Arkansas Program Highlights Deaf-Blind Courthouse Worker as Agency Serves 10,000 Residents
Updated
Updated · KATV · Oct 27
Arkansas Program Highlights Deaf-Blind Courthouse Worker as Agency Serves 10,000 Residents
2 articles · Updated · KATV · Oct 27
Summary
Beth Pope, a deaf-blind custodian at the Little Rock Federal Courthouse, is being spotlighted by Arkansas Rehabilitation Services during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Pope, who started the job on Aug. 23, 2023 through Pride Industries, said she cleans restrooms, kitchens, break rooms and floors and hopes her experience pushes others to pursue work.
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services said it is serving more than 10,000 Arkansans and helped more than 800 people with disabilities return to work in the past year.
Agency officials said they also work with employers to match qualified candidates with jobs and reduce hiring barriers, while Pope urged companies to include deaf-blind workers and support independence.
What accommodations helped a deaf-blind custodian succeed at the Little Rock Federal Courthouse, and what can other employers learn from her experience?
If inclusive hiring boosts talent and business results, what still keeps more Arkansas employers from opening doors to workers with disabilities?