Sen. Dick Durbin recently spoke at Illinois Wesleyan University to business leaders and adult disability agencies about employment of the disabled.

Sen. Durbin eloquently reminded us that we've made continued progress by allowing more minorities and women into the mainstream. Now is the time to integrate our nation's largest minority - the disabled.

As he noted, any one of us could instantly become a member.

With the end of the "Great Recession," as he called it, new employment opportunities will arise. New workers for new jobs will be needed.

Although hiring, training and retaining new employees will be difficult for most businesses in the near future, now is the time for business owners to investigate the advantages of hiring people with disabilities. Local disability employment agencies such as the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Marcfirst and United Cerebral Palsy can help an employer find the right candidate for the right job.

There are financial incentives via tax credits, supports for job training, job coaches and accommodations. Hiring and training costs can also be reduced because the retention and loyalty of disabled workers to their employers and jobs is significantly higher than that of their non-disabled peers.

I greatly appreciate the time and efforts of Sen. Durbin, Illinois Wesleyan University, our community business leaders and our adult disability employment agencies for beginning this dialogue.

Dr. Virginia J. Moody

Normal