A new bill in the Arkansas Legislature seeks to make it easier for Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enter the workforce.

Senate Bill 443, sponsored by Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, would create a new state “Office of Employment First” and an advisory committee composed of disability rights advocates and officials from state government and the private sector.

Jonathan Taylor, executive director of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, said another goal is to partner with businesses across the state to hire more Arkansans living with disabilities.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-23/bill-seeks-to-ease-workforce-barriers-for-arkansans-with-disabilities

*Daniel Breen/KUAR News*
The Arkansas State Capitol building is seen in this file photo from February 2023.

Arkansas State Sen. Greg Leding is a founding board member of the national nonprofit organization, Human Rights for Kids, which works to protect both native and immigrant children from abuse, injustice and exploitation. Leding discusses successful bipartisan legislative efforts in Arkansas to protect children at risk, which ranks the state among the top three in the nation.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-among-states-leading-human-rights-kids

Arkansas Among States Leading in Human Rights for Kids
Arkansas State Sen. Greg Leding is a founding board member of the national nonprofit organization, Human Rights for Kids, which works to protect both native and immigrant children from abuse, injustice and exploitation. Leding discusses successful bipartisan legislative efforts in Arkansas to protect children at risk, which ranks the state among the top three in the nation.