A collaborative recruiting effort between the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services and West Virginia University to hire more people with disabilities appears to be successful in just its first six months.

“More than 26 jobs have been secured for persons with disabilities since Gov. Cecil Underwood announced the employment project partnership six months ago,”said Sherry Skidmore, project coordinator and employee advocate.

Skidmore, who was appointed by the states rehabilitation services office, is housed in the WVU Department of Human Resources.

Of the 26 jobs, 18 have been through WVUs Mountaineer Temporary Job program; 8 are either full-time or part-time classified positions, Skidmore said. Most are in the clerical/secretarial and service categories.

“This is a strong indication that this unique partnership created to recruit and assist qualified individuals with disabilities in getting jobs is working. I am confident that it will be a program that will serve as an important national model,”she said.

As project coordinator, Skidmore helps qualified job seekers with their applications, resumes and university networking. For applicants who dont meet minimum qualifications for jobs with the University, Skidmore works with them on an individual basis making recommendations for education, training and ways they can gain useful work experiences.

“This partnership has proved to be a success both for the University and applicants with disabilities,”said Myrtho Blanchard, director of the WVU Department of Human Resources.”Sherry Skidmore has created a stronger alliance between the University and the disabled members of the community.”

Gov. Underwood, WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. and James Jeffers, West Virginia Division of Rebabilitation Services, announced the three-year partnership at a press conference in Charleston last September.

“The bottom line,”President Hardesty said,”is that we want to continue to ensure that WVU is a good place for diverse groups of people.”

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services seeks to enable and empower individuals with disabilities to work and live independently. There are 31 district and branch offices located statewide. District offices are located in Charleston, Clarksburg, Beckley, Huntington, Wheeling, Martinsburg and Lewisburg.