When I moved to Maine last fall to assume the role of president and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, I was impressed by the diversity of the workforce and economy. Fisheries, paper mills, logging, agriculture, sciences – Maine has it all. But what truly sets Maine apart is the people.

Mainers are passionate, kind, diverse people. They aren’t afraid to break the mold and often band together to support their neighbors. Mainers have a keen sense of community and take pride in their livelihoods. These are things that my family and I have come to love about our new home. But that doesn’t mean the Pine Tree State doesn’t have its struggles.

Employers are struggling to find people who want to work. People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by unemployment. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Maine is 10.6% – which is more than three times that of folks without disabilities at 3.3%. This number is startling.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to educate about disability employment issues and honor the many and varied contributions of American workers with disabilities. In honor of NDEAM, I want to encourage Maine employers to hire people with disabilities. Goodwill Northern New England intentionally hires people with disabilities – and all kinds of folks, with and without barriers to employment – because we believe anyone who wants to work should be able to.

Maine’s workforce shortage means employers are struggling to staff their businesses. They need people who want to work, and many unemployed people with disabilities need someone to give them a chance. People with disabilities are often overlooked when it comes to jobs, but they can be some of the most loyal, hard-working employees a business has.

Each and every one of us have unique challenges and obstacles that can get in the way of successful employment, regardless of if they have a disability or not. Work can give people a sense of purpose and community, which is important for achieving personal stability. It’s up to employers to create inclusive and accessible workplaces that help our people thrive. Hiring someone with a disability can be mutually beneficial for everyone involved.

At Goodwill, we believe in a hand up, not a handout. As a nonprofit, it’s our mission to help people achieve their work and life goals. Our disability and workforce services help folks find meaningful employment every day. We also work with employers to match business needs with screened, motivated and reliable candidates. After the match is made, we offer continued job coaching and support services for your new employees to ensure continued success.

Maine business owners: Let us help you find your next great employee. Sometimes all it takes is making a few easy and affordable accommodations, and you’ve shown an employee that you value their needs and success. We can show you how. Let’s continue making our state a role model to others. Together we can combat disability unemployment and strengthen Maine’s workforce.