This month, Hawaii can celebrate by participating in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Last year, 715 people in Hawaii with disabilities gained jobs. States have the power to open doors for people with disabilities. Our nation was founded on the principle that anyone who works hard should be able to get ahead in life. People with disabilities deserve equal opportunity to earn an income and achieve independence just like anyone else.

In total, there are 66,031 working-age people with disabilities living in Hawaii. That total includes people who are blind or deaf or have other visible conditions such as spinal cord injuries, as well as people with invisible disabilities including learning disabilities, mental health or autism. Among them, 26,356, or 39.9 percent, have jobs. According to RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works to fight stigmas and advance opportunities for people with disabilities, Hawaii ranks 18th compared to the rest of the country.

Last October, Gov. David Ige gave Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) $2.5 million, so DLIR can invest it in youth disability workforce development. In summer 2016, Ige hired 223 young people of disabilities in temporary government jobs.

The Development Disabilities Division (DDD) has published a plan called “Possibilities Now!” to help residents with disabilities. By June 2019, the Development Disabilities Division will connect with agencies and other similar companies to ensure jobs for workers with disabilities. The DDD also will team up with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Education to prepare such students to get work during or after school. They also will train managers, CEOs and other leaders to properly work with employees with disabilities and use assistive technology.

The DDD has a history of successfully placing people of disabilities in jobs. An example is a young man named DeSean. Through the DDD, an Employment Specialist connected DeSean with Delivery Hawaii Inc. and the owner hired him. The DDD also gave DeSean job coaching, which taught him how to break tasks down, establish relationships with co-workers, and get accommodations. He still works there today.

As DeSean and DDD show, when people with disabilities are given access to the workforce, both the individual and the employers benefit. People with disabilities can bring new talents and ways of thinking to the table. In addition, they are more likely to be loyal to a company once they are hired. Companies such as JP Morgan, Pepsi, UPS, IBM, Starbucks and Walgreens practice inclusive hiring and have had great success. As an employer, it is important to consider these talents and advantages when hiring workers.

Ige’s enthusiasm, the DDD’s dedication and DeSean’s experiences prove that people of disabilities can succeed. Hawaii people with disabilities bring unique characteristics and talents to the workplaces. They can work in hospitals and hotels, or apply their talents to develop computer software and website design. There are no limits to what they can do.

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi is president/CEO of the national disability organization, RespectAbility. For information about state rankings and employment resources, visit www.respectability.org.