Are you a business owner who's thought about hiring an employee with a disability -- but ended up getting cold feet?
The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton and Lambton County Developmental Services have teamed up to offer an information evening Wednesday night.
Publisher Heather Wright says they've invited Louie diPalma, who works for the Ontario Chamber, to come speak in Petrolia after hearing him give a presentation at a seminar.
"He was talking about making workplaces accessible," says Wright. "There's kind of this stigma, you know, if you hire someone with a disability. It's going to take a lot of your money, it's going to take a lot of your time and it's just too much to handle. But, Louie laid it out in very plain terms and made it seem very simple and very obvious that we should be considering people with disabilities for jobs that we have available."
Wright says tips on hiring folks with a disability and creating an accessibility plan, something businesses with over 20 employees have until December to create, will be discussed.
Former Para Olympian Rob Hughes is also scheduled to speak.
The information evening runs from 5:30pm to 7pm at Lambton County Developmental Services, 339 Centre St. in Petrolia.
