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Disabled workers rate highly

Posted on July 10, 2009, 8:08am

Research has shown workers with disabilities to be reliable, hard working and loyal, yet many employers in the Limestone Coast still file their job applications in the ‘too-hard basket’.

The unemployment rate of people with disabilities in the Limestone Coast in 2006 was 11.3pc; well above the general unemployment rate of 4.9pc for the region.

Resources for education are readily available and so are services for job placements; adaptive technology has improved and government incentives are in place.

Why then are disabled workers still struggling to find work?

“Public perception is the biggest barrier,” said employment access provider Uniting Care Wesley coordinator Penny Richardson.

“There is a stigma about disabilities in Mount Gambier in particular and a misunderstanding of the conditions of disabled people.

“We have a few wonderful employers with positive attitudes, but most come up with excuses such as: ‘we don’t have a wheelchair ramp’ or ‘we have enough trouble as it is with employees, we don’t need more’.

“There is an assumption that workers with disabilities are trouble or effort.”

But Ms Richardson said the contrary was true.

Research has shown that employees with disabilities learn to persevere and develop problem solving, planning and people skills as part of managing a disability.

They are rated consistently as average or above average in performance, quality and quantity of work, flexibility and attendance and they require little or no workplace modifications.

“Not all disabilities are visible to the eye and employers often hire people with disabilities without even realising it,” she said.

“But if employers partner with an employment access provider, they are employing people who are managing their issues and we provide support to employers in various ways.”

Role model

After a battle to find work due to living with health issues, Phillip Marshall (pictured) was finally offered a job as trolley collector at Mount Gambier Fishers Supa IGA just over a year ago.

Since then his loyalty and hard work has paid off and today he also works in the areas of customer service and the grocery and fruit and vegetable departments of the store.

Mr Marshall, who travels from Mount Burr to work, said he enjoyed the challenge.

“I also really enjoy the customer service; that’s a real challenge as I’m very customer focused,” he said.

“I’m always trying to find some way to help people, whether it’s pushing their trolley out for them, or carrying their bags.”

Mr Marshall said it was difficult to find work until he found help through Uniting Care Wesley’s Employment Access Program.

“I’ve always been really nervous having to go to interviews by myself,” he said.

“When I applied for this job through them, they helped me by putting in a good word and helping me through the interview process, and they also helped to provide my uniform and good footwear.”

Fishers Supa IGA store manager Chris O’Shanassy said Mr Marshall had really proved himself, which was why he had been promoted to extra duties in the store.

“We wouldn’t give these responsibilities to him if he wasn’t competent at doing them,” Mr O’Shanassy said.

In December last year Fishers Supa IGA received a “Day of Ability Award”, recognising their ongoing support in providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

ANELIA BLACKIE

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Comments

3 Responses to “Disabled workers rate highly”

  1. Robert on July 10th, 2009 10:43 am 1

    I am writing in response to this article to point out that its true many employers in Mount Gambier and surrounding areas seem to overlook people with disabilities when it comes to selection after job applications have closed for a job in their business or company

    I’ve got a hearing disability of which i dont see as a barrier between preventing me from working full time in any industry although it would appear that employers have attached a stigma on myself and many others with disabilities cause they see us as a liability and too much work to train if employed

    While i maybe working part time at present its been hard for me to secure a full time or even seasonal job elsewhere due to not being seen as an asset because of my prior learning/training and willing to undertake further training but more of a liability because of my hearing disability.

    Whatever happened to giving everyone regardless of their race,gender,disability or disabilities the chance to prove themselves in the job they have applied for ?rather than just make up excuses which have probably been heard 1000 times before.

    A person with a disability can be just as much of hard worker than someone without one.

  2. Ebony Jackson on July 10th, 2009 2:28 pm 2

    What a great story about a fantastic man.

  3. deb on July 11th, 2009 6:58 am 3

    i to find it hard to get a job . i am epileptic and even thou my condition is controlled by medication i find people shy away from me.the general concensus is that epilelsy is a mental illness,or worse can be caught by exposure.i find that menial jobs are all i can get and even then its a struggle.dont get me wrong i am grateful to get any work these days,but would love to be treated as an indivdual not a‘ hide in the back cupboard and forget about person‘.so give us a go!

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