Take quick action to allow the disabled to work and thrive
TheStar.com – Opinion/Editorials – Employers say that disabled workers improve their bottom line through lower absenteeism and job retention.
Feb 10 2014. Editorial
Mark Wafer travels the world giving corporate leaders his business case for hiring disabled workers — and he’s attracting a receptive audience. Increasingly, business sees the value they bring to the workplace.
But here in Ontario, home to Wafer’s seven Tim Hortons franchises, government policies still actively hinder the economic and emotional growth of disabled residents. It doesn’t have to be this way.
While Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government still needs to develop an overarching strategy for the long-term housing and care of the disabled in a province where many people have varying degrees of disability, there’s no reason why some employment barriers at least can’t be quickly stripped away.
Consider Wafer, a man who understands disabilities. He’s deaf. With a small empire of Tims restaurants in Scarborough, he’s been hiring the disabled for years. Some are intellectually challenged, with Downs syndrome. Others have severe autism, or Tourette’s syndrome. Some just need a wheelchair.
As he says of his employees, “We tend to put limits on people with intellectual disabilities but we really don’t know what their limits are until we get them into the workplace.” What he discovered, over the years, is both inspiring and maddening. Some of those intellectually challenged workers turn out to be his best employees.
Individually, they blossom, taking on responsibilities their families had never imagined. Collectively, they’ve enabled Wafer to achieve an increase in productivity, a drop in absenteeism and a relatively low turnover rate of 40 percent, half of Ontario’s fast food average of 75 to 90 per cent. Since it costs some $4,000 to advertise for, hire and train each new staff member, the savings are notable. As Wafer says, that’s good business.
But perversely, some Ontario government policies serve to block people with disabilities from entering the workforce. That’s wrong. And the Wynne government has something to learn by listening to advocates like Wafer, or Joe Dale of the Ontario Disabilities Employment Network, who have ideas for getting people off social assistance and helping them join the workforce.
For example, parents often don’t want their working-age child to give up the security of a rare and coveted spot in a daytime enrichment program for a job that may or may not pan out. That might force their child back to the bottom of a long waiting list for programs and services. As Dale says, the province should allow for a “rapid reinstatement” of services. Mitigating the risk of taking a job would encourage more people to try working. If Wafer’s experience rings true many will succeed, freeing up space in day programs for others.
Some need the expensive drug coverage they only receive under the Ontario Disability Support Program, for those on social assistance. There should be some provision to provide essential coverage for the disabled who are working.
There’s more that can be done. As Progressive Conservative deputy leader Christine Elliott notes, tweaking the education system could bring rewards. Creating disability-friendly training programs in community colleges, for example, could open doors to jobs.
“Many families liken the end of high school to ‘falling off a cliff’ because their children have no supports, either vocational or recreational, to turn to after age 21. They end up watching TV in their parents’ home,” Elliott says.
Moreover success in the workplace needn’t require big spending. It can be as simple as training that is tailored to a person’s disability. Or giving workers with poor eyesight larger computer screens. Nobody is advocating big provincial subsidies to spur hiring.
As Wafer says, “This is not charity. Of the 92 people I’ve hired with a disability, every single one of those was meaningful with competitive pay.”
That’s just the point. Whether a physically disabled worker is earning a hefty paycheque in say, the technology industry, or an intellectually challenged worker is making basic wages in a restaurant, they’ve built their own success.
This is one area where the Wynne government shouldn’t have to strike yet another panel for discussion and debate. Some of the solutions seem obvious. What’s needed are a few basic changes to help people to thrive.
< http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/02/10/take_quick_action_to_allow_the_disabled_to_work_and_thrive_editorial.html >
Tags: disabilities, economy, ideology, mental Health, participation, poverty, rights, standard of living
This entry was posted on Monday, February 10th, 2014 at 2:46 pm and is filed under Child & Family Policy Context. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
308 Responses to “Take quick action to allow the disabled to work and thrive”
« Older Comments | Newer Comments »
Leave a Reply
Recent Comments
We’re developing some community services to respond to this, and your blog is helpful.
Most often since i look for a blog Document realize that the vast majority of blog pages happen to be amateurish. Not so,We can honestly claim for which you writen is definitely great and then your webpage rock solid.
Our local network of agencies has found your research so helpful.
of course like your web-site however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality then again I will surely come back again.
Friends can share a co-op run from their own browsers. be6e39b8.
Clear download progress messages help players follow the first-time setup. c73f2997.
I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
Runs are short enough to fit into a quick break. 68ef1884.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
How do I subscribe to your blog? Thanks for your help.
That is really fascinating, You’re an excessively skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to in the hunt for extra of your magnificent post. Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
I just added this to my favorites. I truly love reading your posts. Tyvm!
However, it is virtually all done with tongues rooted solidly in cheeks, and everyone has absolutely nothing but absolutely love for his or her friendly neighborhood scapegoat. The truth is, he is not just a pushover. He is basically that special variety of person strong enough to take all of that good natured ribbing for exactly what it is.
I like to spend my free time by scaning various internet recourses. Today I came across your site and I found it is as one of the best free resources available! Well done! Keep on this quality!
When are you going to take this to a full book?
Great write-up, I am a big believer in placing comments on sites to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something advantageous to the world wide web!
Nice piece of info! May I reference part of this on my blog if I post a backlink to this webpage? Thx.
I like this weblog very much so much great info .
Hello there! I really enjoy reading your blog! If you keep making amazing posts like this I will come back every day to keep reading.
Good site! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes it is. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your RSS which may do the trick? Have a great day!