About ESBLN

Mission Statement

Assist the business community to increase profitability through employment and consumer diversity within the disability population.

Goals

Increase awareness of advantages of employing workers with disabilities
Assist businesses in expanding marketing opportunities within the disability market
Assist businesses in sharing Best Practices in regard to recruitment, hiring, retention, and accommodations for workers with disabilities
Assist businesses in identifying accommodations made to those who have become disabled while employed
Serve as a recognized referral service for businesses to access labor and labor related issues regarding people with disabilities

Strategies

Develop and utilize various marketing methods to create new attitudes
Host regular regional events to educate local business leaders and recognize “Disability Friendly” businesses including entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Become an active member of local HR organizations in order to stay abreast of HR concerns and best practices
Maintain relationships with various government and workforce groups
Assist school-to-work transition youth groups and encouraging collaboration efforts

The Eastern Shore Business Leadership Network
Partnering with Delmarva Area Chambers of Commerce

We promote the true benefits of recruiting, employing and retaining qualified workers with disabilities. We are not a placement agency; however our efforts get people employed.

BENEFITS TO BUSINESS

Resource to businesses for disability employment and supported employment agencies
Provide networking opportunities for business people to share success stories
Recognize businesses at the annual ESBLN “Putting Ability to Work” Award
Provide information on financial advantages such as lower employee turnover, better employee attendance rates and tax savings
Access to a network of service providers who have potential job candidates

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Addressed participants at the 2009 USBLN Connecting the Dots conference in Washington D.C. about ESBLN activities and initiatives
Networking resulted in the hiring of eight individuals with disabilities in areas such as a security, manufacturing, document scanning and customer service
Hosted/coordinated the Diversity At Work/Gaining the Competitive Advantage Regional Business Conference 2008
Launching a 2009 regional media campaign ABLE TO WORK including television, radio, billboards, and the web
Produced Ability Matters short video on PAC 14 - A success story to promote recruiting and hiring people with disabilities
Produced a mini-documentary, Ability Matters, Soldering about collaborating and training.
Will be presenting the 5th Annual ESBLN Putting Ability to Work Awards at the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Luncheon for 2009
Coordinated Ability Matters Connections business tours to promote and improve communication and disability awareness between employers and agencies who train for the workforce job candidates with disabilities
Facilitated a Business Roundtable with area business people who hire students and adults with disabilities to strategize how to break down employment barriers
Partnered with school systems in an advisory capacity to increase employment opportunities for transitioning youth from school to career
No Spare Marylander Intensive Workshop for Job Seekers with Disabilities – a collaborative effort with DLLR, MDOD
Trainings given on Networking, Assistive Technology, Disability Awareness, and others

AWARDS presented to the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce / ESBLN

New Freedom Initiative Award 2003 from Secretary Cho, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Award 2003 Corporate Citizenship Award
U.S. Business Leadership Network Chapter of the Year Award 2003