LOUISVILLE —
The Kentucky Rehabilitation Association recently presented Rep. Rocky Adkins with their Legislative Affairs Award.
At their annual meeting in Louisville, the KRA recognized Adkins’ longtime support of Kentuckians with Disabilities through various disability related laws and initiatives he has championed.
Adkins was praised for helping increase state match funds for the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Office for the Blind. He was also lauded for helping to increase state match funds for the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office for the Blind.
This is the first time in 13 years that the KRA has bestowed the legislative award upon a lawmaker.
“Since his election to the House of Representatives, Rep. Adkins has been a staunch supporter of individuals with disabilities and the public Vocational Rehabilitation program,” said Dr. David Beach, executive director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. “He has introduced legislation that directly impacted employment opportunities for Kentuckians with disabilities, as well as benefitted the dedicated professionals that provide services for these individuals.”
The KRA is an organization dedicated to the advancement of persons with disabilities and support of those individuals who provide rehabilitation services. Members include rehabilitation counselors, physical, speech and occupational therapists, job trainers, consultants, independent living instructors, students in rehabilitation programs, and other professionals involved in the advocacy of programs and services for people with disabilities.
“I am humbled by this award and I accept it on behalf of the work you do every day,” Adkins said to the crowd of several hundred KRA members. “You make our communities a better place and as long as I serve you will have a voice in the Kentucky House of Representatives.”
In federal fiscal year 2011, the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation served more than 34,000 individuals with disabilities, with 3,544 individuals obtaining stable employment. Of those closed successfully:
‰Average weekly earnings increased by $283.20, a 261% increase
‰Eighty-nine percent reported that personal income was their primary source of support
‰One third (32%)were receiving employer provided health benefits
‰The average hourly wage was $11.53
‰Averaged 32 hours of work per week
‰As a group, increased their federal income tax payments by an estimated $7.8 million, their state income tax payments by an estimated $3.1 million and their Social Security tax payments by $8 million (including employer contributions.)
“Just in the past year, 102 individuals in my district successfully achieved employment through these programs,” Adkins said. “Without the support and hard work of the vocational rehabilitation community, these people would have fallen through the cracks.”
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Adkins honored by rehabilitation association
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