Many companies think they understand what to do about hiring persons with disabilities.
Some companies have programs for employees who are “differently abled”. (As soon as someone uses a term like that, we know they’ve missed the boat.) These organizations will create call centers or group together other very low end jobs that they believe persons with disabilities can fill.
What is their problem? Very low expectations.
As an employer, a company should be looking to hire the right person for the job. Businesses are in business to make money. In every other search for the right employee, they look at education, experience, skills that can do the job that will make money for them. That is how it has always worked. Even since the federal Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, there has been a blindness toward what people with disabilities can do. So, in order to be in what some employers think is compliance, they create these jobs in an effort to attract employees who have disabilities.
What really needs to happen is for employers to understand that they need to look for the right talent for all jobs. Then look at a person’s education, skills and experience without regard to disability. Most disabilities can be accommodated once the skills are lined up. No special programs needed.
Unfortunately, many employers get stuck as soon they perceive any level of disability. The low expectations kick in faster than you can blink. Fear of lawsuits. Fear of low productivity. Fear of the inability to address low productivity. Fear of…
Low expectations lead to fear which leads to discrimination. Result? Very low employment rates for persons with disabilities.
So, while we need to change disability policy so that it’s possible for persons with disabilities to work without penalty, we also need to educate employers on the advantages of including persons with disabilities in their ordinary employment plan.
Annette Bourbonniere
401-846-1960
Fax: 401-846-1944
Twitter: @AccessInclude
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