Event educates employers about hiring people with disabilities

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South Carolina business owners can learn more about hiring and employing people with disabilities at the Hire Me SC Employer Summit Oct. 2. 

Hire Me SC, a statewide outreach campaign that connects people with disabilities with employers, works to eliminate employment barriers for people with disabilities and encourages businesses to consider employing someone with a disability. It also offers training for both employers and employees.

Seven out of 10 people in South Carolina with disabilities are unemployed, according to a Hire Me SC fact sheet, while more than 3,500 individuals with disabilities in the state may earn less than $1 per hour.  

Able South Carolina and the SC Disability Employment Coalition are organizing the summit, a collaborative effort of more than 40 employers, state agencies and private groups. The event includes workshops and roundtable discussions designed to educate employers about hiring people with disabilities, according to a news release.

The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Palmetto Club, located at 1231 Sumter St. in Columbia. Lunch and valet parking are provided. Nick Schacht, chief global development officer for the Society for Human Resource Management, will be the keynote speaker.

Register online or call 800-681-7715 for information.