Vocational Rehabilitation highlights National Disability Employment Awareness Month and VR tools to connect jobseekers and employers

A representative of Vocational Rehabilitation spoke to the Wyoming Workforce Development Council about National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October) and the work DVR does to connect employers and jobseekers with disabilities.

The DVR policy, training and innovation manager (who did not give a name on the record) summarized research showing that hiring people with disabilities can reduce turnover and sick time and increase profitability; she said national studies cited turnover reductions up to 50% and 75% fewer sick days in inclusive workplaces. She added that Wyoming performs well on disability employment metrics — the state’s rate of employment for people with disabilities is between about 45–51% versus a national average near 37%, and several larger Wyoming communities (for example, Gillette and Laramie) show even higher employment rates.

DVR staff described practical employer supports: targeted recruitment, VR‑assisted job placements, disability etiquette trainings and an offer for council members and partners to try immersive virtual‑reality headsets that simulate job tasks. "These simulations are real world; they are written by industry experts and students flock to us like bees to honey," the speaker said, offering the headsets as a tool to expose students to occupations.

Why it matters: expanding employer engagement with DVR increases the talent pool for Wyoming employers and can provide on‑the‑job supports that sustain placements; the presentation emphasized both economic benefit to businesses and practices to improve inclusivity.

Next steps: DVR offered to provide employer trainings and to connect council members with local VR offices to pilot the headsets and job‑exploration simulations.