By: ES

ES — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:50:00 +0000

When I worked for an agency that helped people with disabilities find and keep jobs, the objection I heard most often, from potential employers, was “we tried that once… it didnt’ work. We got burned and don’t want to hire another person like that”
The obvious retort,of course, is that they probably hired people without disabilities that did not work out too.
But it goes a little deeper. People with disabilities are often treated as if they were children - indulged and excused their misbehaviors and missteps.
Sadly, this group of people does not often learn incidentally - they need to be taught specific, adaptive behaviors instead.
All of us need to participate in that process. As a teacher, now, I am acutely aware - too much so, some think - that in a few years, the kid in my classroom will be in the work force, and it is imperative that I teach him or her to be good at it. So I get strict, I get structured, heck I probably get mean, too.
Employers need to do the same. It isn’t enough to just hire people with disabilities - listen to the counselor who helped the person get the job. Give specific feedback when the new employee does something wrong - and when they do something right. Problem-solve, just as you would with anyone else.
I’ve had students with disabilities who will someday make super employees. And some who will be, no doubt, crummy. Just like anyone else.

Comments on: Hire Employees with Developmental Disabilities

By: ES