NCDHHS' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) provides a program to assist North Carolinians with disabilities in achieving their goal of competitive integrated employment. As a part of that program, DVRS can help people with disabilities find an internship in the career field of their choice to help them build job skills that will help them gain and maintain employment.
Under the inspiration of Executive Order 92 Employment First for North Carolinians with Disabilities, the Employment First Working Group led by partners from the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) and NCDHHS, has emphasized the value of interns with disabilities in the workplace by hosting internship opportunities within state government locations.
Research shows that building a disability-inclusive workforce can increase innovation and productivity while reducing safety incidents and staff turnover rates. The benefits of disability-inclusive hiring practices go beyond the bottom line. People with disabilities must be resourceful to adapt to the world around them. Strengths such as problem-solving, persistence and a willingness to experiment are a part of their basic skill set.
Anyone with a disability who wishes to obtain an Employment First Internship should contact their local DVRS office to apply for services through the vocational rehabilitation program. Any state government hiring manager who wishes to host an intern should contact their local DVRS office or Kathie Trotter, DVRS Division Director, for more information at kathie.trotter@dhhs.nc.gov.