October is Disability Employment Awareness Month

Winneshiek County and Howard County have both proclaimed October 2009 as Disability Employment Awareness Month.

On October 12, The Spectrum Network's executive director, Toni Smith, asked the boards of supervisors to sign the proclamations. "When you meet someone for the first time, what do you talk about? You talk about your job," said Smith, emphasizing the value of work, and the importance of equal employment opportunities for all citizens.

Smith also presented board members of both counties with copies of the book From My Perspective: Essays about Disability, recently published by The Spectrum Network.

Former Spectrum client Faye Bockman, whose essay is included in the collection, spoke about how much she values her job at T-Bock's in Decorah. "I'd much rather be doing this than sitting around," she told the Winneshiek County supervisors.

The county proclamations follow U.S. President Barack Obama's proclamation of October as National Employment Awareness Month.

Pictured in Winneshiek County are (from left to right) Faye Bockman, supervisors Les Askelson, Dean Darling and Steve Bouska, The Spectrum Network Executive Director Toni Smith and supervisors Bill Ibanez and John Logsdon.