A new law providing incentives for Tennessee employers to hire, work with, train and mentor people with disabilities who receive services from state agencies should have far-reaching effects locally and statewide, a state official says.

Virginia Trotter-Betts, a Sevier County native and commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, said her agency's clients are among those the law will help.

"We have a lot of clients that really want to work. At the same time, I also know employers in Tennessee need workers; this is a great marriage of those things. It gives recognition to employers, and now tax credit incentives, if they reach out and hire those with disabilities," said Trotter-Betts.

"I thank the governor and the sponsors of this bill - it's a win/win situation," she continued.

The law also applies to employers who hire clients of the Department of Health, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Finance and Administration and the Tennessee Committee for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities.

Among sponsors of the bill, which just became law, was Rep. Richard Montgomery, R-Sevierville.

The incentives are in the form of franchise and excise tax credits of $5,000 for each new full-time employee and $2,000 for each new part-time employee.

According to a 1998 National Organization on Disability/Harris Poll of Americans with disabilities, large gaps exist between adults with disabilities and other adults regarding basic aspects of life. Employment was exposed as the widest gap.

Trotter-Betts said of the law, "Having grown up in Sevier County, I know that having the right number of good, reliable employees willing to do repetitive, and all different levels of tasks, has always been an issue in Sevier County."

Her plan is to speak to as many business leadership groups as she can about the law so employers who want tax breaks will take advantage.

Beverly Lewis, director of employment services, planning and development with the Department of Health and Developmental Disabilities, noted that the agency now called Sevierville Drop-In Center, which is provided by Peninsula Mental Health Center in Knoxville, has been re-named Wellness Recovery Education Center.

"The recovery education center is staffed by peer support specialists and peer support assistants who will train with other people with mental illnesses to provide emotional and psychological support as well as working with them on job skills," said Lewis.

The mentally ill are not necessarily deficient in their functioning, she said.

"Many have master's and doctorate degrees, but because of their illness, they are out of the workforce," Lewis said. "Now with new medications, many are capable of controlling the illness to the point of being able to function very well and contribute in varied positions that do contribute to the community and are not menial in nature."

Read the original story at The Mountain Press website.