If you’re a Detroit Tigers fan, watch the team on television and pay the least amount of attention to the commercials in the broadcasts, you know who Richard Bernstein is.

A Detroit-area lawyer whose firm is among prime Tigers sponsors, Bernstein out of private practice these days, now serving on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Last week, he and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley made a sweep through the Upper Peninsula, bringing with them a very different kind of message: Michiganders with disabilities shouldn’t be excluded from hiring opportunities. In fact, employers should consider the benefits of hiring them.

It was all part of the MI Hidden Talent tour, a state effort designed to underscore the fact that disabled workers are an untapped resource.

Justice Bernstein’s interest in the matter is personal: He’s visually impared.

“So for me as a Supreme Court justice, I’m just excited to be a part of something that I know is going to translate into something bigger, grander and greater; serve as an example for other states; and help communities all across the country. That is what makes this so exciting.”

Added Calley: “We really want to make sure that people understand we’re not talking about charity. What we’re talking about are people who have a lot of ambition and talent and drive and loyalty that are often overlooked by the normal private sector hiring practices.”

In addition to Marquette, the MI Hidden Talent tour made several stops in the state.

Visits from downstate politicians on some occasions have a tiring effect on U.P. residents. This one, however, had significant substance.

We hope area employers were paying close attention.