Regardless Of A Person's Disability Everyone Has Abilities And Value

Ken Masson

Merrimack Valley Rotary, Massachusetts

 People with disabilities are highly employable.  They are talented, they have many skills, they are reliable, dedicated, and appreciate working.  Yet, the unemployment rate for this group is higher than in many other groups.  Why?  Because of many reasons but none has anything to do with their abilities.

These reasons include:

-Employers are biased or naïve about hiring someone with disabilities.
-Employers have fears that hiring someone with a disability will be a liability
- The person or support team doesn't have the expertise to find a job in this specialized field
-Job seekers try but get discouraged because they get no results.

-The Support team is not confident that the person can do or get a job                                               .

"But just because the challenges are greater does not mean that achieving the goals is impossible. It is very possible." 

The first two reasons are the most challenging.   Why? Because the person with disabilities has to work harder than everyone else to get a job because of employer attitudes. 
For example, PBS’s New Hour recently looked into the challenges faced by job seekers with disabilities.  Economist, Doug Krues, was interviewed by PBS and said that his company sent out 6000 resumes and looked at the response rate of people who wrote in the cover letter that they had a disability versus those who did not.  Candidates with disabilities received 26% fewer callbacks.

 Many employers are simply naïve or bias about the abilities of people with disabilities.  It can be discouraging for those looking for jobs because the challenges are greater.  But just because the challenges are greater does not mean that achieving the goals is impossible.  It is very possible.

 Don't give up! Everyone who wants to work should be able to work. Opportunity is there.  They can do it themselves, or there are professionals available that know the market and know the efforts it will take to overcome the obstacles.  These professionals can be found at various agencies or by contacting independent consultants, such as myself, to set up a program designed to get the individual a job.

Achieving goals is a matter of effort!   Keeping focused!  Keeping determined.  Being patient.  Never stop believing!