Contributed by the Oregon Department of Human Services.

It’s no surprise that employment and health go hand in hand. A good job provides not just an income — it improves physical and mental health by reducing stress, increasing stability and building a sense of belonging.

Yet one group remains disproportionately disconnected from the workforce: people with disabilities. The national unemployment rate for people with disabilities is twice that of people without disabilities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ March 2026 report. Oregon mirrors this trend. This gap is due in part to long-standing misconceptions about disability and a lack of access to inclusive hiring pathways.

That’s where the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program makes a difference. 

VR helps people with all types of disabilities — including physical, mental, health related, intellectual and developmental — prepare for, obtain and succeed in employment in their communities. VR’s business relations team also partners directly with employers to understand workforce needs and match them with qualified candidates.

VR offers businesses a range of no-cost services, including: 

• Onboarding support for you and your new hire.
• Consultation on disability-related topics such as accessibility, assistive technology and tax credits or other financial incentives. 
• Help arranging informational interviews, tours and internships, so you can develop your future workforce.
• Virtual Lunch and Learn for Business sessions featuring businesses that are leaders in providing supportive hiring and retention practices. 

Many employers report that VR hires have strengthened their workforce.

Jon Welsh, who owns Manzanita Fresh Foods and three other coastal grocery stores, said the VR participant he hired more than three years ago “has been our most consistent employee.” 

“Dominic does exactly what you tell him, and he takes pride in doing the job right. He doesn’t provide excuses. He just gets the job done,” Jon said. He added that bringing Dominic on staff helped strengthen workplace culture and build connections. 

Strong communities and strong businesses are deeply interconnected — you can’t have one without the other. Hiring people with disabilities strengthens your business, expands opportunity and builds a healthier, more inclusive community for all. Any of us may experience a disability at some point in our lives; the bridges we build today are the ones we may someday be grateful to cross.

Learn more

More information about how businesses can partner with VR is on our Services for Businesses page. You can also sign up to get notified about Lunch and Learn for Business sessions.