The Vermont Business Leadership Network is an employer-led venture designed to encourage the recruitment and hiring of Vermonters with disabilities.

Overview
At a time when unemployment of the general population is about 6.5 percent, unemployment of people who want to work and who happen to have disabilities is disproportionately high at 50 percent. In order to lower this unacceptable level of unemployment, the Vermont Business Leadership Network seeks to promote two primary personnel policies: diversity policies that include people with disabilities and hiring practices that target candidates with disabilities. In Vermont, more than 55,000 Vermonters with disabilities who want to work are either unemployed or underemployed.

Background
Started as a national initiative in 1994, this program hinges on a fundamental business principle- success breeds success. When employers discuss the success andbenefits to their organizations of hiring job candidates with disabilities, then other employers are inspired to do the same. Thirty-three states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and one Canadian province are currently engaged in BLN activities. The Vermont BLN was started in 2001 with the establishment of a Business Steering Group headed by the Chittenden Bank. Steering Group members include Verizon, IBM, Killington Ski Resort, VT Department of Personnel, Price Chopper, Saint Michael's College, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Career Choices, The Putney Inn and the Old Tavern Inn.

Organizational Structure
Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation, serves as Head CEO of the Business Leadership Network (BLN). Companies taking a leadership role in developing and expanding the BLN include University of Alabama at Birmingham (AL), DiscoverCard/Boost (AZ), Hi-Tech Engineering, Inc. (AR), Motorola Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (AZ), IBM (CA), Careers Colorado (CO), The George Washington University (DC), SunTrust Bank (FL), Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (GA), Helping Hands Healthcare, Inc. (IL), The Principal Financial Group (IA), Bank of America (KS), Bank One Kentucky, N.A. (KY), Bank One, N.A. (LA), Monster.com (MA), McCrone, Inc. (MD), Denso Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. (MI), Northwest Airlines Corporation (MN), ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NE), Independence Technology, L.L.C. of Johnson & Johnson (NJ), Verizon Communications, Inc. (NY), Boddie-Noell Enterprises (NC), Alerus Financial (ND), DiscoverCard Financial Services (OH), Luxury TowVan Corporation (OR), Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (PA), Storage Technology (PR), JC Penney Company, Inc. (TX), SunTrust Bank, Mid-Atlantic (VA), Chittenden Bank (VT), Medtronic Physio-Control (WA), The QTI Group, Inc. (WI), Trilegiant Corporation (WY), and Manitoba Hydro (MB, Canada).

How it Works
Participating employers, in partnership with state Governor's Committee representatives and or other community services professionals, identify specific hiring requirements so that referral and placement services can be customized to meet those needs. Employers complete a brief survey indicating position vacancies, identifying disability employment concerns, and requesting information on specific disability topics. Participating employers: hire and promote workers with disabilities; attend business forums that provide information on critical disability employment issues; conduct job seeking skills sessions for candidates with disabilities; serve as mentors to postsecondary students with disabilities; recruit at disability employment fairs; provide summer, internship and co-op work experiences to enable students with disabilities to gain related work experience; and market the BLN to other employers.

Benefits to Participating Vermont Employers:

- Gain access to a pool of qualified candidates with disabilities

- Comprehensive resource guide on everything you need to know
about emplying people with disabilities

- Answers to your questions on the ADA and employment practices

- Recognition of your company as as open and welcoming employer

- Relevant information about accommodating employees with disabilities

- Special offers on training sessions, seminars and workshops

- Learn to create a workforce environment that encourages diversity

- Information on the latest assistive technology

- Current information on tax incentives for hiring people with disabilities and improving building accessibility

- A statewide network of employers to connect with