The latest unemployment numbers show there's nearly an eight percent difference in the statistics between individuals with disabilities and people without disabilities.

The Labor Department reported last month that the nation's unemployment rate was at 9.3 percent but for people with disabilities the rate was 16.9 percent.

Executive Director of The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley and West Virginia, Christina Smith, said in West Virginia almost 75 percent of individuals with disabilities are unemployed.

"I understand that the West Virginia Department of Education is currently rewriting the career and technical education plan that would allow for a potentially modified certificate for individuals with disabilities to graduate with and to take with them when they go out to find these career and technical positions," said Smith.

Smith said there is grant funding to support individuals with disabilities to become entrepreneurs and funding to train teachers and aides on supported employment in the work place.

In addition Smith said there are better incentives for disability service providers to encourage inclusive employment settings as opposed to segregated ones.