RUSHVILLE, IN — October 27, 2026  As National Disability Employment Awareness Month comes to a close, the conversation about recognizing talent and creating employment opportunities shouldn’t end with October.

For Rush County employers, inclusive hiring is more than an annual observance. It’s an opportunity to strengthen recruitment, retain valuable employees, and expand the local talent pipeline throughout the year.

But sometimes, employers overlook qualified candidates simply because their recruitment practices aren’t reaching everyone who could do the job.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual opportunity to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities and consider how employers can make their workplaces more accessible.

The U.S. Department of Labor selected “Celebrating Value and Talent” as the theme for 2026, recognizing the skills and contributions Americans with disabilities bring to workplaces and communities across the country.

For Rush County businesses, the message is especially relevant: building a strong workforce means recognizing talent, reducing unnecessary employment barriers, and creating opportunities for qualified people to succeed.

Disability Employment Is a Workforce Development Issue

When employers discuss workforce challenges, the conversation often centers on attracting applicants, developing technical skills, and retaining experienced workers.

Those priorities are important. So is making sure qualified individuals have a fair opportunity to demonstrate what they can contribute.

Disabilities can be physical, sensory, cognitive, or related to mental health. Some are immediately apparent, while others are not visible.

Individuals with disabilities work in virtually every industry, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, agriculture, professional services, and retail.

For employers, the objective is not to lower job expectations. It is to identify the essential skills and responsibilities of a position and ensure qualified applicants have an appropriate opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

An accessible workplace can also help existing employees who acquire a disability or develop a health condition during their careers.

Five Practical Steps Employers Can Take

Building a workplace that recognizes talent doesn’t necessarily require creating a new program or making major investments.

Employers can begin by reviewing their existing practices.

1. Review Job Descriptions and Hiring Requirements

Start by looking at the qualifications listed in job postings.

Are all the requirements essential to performing the position?

For example, a position might list a particular educational credential or physical requirement even when the actual job duties could be performed successfully through other qualifications or appropriate accommodations.

Clearly identifying essential job functions helps employers evaluate applicants based on the work that needs to be accomplished.

2. Make the Application Process Accessible

Consider whether applicants can reasonably access and complete the hiring process.

This may include reviewing online applications, interview locations, communication methods, and procedures for requesting accommodations.

Employers should also make sure applicants know how to request assistance during the hiring process when needed.

A straightforward application process benefits both applicants and hiring teams.

3. Focus Interviews on Skills and Abilities

Interviews should help employers understand whether candidates can perform the essential responsibilities of a position.

Use consistent, job-related questions and provide candidates with an opportunity to describe their qualifications and experience.

Avoid making assumptions about someone’s abilities based on a disability.

Employers should also understand applicable requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other employment laws when conducting interviews and evaluating candidates.

4. Understand Reasonable Accommodations

A reasonable accommodation is a workplace adjustment that enables a qualified individual with a disability to participate in the application process, perform essential job functions, or enjoy equal employment opportunities.

Depending on individual circumstances, accommodations might involve modified equipment, accessible communication, adjustments to work schedules, or changes to certain workplace procedures.

There is no single solution appropriate for every employee or position.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free, confidential guidance to employers and employees about workplace accommodations and related employment issues.

JAN also offers practical tools and examples that employers can use when evaluating accommodation requests.

5. Connect With Employment Resources

Employers don’t have to navigate every question about disability employment independently.

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN) offers free resources to help businesses recruit, hire, retain, and advance employees with disabilities.

Its resources include guidance for small businesses, workplace accessibility, employee retention, and hiring practices.

Employers can use these materials to evaluate their existing procedures and identify improvements that fit their organizations.

Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Offers Another Connection to Employment

Indiana’s Vocational Rehabilitation program helps eligible individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, maintain, or advance in employment.

Services may include career exploration, vocational counseling, training, employment assistance, and assistive technology, depending on individual eligibility and needs.

Vocational Rehabilitation counselors provide services throughout Indiana, including Rush County.

For residents whose disabilities create barriers to employment, the program may provide a pathway toward developing skills and pursuing career opportunities.

Individuals interested in services can begin through the state’s referral process or contact a Vocational Rehabilitation office.

Learn more through Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Why This Matters to Rush County

A strong local economy depends on connecting businesses with the people and skills they need.

That means supporting young people entering the workforce, adults seeking new opportunities, experienced employees changing careers, and individuals who may encounter additional barriers to employment.

For Rush County, workforce development is not simply about filling open positions.

It’s about helping employers recognize available talent and helping residents build meaningful, sustainable careers.

When employers review hiring practices, consider accessibility, and connect with workforce resources, they strengthen their ability to recruit and retain qualified employees.

These efforts can also support the long-term competitiveness of local businesses.

Turning Awareness Into Action

National Disability Employment Awareness Month provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities.

But the most meaningful progress happens when employers carry those lessons into everyday business practices.

This month, consider choosing one practical step: review a job posting, evaluate the accessibility of your application process, share accommodation resources with supervisors, or learn more about available employment services.

Small improvements can help create better opportunities for applicants, employees, and businesses.

Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation remains committed to strengthening the connections among employers, job seekers, education partners, and workforce resources.

A stronger workforce begins with recognizing the value and talent people bring to the job.

For information about local workforce-development resources, contact Rush County ECDC or visit the Rush to Work Job Center at 306 N. Main Street in Rushville.

RUSHVILLE, IN — October 20, 2026 — Career exploration became a hands-on experience for Rushville Consolidated High School students this week as the 2026 Duke Energy Career Quest culminated in the school’s College & Career Fair.

Through a partnership between Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation (ECDC), Duke Energy, Rushville Consolidated High School, and participating employers and colleges, the two-phase initiative helped students prepare for meaningful conversations about their futures—and then put those skills into practice.

Phase One: Preparing Students for Success

On Friday, October 16, 165 RCHS juniors and seniors participated in the first phase of Duke Energy Career Quest, featuring guest speaker Savanna Fox.

Fox shared practical strategies to help students approach the upcoming College & Career Fair with confidence and purpose.

The preparation session emphasized the importance of asking thoughtful questions, making positive first impressions, exploring unfamiliar career pathways, and taking advantage of opportunities to connect directly with employers and college representatives.

Rather than simply collecting information from exhibitors, students were encouraged to engage in meaningful conversations that could help shape their education and career decisions.

Duke Energy sponsored the preparation session as part of its investment in strengthening Rush County’s future workforce.

Phase Two: Putting Career Readiness Into Action

On Tuesday, October 20, students had the opportunity to put their preparation into practice during the 2026 RCHS College & Career Fair.

Approximately 40–50 employers, colleges, and other organizations participated, connecting students with opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, higher education, military service, and other career pathways.

Throughout the fair, students engaged with exhibitors, asked questions about career opportunities, explored educational and training requirements, and learned more about the possibilities available in Rush County and the surrounding region.

The event served as the second phase of Duke Energy Career Quest, bringing together the career-readiness skills introduced during Friday’s preparation session and the real-world opportunity to practice those skills with employers and college representatives.

Recognizing Students Who Made the Most of Their Opportunities

A highlight of the 2026 Duke Energy Career Quest was a student engagement contest designed to encourage meaningful conversations between students and exhibitors.

Employers and college representatives were invited to identify students who demonstrated exceptional engagement, curiosity, professionalism, and communication skills during the College & Career Fair.

Thanks to Duke Energy’s generous sponsorship, twelve students received $100 gift cards, totaling $1,200 in prizes, in recognition of their efforts.

Duke Energy also sponsored Friday’s career-readiness presentation by Savanna Fox and provided padfolios and lanyards for the student engagement contest.

Together, these investments helped create an experience that went beyond a traditional career fair—giving students preparation, opportunities to practice their skills, and recognition for actively exploring their futures.

Why These Connections Matter to Rush County

Events like Duke Energy Career Quest are an important part of building a stronger local talent pipeline.

Rush County employers depend on a skilled, prepared workforce to remain competitive and grow. At the same time, students benefit from understanding the range of opportunities available in their community and the education or training needed to pursue them.

Career exploration events help bridge that gap.

For some students, a conversation with an employer may introduce a career they had never considered. For others, meeting a college representative may help clarify the next steps toward a particular profession.

These connections also allow employers to introduce young people to their industries, explain workplace expectations, and build relationships with potential future employees.

By combining preparation with direct engagement, Duke Energy Career Quest helps students move beyond simply learning about careers to actively exploring their possibilities.

A Partnership Investing in the Future

Rush County ECDC extends its appreciation to Duke Energy for supporting both phases of Career Quest, including the student preparation session, engagement contest materials, and $1,200 in prizes.

We also thank Savanna Fox for helping students prepare, Rushville Consolidated High School for its partnership, and the many employers, colleges, and organizations that participated in the fair.

Most importantly, we recognize the students who took advantage of the opportunity to ask questions, explore career pathways, and make connections that may influence their futures.

When schools, employers, and community partners work together, we do more than prepare students for graduation. We help build the workforce and economic future of Rush County.

RUSHVILLE, IN — Building a strong workforce doesn’t begin when a company posts a job opening. It begins much earlier, when students have opportunities to explore careers, develop workplace skills and understand the opportunities available in their communities.

For Rush County employers, a new statewide resource may make those connections easier.

On October 6, 2026, Indiana announced the launch of a Work-Based Learning Digital Resource Hub, developed through a partnership between the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Commission for Higher Education and Ascend Indiana.

The resource provides practical guidance to help employers, educators and workforce partners develop meaningful work-based learning experiences for students.

As Rush County continues strengthening connections between local businesses and education, these tools offer another opportunity to help prepare the next generation of workers.

What Is Work-Based Learning?

Work-based learning connects classroom education with real-world workplace experiences.

Depending on the program, students may participate in internships, structured workplace projects, cooperative education, apprenticeships or other experiences that help them develop career-related knowledge and skills.

These opportunities allow students to better understand what different occupations involve while giving employers a chance to introduce young people to their industries.

For example, a student interested in manufacturing might benefit from working alongside experienced technicians, learning about quality-control procedures or completing a supervised technical project.

A student interested in business could gain experience with customer service, marketing, accounting or day-to-day business operations.

Healthcare, agriculture, construction, transportation and professional services also offer opportunities for students to connect their education with workplace expectations.

The goal is to provide experiences that are meaningful for students and valuable for employers.

Why Indiana Is Expanding Work-Based Learning

Indiana’s updated high school diploma places greater emphasis on preparing students for life after graduation.

Students have opportunities to pursue readiness seals aligned with their future goals, including continued education, employment and military service.

Work-based learning is an important component of that preparation.

Rather than relying entirely on classroom instruction, students can demonstrate their skills and gain practical experience connected to potential careers.

For employers, this creates an opportunity to become more directly involved in workforce preparation.

Instead of waiting until young people graduate to introduce them to an industry, businesses can help students understand career opportunities and develop relevant skills while they are still in school.

That approach can be especially valuable in smaller communities where employers and schools have opportunities to develop lasting relationships.

What Does the New Resource Hub Offer Employers?

One of the challenges businesses face when considering student internships or work-based learning programs is knowing where to begin.

Employers may have questions about supervision, training plans, student responsibilities, program requirements and how to coordinate with schools.

Indiana’s new Work-Based Learning Digital Resource Hub was developed to help address those questions.

Available resources include an employer readiness assessment, guidance on different types of work-based learning experiences, program-design tools and information about the responsibilities of participating organizations.

The hub also includes a Work-Based Learning Training Plan and Partnership Agreement Template.

For qualifying experiences under Indiana’s updated diploma requirements, schools must maintain a training plan and partnership agreement documenting the student’s learning experience.

These resources help schools and employers establish expectations, identify skills to be developed and determine how student progress will be evaluated.

Businesses interested in learning more can explore the Ascend Indiana Work-Based Learning Resources.

Five Ways Rush County Employers Can Get Started

Employers don’t necessarily need to develop a large apprenticeship program to begin exploring how they can support career-connected learning.

A smaller, carefully planned opportunity may be an appropriate starting point.

1. Identify Careers Students Should Know About

Consider the positions within your business that students may not realize exist.

A manufacturing facility, for example, may employ people in engineering, maintenance, purchasing, logistics, human resources and information technology.

Introducing students to those opportunities can broaden their understanding of an industry.

2. Identify Skills Your Business Needs

Think about the technical and professional skills that help employees succeed.

Communication, problem-solving, reliability, teamwork and attention to detail are valuable across many occupations.

Businesses can help students understand how those skills are used in actual workplaces.

3. Determine What Type of Experience Fits Your Organization

Some businesses may be interested in offering structured internships.

Others may be better positioned to support a classroom project, workplace simulation or another school-coordinated experience.

The new resource hub explains the different models recognized by Indiana and provides guidance to help employers determine which options may be appropriate.

Not every career-exploration activity qualifies as formal work-based learning under Indiana’s graduation requirements. Schools and employers should review applicable program standards before establishing an experience.

4. Connect With Education and Workforce Partners

Employers don’t have to navigate the process alone.

Indiana has established a network of regional intermediaries to help connect businesses and schools.

These organizations can provide guidance on developing programs, identifying partners and coordinating work-based learning opportunities.

Businesses can use Ascend Indiana’s Intermediary Directory to identify organizations serving Rush County.

5. Start With a Clear Plan

A successful work-based learning experience should have a defined purpose.

Employers and schools should understand what students will learn, who will provide supervision and how progress will be measured.

Safety, age-appropriate duties, scheduling and applicable employment requirements must also be considered.

Starting with clear expectations helps create a better experience for everyone involved.

Connecting Today’s Students With Tomorrow’s Careers

Rush County’s workforce-development efforts already include opportunities for students to interact with local employers.

Manufacturing Day, career exploration activities and the Rushville Consolidated High School College & Career Fair help introduce students to industries, occupations and educational pathways.

These activities are valuable because they create awareness.

But career exploration can also serve as the beginning of a longer relationship between students and employers.

A student who discovers an interest in manufacturing during a facility tour might later pursue technical education or a structured workplace learning experience.

Someone introduced to healthcare careers at a career fair may begin researching the certifications or degrees required for a particular occupation.

Those connections can help students make more informed decisions about their futures.

They also help businesses become more visible to the people who may eventually join their workforce.

Building a Stronger Rush County Talent Pipeline

For Rush County, workforce development is about more than filling today’s vacancies.

It is about helping local employers develop access to skilled workers while giving residents opportunities to build successful careers.

That requires continued collaboration among businesses, educators, workforce organizations and community partners.

Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation remains committed to strengthening those connections and helping local businesses understand the workforce resources available to them.

Indiana’s new Work-Based Learning Digital Resource Hub provides another tool to support that effort.

Employers interested in exploring opportunities can begin by reviewing the statewide resources, identifying potential experiences within their organizations and connecting with education and workforce partners.

The businesses that invest in developing future talent today can help build a stronger Rush County workforce for tomorrow.

To explore the new resources, visit Ascend Indiana’s Work-Based Learning Resource Hub.

For information about local workforce-development partnerships, contact Rush County ECDC.