Summary: Today we check in with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Commissioner Jim Rothrock, and talk about executive order number 46 from Governor Terry McClaulif. Some exciting new actions in the Commonwealth of Virginia emphasizing the value of hiring individuals with disabilities.<br> Transcription of the podcast follows:<br> VR Workforce Studio<br> This is the VR Workforce Studio, Inspiration Education and Affirmation at work, the VR Workforce Studio is produced by the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, a division of Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services brought to you by the WWRC Foundation at VR Workforcestudio.com or in iTunes.<br> VR Workforce Studio<br> Welcome to another episode of the VR Workforce Studio:<br> This is the disability employment podcast from the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center where we are showcasing the successes of individuals with disabilities who are either in or preparing to be part of the workforce here in Virginia. Also celebrating the champions of the business and industry that hire individual with disabilities and as well as the vocational rehabilitation professionals who dedicated their lives in careers to creating hope and a path forward to employment. So, individuals with disabilities can lead more productive lives and enhance our Virginia workforce and move our new Virginia economy forward.<br> This is episode number 7 of the VR Workforce Studio:<br> Today we check in with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Commissioner Jim Rothrock, and talk about executive order number 46 from Governor Terry McAuliffe. Some exciting new actions in the Commonwealth of Virginia emphasizing the value of hiring individuals with disabilities. Also some reflections from Jim on disability employment and his life as a highly successful public administrator and an individual with a disability. Also on the show today a totally fun crew Cindy Roberts, Kanika Davis and LaPeral Smith way in on this new video called “Don’t Diss Me” recently released by CVS Health which is going viral, it’s a cool video on disability, also on the show Elizabeth Creamer reflections on workforce development and the new WWRC and as well we will check in on Ann Hudlow about the October 23 concert with George Dennehy. All straight ahead here the VR Workforce Studio.<br> VR Workforce Studio<br> So the big news in Virginia with July 27th release of Executive Order (EO) number 46, supporting Virginians with disabilities in the new Virginia economy is that there is a need for qualified workers including those with disabilities as a focus of an executive order from the governor. The Commonwealth’s vocational rehabilitation program administered by Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services as we often hear that referred to here in the Commonwealth as DARS, as well as the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, you know annually they assist more than four thousands individuals with disabilities in securing jobs in business like Amazon, as well as the Hershey Company. Now reflect with me for just a minute on episode 4 and if you are just tuning in, go out to iTunes or even VR Workforce Studios.com and look up episode 4. We had a real nice show featuring the HR Manager, the site operations manager, and an employee for Hershey’s company talking about the hero’s program, so this this great company is now being cited in the EO and we have talked about them here, in the VR Workforce Studio. You know if you go out to iTunes and search podcast’s you will see episode 4, is far and by our most popular episode thus far and I think it’s the reasons we’re still listed in the new and note-worthy section for podcast in iTunes. Anyways back to EO 46, Governor McAuliffe. Also Bon Secours Health System, because of the work done out there hiring individuals with disabilities. So in these instances,
