Disabled workers losing jobs in large numbers
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the disabled are especially hard hit from the disintegrating economy. Companies that typically employ the mentally disabled are finding it almost impossible to get work in packaging, direct mailing, and assembly. Those jobs are being sent overseas to companies that only pay their employees cents an hour and do not have any benefits. This forces the disabled to file for unemployment benefits, putting ever more pressure on federal governments to keep programs running as fewer taxpayers are around that still have a job. This is added to the complexity that most employers do not want to hire the disabled because they feel they will not work hard for them and will take large amounts of time off from work. Numerous studies have shown that the disabled work just as hard as any able bodied person and that they do not take any more time off than an other employee. Somehow the word has to get out that the disabled can work, want to work, and would like to be given the same chance as an able bodied person to get a job that fits their education and work experience.
Some companies do hire the disabled regularly, but it is usually for mundane jobs that do not require lots of experience or college (McDonald’s). Those of us that are college graduates have a real problem on our hands to find an employer that doesn’t think we are stupid because we can’t walk. Many people that were able bodied and working find a very different environment when they try to go back to work in a wheelchair. Suddenly you cannot do the job you used to do, and there are no openings, yet the company continues to hire the able bodied. The Federal Government does a good job of hiring the disabled, but there are a certain number of the disabled that must be hired and kept for almost all agencies. We don’t believe that companies should be forced to hire a certain percentage of their workforce as disabled, but it appears that is the only way to get the ball rolling.
Just as African Americans found that they had to fight for their rights. Companies had to be forced to hire African Americans and then found them to be hard workers that appreciated the chance to succeed. The disabled are in the same situation except that we are just beginning to get laws in place to help us succeed. It is important to keep in contact with your congressmen and senators and let them know your feelings on what can be done to make things better for the disabled. The squeaky wheel gets the oil so the more you get involved in the process the more that will be done for the community. No one will put in automatically opening doors unless mayors and counties know we are there, we vote, and we will go to the media if necessary. When government officials know they will be held responsible then things start to be done and the ADA begins to be followed to the letter.
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