Friday, March 19, 2010

People with Disabilities in the Work Force

I read an article about hiring people with disabilities and how it is beneficial for both the employee and employer.It can be costly because the workplace will need to be adjusted in order to be accessible to people with disabilities. Besides the cost I think that it is a great idea to have employees with disabilities. Just think about the boost of confidence that it gives these employees. They feel useful and needed. Everyone likes to feel needed. Some children that I worked with when they had their own responsibilities they felt more confident and even just looked happier. It is natural for every person to want to feel needed and useful in any way. Some companies have even started support groups for their employees with disabilities. This allows them to express their specific needs that otherwise their employees would not recognize on their own. I think that this is a great program. It is a way to keep the building and environment in a condition that allows all their employees to feel safe and included.

The company can also benefit from having people with disabilities work for them. A lot of them are really bright and can bring great ideas and input to a business. Not to mention they can give input on how to aim their product towards the customers with disabilities. This other article really gives insight on how companies need to be exposed to people with disabilities in order to feel comfortable and realize how beneficial it can be to them.

I think that companies should start having a quota to fill with people with disabilities. I really think it would help the community to be more aware of this population and realize how wonderful they really are. It might even be what our country needs to be humbled and appreciative of our lives and what we have. When I work with children with disabilities it brings such a great light into my day. They are amazing people! So, I guess my questions are what do you think about integrating people with disabilities into the workplace? How do you feel about the support groups that some companies have? And how would this benefit the employee (with disabilities) and their employer?

11 comments:

  1. I think it is a great idea to incorporate people with disabilities into the workplace. The lessons and insight they can give to any company is of great value. I think that support groups are good for anyone and especially for those with disabilities. To have a place where needs can be addressed is great for all people and is especially great to focus on basic issues that those with disabilities have because their issues can help everyone; for example if there is an employee that has health issues, like a recent heart attack, and cannot walk up stairs but having a wheelchair ramp helps this person because they are not lifting their body in the same way. The issues of disabilities helps many. I do not feel that a quota should be forced upon any company. I feel they should have the right to hire the best people for their positions and not worry about government action against them if they do not have enough of a certain kind of person. I do, however, feel that action should be taken to ensure no discrimination. Out reach programs should happen to show employers how valuable individuals with disabilities can be. I also feel that random checks on companies that evaluate who has been interview recently and who was hired should be completed to ensure no discrimination. There are obvious benefits of having employee with disabilities including a more cheerful work environment as well as insight that cannot be gained from any other employee.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I also think it is a great idea to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce. It gives that individual a sense of purpose. It helps that individual grow and help in reaching their fullest potential. The support groups are also a great idea. It will give those people with disabilities an opportunity to share with their co-workers what their disability is to help them more fully understand. It will give co-workers an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. I think that besides the fact that it will help the individual with a disability feel good about his/herself, it will also brighten up the whole work place. The other employees will no doubt learn something of value from the individual who is disabled.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My finance works as an employment specialist for people with disabilities, which means that she helps people from vocational rehab find jobs and then after they find a job she will work with them to make sure everything is going well in the workplace. Her and I have had many talks about the benefit of people with disabilities in the workplace. However, the employers don't see it. We know that these people with disabilities have strengths that others do not. There are many perfect jobs for the people that she works with, but the employer doesn't see that. The problem with Provo is that all of the college students take the jobs that the people with disabilities should be taking and the economy is still really hard right now. Some other benefits for the company is a greater sense of unity within itself and as the article said that the company will learn diversity and be better equipped to help out more customers. I also think support groups for those with disabilities is very helpful. It's something similar that what my finance does. That way their needs are met as well as all the other employees.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I do think that employment helps with the self esteem and the feeling of independence of people with special needs. I do not think that a quota should be forced on companies. A quota would begrudge people against workers with special needs. I think if you try to force the inclusion of people with special needs that it will only make the issue worse. For parents with children who have disabilities it would be helpful if they could bring in a little extra income for the care of their child. I think that including people with disabilities in the work force can improve societies view and understanding of them. I think that companies that have support programs for them are great. It is nice that there are places that can hook people with disabilities up with jobs.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The grocery store next to my house in Texas has quite a few employees with disabilities, and I have seen a positive impact on the other employees and the customers that shop there. Seeing these people with disabilities contribute effectively in the workplace helps others to realize that just because someone has a disability does not mean they don't have potential. These people with disabilities have strengths and weaknesses, just like any other person, and they should be allowed to use their strengths in a job without being discriminated against. I believe there are a number of positive ways to help employers see the benefits of having employees with disabilities, but I am very against quotas. I do not believe the government needs to be involved more than absolutely necessary. There are others ways to spread the word about hiring those with disabilities. For example, I think a great idea would be to have news stories done showing some companies who are hiring people with disabilities, and the positive impact this choice is having on business and the community.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think people should integrate people with disabilities in the workplace. At first I didn't understand what the problem could be, because all I could think about would be people with ADD, and that seemed easy. The second article helped a lot because then I understood how having an employee who may be prone to seizures would be very hard. An employee could be in a wheelchair, and their business would have to take that into account. However, they could bring in a different perspective. Also, I know several boys from my high school who work at grocery stores, and they loved it. For those who have mental retardations and could not handle an office job, having a job at a store was great for their self esteem and helped them feel more independent. Also, the impact on the other employees and the customers was great. People with disabilities can be some of the happiest people and their smilesa are always contagious, and so I think that having them as employees is a great asset to the store. It would definitely take more work, but I think it's smart. I also think it's great to have a support group for the employees who are disabled, and I think that could even benefit employees without disabilities, because it's a chance to talk out frustrations and put forth suggestions. All in all, I think businesses should seriously consider hiring an employee with a disability if the chance comes up.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always love when I see someone with disabilities working side by side in the workplace with everyone else. You're able to see the satisfaction these individuals feel with themselves and you can tell that their self esteem is being boosted from having this independence. I definitely think it is a positive thing for these people and I think it is also beneficial for the co-workers. It causes awareness and it exposes people to disabilities in a way they have probably never seen before. I liked how the article said, "people with disabilities come in ones". Often people are so quick to categorize and never look at the individual. Each individual has much to offer, and it's important to remember that those with disabilities are not defined by their conditions. I think working along side someone with disabilities can help others realize this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think it’s a great idea to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace. Having people with disabilities in the workplace benefits people with out because it creates awareness of disabilities, builds friendships, provides a fun atmosphere and shows that people with disabilities can have normal jobs. When people with disabilities have jobs, it creates high self-esteem, lets them feel important and needed, they get to prove to the world that they can work. Back in the dish room of the Cougareat we have people with disabilities that work there. They are some of the most smiley, friendly and hard workers I know. Those workers make my days at work enjoyable and I am sure other workers with disabilities do the same at other jobs. Employers can benefit greatly from having employees with disabilities.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I believe that it is absolutely true that it is a psychological need that everyone needs to feel needed by someone or something. I know that in my own life the times that I have had nothing to do or when I have had no responsibilities those are the times that I have been unhappy. And on the other hand the times that i have had a lot of responsibility that is when I have been the happiest. Everyone needs to feel important and I think that a job or any kind of responsibility is critical for people with disabilities. This is especially true when people with disabilities are no longer in public school. A lot of the time what happens is these students go from being busy all day to doing nothing. This I think causes a lot of emotional problems and a lot of depression for these people. My grandpa used to always say the best cure for depression is to be busy. I really believe that. I think it is a huge responsibility of ours to get our students involved in the community with responsibilities so when they are out of school they can have something to do instead of sitting alone all by themselves all day. I think that employers now more than ever are willing to hire people with disabilites so that is good but I know that it can get better. Hopefully someday these people will have as much opportunity as everyone else.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think that integrating people with disabilities into the workplace is a wonderful idea and leads to so many opportunities and beneficial relationships. Many people with disabilities are very proud of the jobs they get and love to talk about their day at work and all of the things that they are responsible for and capable of. They often have much better attitudes about jobs that other people look down upon and are often so cheerful and energetic while doing it. I know there is a girl who works at the movie theatre by my house cleaning up popcorn and while she is at work, she couldn’t appear happier. She greets everyone who walks by and hums along as she sweeps up the trash. I think that the support groups that some companies have are a great idea and help to include individuals with disabilities into their company as well as their company into the community. They benefit both the employee and their employer because the employee gets the benefits of having a job and feeling accomplished and the employer gets to have a part in helping out the community and creating better relationships with people who have disabilities. Their employee may even be so bright and friendly that they bring customers back.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I strongly believe that integrating people with disabilities into public work places would not only benefit those individuals but society as a whole. It would help those individuals to continue progressing, especially after high school, and feel a sense of purpose. Also, it would encourage society to feel more comfortable around these individuals and to be aware of these individuals. I think that employing individuals with disabilities shows others that they really are capable, and that they are individuals with specific personalities, hobbies, ect. It always makes me happy to see these individuals being employed and increases my desire to provide those companies with my business. I would imagine others feel similar.

    ReplyDelete