Christie aims to expand employment opportunities for workers with disabilities

Gov. Chris Christie is taking action to expand job opportunities for New Jersey residents with developmental disabilities.

New Jersey is the 14th state to adopt the “Employment First” initiative that encourages employers to hire people with disabilities.

Saying everyone should have the opportunity to be productive, Christie said he hopes his directive will increase hiring of job seekers who have disabilities without the need for additional regulations to make that happen.

“I think that mindset is much more important than any law or regulation we pass,” Christie said Thursday. “I’ve often found that social expectations are just as powerful, if not more powerful, in terms of molding human behavior as laws.”

Christie says all of the state’s government agencies will make sure they don’t have barriers that prevent skilled and talented people with disabilities from being hired. He’s encouraging private-sector employers to take similar action.