2. News Room

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Milton Senior Living Recognized for Diverse and Inclusive Hiring Practices

MILTON – Milton Senior Living Executive Director Jacqueline Davila emphasizes the company's family-like atmosphere creates an inclusive and welcoming space for all employees, adding: "Everyone is very willing to work with individuals of all abilities."

"If I can see that drive in them and a determination and motivation to want to come in and work at a place they love, that's what I'm looking for," Davila said. "Employees want to feel that their job matters, and some individuals with disabilities have never had employment before or worked behind the scenes, and they just want to know they are making a difference in somebody's life. That's what we can offer here."

Because of its diverse and inclusive hiring and retention practices that welcome individuals with disabilities into its workforce, Milton Senior Living was presented with an Exemplary Employer during a ceremony today with DVR leaders at the senior living community. It is one of 25 businesses being recognized throughout October, which Gov. Evers proclaimed as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Last year, more than 2,000 employers created more inclusive workplaces in Wisconsin by hiring people with disabilities.

“We applaud Milton Senior Living for creating opportunities for people with disabilities to apply their many talents and abilities as employees while also meeting their workforce needs, "DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "Hiring people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do, but it's also good for business."

All Wisconsin employers are encouraged to reach out to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to meet with a local Business Services Consultant who can connect them with a variety of free resources to help recruit and hire people with disabilities, build staff diversity, and retain well-trained employees.

DVR helped over 3,350 Wisconsin residents with disabilities find work over the past year. Individuals with a disability looking for ways to find a job, keep a job, or get a better job are encouraged to contact DVR at 800-262-0050, visit a local DVR office, or visit the DVR website.

New Job Accommodations Training

To help provide employers with educational resources to diversify their workplace and create work environments that help retain employees, and to give employees information about their rights and responsibilities in the workforce, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has created new online accommodation trainings for employers, workers, and job seekers.

The Accommodation Training Library consists of brief, informational videos that cover topics, including hiring people with disabilities, the reasonable accommodation process, disclosing a disability, disability discrimination, and other topics related to employment law. The new accommodation training videos can be found on the DWD Career Pathways website.

The videos were created as part of a U.S. Department of Education Career Pathways Advancement (CPA) Initiative grant awarded to DVR in 2021. The CPA Initiative is allowing DVR to create resources and opportunities to support DVR consumers as they advance in their careers.

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ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.