PORT ANGELES — The percentage of developmentally disabled individuals employed in Clallam County is well above the national average, according to the county’s Health and Human Services Department.
That is “despite the fact that we have a very high unemployment rate overall,” Timothy Bruce, Clallam County Health and Human Services planner, said earlier this month.
In 2015, about 63 percent of people with developmental disabilities in Clallam County who sought work were able to find employment, Bruce said.
“The national average is about 25 percent,” he said.
“We are significantly above it [and] are one of the top couple of counties” statewide for employment rates.
“We have been very fortunate,” Bruce said.
“We have a very supportive community. We have very talented individuals that are working very hard and a lot of that comes because we are working very hard with the business leaders.”
There are about 1,000 people with developmental disabilities living in Clallam County, he said.
“Overall, it runs about 1.5 percent of the total population,” he said.
However, only 400 have come forward to register with the county for services, he said.
The figures on employment were released last week in conjunction with the onset of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, observed every March.
President Ronald Reagan declared March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in 1987.
“In the last 50 years, individuals with developmental disabilities have come from a place of not being recognized — not being involved — not being allowed to live in their communities,” Bruce said.
“Today, the great majority of people with developmental disabilities live in their communities and participate actively in all the same activities that all the other citizens do, and we want to draw that to peoples’ attention to continue that so that all people are included.”
Clallam County Health and Human Services-Developmental Disabilities, along with numerous agencies and organizations throughout Clallam County, ask the public to help, Bruce said.
The community as a whole needs to come together and “take ownership as a community issue and that is really what we are trying to do with developmental disabilities,” Bruce said.
“We are part of the community. We are not a separate little group that needs something special anymore. Lets all be a part together.”
Getting involved
For information about how to get involved with promoting inclusion of folks with developmental disabilities into the community, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Clallamdisabilities or call 360-417-2274.
“There is lots of information on [the website] or they can give us a call here at the office and we can point to whatever their interests are,” Bruce said.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
