Forum held to discuss disabilities in the workplace - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

When it comes to jobs, people with disabilities make up the highest unemployment rate. The Human Rights Commission is trying to change that by holding their yearly disability forum in Sioux City. Wednesday night, representatives from local business human resource departments were on hand answering questions.

The focus of the forum was hiring practices and retaining employees with disabilities. Among those issues discussed were communication and understanding practices, job accommodations and costs, and job site accessibility.

People with disabilities are valuable, having the same skills, talents, and abilities as anyone else.

"Stay in a job longer, they tend to stay longer, working hours-wise, and come in earlier and take less sick days," said Don Dew, Human Rights Commission.

One challenge companies face is recruiting, using not only modern technology and the web, but also the old fashioned way by using employees friends. Another challenge is educating the public to be to more understanding of people with disabilities in the workplace.