A new event intended to increase state workforce participation by people with disabilities took place Thursday at the state Capitol, where a new scholarship for state employees was also announced.
Thomas Beck, of Holts Summit, said the Model Employer Talent Showcase was "a huge opportunity" for him to show skills to prospective employers he otherwise has challenges in displaying, and be more visible.
The showcase is part of a Model Employer initiative Gov. Mike Parson announced last month, to set annual goals to increase the percentage of individuals with disabilities in the state workforce.
Beck - who attended Immaculate Conception School, Jefferson City High School and just graduated last May from State Technical College - said a speech impediment and writing disability means his skills are not well-translated in interviews with employers.
However, "this allows me to prepare a lot more," when prospective employers come to him as they did at the showcase.
"Actions speak louder than words," Beck said. He brought a 3-D printed jack-o'-lantern to show, and said he's interested in computers, robotics and information technology - anything to keep his brain and hands active.
His resume says he's "seeking a full-time position in the field of computer engineering, with an emphasis on mechanical or electronic systems."
"I feel like I got a lot of leads," Beck said of his successes Thursday, and added "I have my name in these places now," with the Department of Corrections and Office of Administration having spoken with him, among others.
"This was a forum that people with disabilities needed," said Dawn Kirchner, who is Beck's employment advisor with MERS Goodwill.
Parson said at the event that almost 80 percent of working-age individuals in Missouri without a disability are employed, while only 37 percent of working-age people with a disability are employed.
"This is just the start," he said - also making an announcement at the showcase with Western Governors University Missouri's chancellor Angie Besendorfer about a new scholarship available exclusively for state employees.
WGU Missouri is offering 10 "Show Me Your Triumph" scholarships worth $5,000 each.
"Applicants will be asked to submit an essay describing an obstacle they have overcome in life. The scholarship is competitive for all state employees, but individuals with a disability will be given preference," according to a news release from Parson's office.
Besendorfer said WGU Missouri's programs are competency-based, meaning degrees cost less and can be completed quicker.
"This Talent Showcase is a key component to our Missouri as a Model Employer initiative, and we will continue doing all that we can to lead by example, eliminate barriers to employment, and expand job offers to individuals of all abilities," Parson said in his news release.