Invest Hamilton County has launched a new initiative throughout the county called InvestAbility, which is aimed at delivering dynamic and inclusive career exploration services to students and adults who have disabilities.
Through inter-governmental coordination between Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and Hamilton County, and through dynamic public-private partnerships with the OneZone, Noblesville, and Westfield Chambers of Commerce and Hamilton County Leadership Academy, the InvestAbility program will expand in 2024 to encompass five community-based, paid trainings county-wide. Locations will include three hotels, a senior living facility and a fifth site yet to be determined. The program’s goal is to ramp up to training more than 130 participants per year.
InvestAbility will also facilitate one-on-one career discovery meetings for local students and adults with disabilities who are looking to learn more about a given career or occupation. This activity will occur in coordination with school-based and vocational rehabilitation service providers.
InvestAbility was first launched as a pilot training in 2022 at the Hampton Inn in Fishers, in partnership with Janus Developmental Services and with support from Hamilton County Tourism. More than 80 percent of project participants saw positive employment outcomes.
Thibideau
“The careers a person is exposed to should not be dependent on their zip code or family connections,” said Mike Thibideau, president & CEO of Invest Hamilton County. “Our community thrives because of the collaboration shown in initiatives like InvestAbility, and we are excited to help people build a more solid foundation for their dreams and aspirations. Dreams should not be limited by disabilities, and every person in our community is a great fit for the right role – we just need to help them discover it.”
InvestAbility’s community-based, paid adult training opportunities will be managed by Janus Developmental Services and supported through a partnership between the Hamilton County Commissioners, the Indiana FSSA’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, and investments by Invest Hamilton County, Hamilton County Tourism, and the Hamilton County Community Foundation.
“The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services is pleased to collaborate with Hamilton County to connect job seekers with disabilities with career exploration and employment opportunities,” said Theresa Koleszar, director of the Indiana Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. “This partnership has excellent potential to become a model for increasing workforce participation of individuals with disabilities, while meeting business needs.”
Click here to learn more about InvestAbility.