Rep. Barker Visits Southern Miss as Part of Take Your Legislator to Work Day

State Rep. Toby Barker had a busier-than-usual work day on Oct. 27 as a special guest at The University of Southern Mississippi recently.

Through the Take Your Legislator to Work Day event organized by the Mississippi Partnerships for Employment (MSPE) project at The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Barker was able to tour the workplace of young adults with disabilities who work at Southern Miss, including two IDS employees and several members of the TRIAD Service AmeriCorps Program.

The Hattiesburg event was one of several Take Your Legislator to Work Days offered throughout the state in October to celebrate the annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month held each October.

“This event is a great opportunity to remind everyone how people with disabilities want and do work in the community,” said Dr. Jerry R. Alliston. “While there are some integrated employment opportunities, many more are needed, especially for those youth and young adults leaving high school. Events like these help us educate the business and general community on the great abilities of people with disabilities and that they are an integral part of the work force.”

Alliston oversees the employment focused programs at IDS and assists in promoting employment opportunities for all. 

During his visit, Barker met Taylor Carley, the new Young Adult Self-Advocacy Coordinator who offered an explanation of his role. “My primary work focus is to spread awareness and provide guidance to those with and without a disability,” said Carley. “As the Self-Advocacy Coordinator, I want others to know that people with disabilities can achieve anything just like anyone else.”

Barker also met Dan Lewis, IDS Technology Assistant, and learned about the importance of closed captioning. He also met with several members of the TRIAD Service AmeriCorps Program, an inclusive national service program that provides health education training to middle and high school students with disabilities.

The MSPE project is a joint collaboration of the Mississippi's Developmental Disabilities Network, which includes the Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities (MS CDD), Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS) and IDS. TRIAD Service AmeriCorps is an inclusive service program through the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service.

To learn more about the Take Your Legislator to Work Day event, MSPE or TRIAD Service AmeriCorps, contact Dr. Jerry R. Alliston at 1.888.671.0051 or jerry.allistonFREEMississippi, or visit www.mspeidd.org.