IDD population. Panel discussions will include the business perspective as well as resources offered by agencies and school districts for companies interested in starting or enhancing recruitment efforts. There will also be an opportunity for small group discussions among attendees to spark productive conversation about ways the business community can include the IDD community as part of their workforce recruitment strategies.
To be a part of this groundbreaking initiative, register here.
This event is free thanks to the generous support of Morgan’s Wonderland, H-E-B, Whataburger, Bank of America and Texas Capital Bank.
