Paul Wehman, PhD, is Professor of Special Education and Counseling, Director, Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University.
There are hundreds of thousands of individuals with significant disabilities who remain unemployed in this
country. This is a massive waste of a valuable human resource. Businesses of all sizes and industries have
indicated their interest in hiring persons with disabilities, but they want to know more about how to find
qualified workers, how to support them in productive jobs and how to best retain them. The key to both of
these critical issues is to help community rehabilitation programs, rehabilitation counselors, and transition
specialists to reach out to business to establish long term partnerships. Supported employment and
customized employment are two highly valuable strategies in making partnerships between business and
rehabilitation be successful. To register email walt.bower@uky.edu.