What is the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network (BLN)?

The Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network (BLN) is a statewide, employer-driven program designed for business leaders to promote hiring practices that enable qualified people with disabilities to enter and succeed in the workplace. The Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network offers employers:

• access to pertinent disability hiring information
• a network of employers who share information on common disability employment issues
• exposure to qualified job applicants with disabilities
• opportunities to provide training and work experience for job seekers with disabilities
• improved access to customers with disabilities

Business Leadership Networks have been established in many states as part of a national initiative started by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

  What are the concerns?

Historically, people with disabilities in America have found themselves excluded from the mainstream of society, often institutionalized and denied public services. Significant legislative efforts such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) have enlightened society on the rights and needs of citizens with disabilities.

Recent reports indicate that many employers are aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act is good for business and that corporate profits are tied to contributions made by a diverse workforce that includes workers with disabilities.

The greatest challenge still faced by most recruiters is finding qualified applicants with disabilities through their regular recruitment efforts.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data (1994), 73.9 percent of working aged adults with disabilities were not employed. The problem is multi-faceted, and requires a "modernization of the employment services system for people with disabilities " (WIIA Fact Sheet, Jonathan Young, The White House) and removal of financial disincentives within the state-federal subsidy and health care programs for persons with disabilities.

Business can play a role by identifying, reducing or eliminating architectural, attitudinal, or organizational barriers, which impede the employment progress of citizens with disabilities.

  Who is operating the BLN?

The Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network is an employer-driven program designed to engage employers in a leadership role to communicate their human resources needs and to actively participate in the community to ensure that providers serving individuals with disabilities are able to meet those needs.

In Pennsylvania, the Developmental Disabilities Council (PDDC) made funds available for the development of a BLN starting January 2000. The PDDC selected AHEDD, a private non-profit specialized human resource organization, to coordinate the BLN in Pennsylvania. AHEDD will work with the business community within Pennsylvania to promote the start-up and growth of the Business Leadership Network.

  Why should employers participate?

The business community needs qualified workers to fill its changing job requirements. Many employers today are unable to find qualified job applicants through their normal channels of recruitment. Employers participating in the Business Leadership Network are responding to this need by exploring methods to more effectively recruit, market and hire the talents of job applicants with disabilities.

The main goal of the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network (BLN) is to provide competitive employment opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Employers, therefore, are encouraged to talk with members of the business community that have already been successful in hiring employees with disabilities. It is hoped that this peer-to-peer interaction will assist employers in learning more about where they can recruit job seekers with a disability and more about the community resources that are available to provide support.

Employer participation in the Pennsylvania BLN makes good business senses. Participation will enhance your ability to fill job openings with qualified employees and create a diverse workforce.

  How can employers become members of the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network?

We encourage all Pennsylvania employers to become a member of the BLN. The cost of participation is free and the rewards include a competitive and diverse workforce.

Enrollment in the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network membership is accessed through the enrollment page.