Employment for People with Disabilities

1. Employment for People with Disabilities Diversity in Motion!

2. 3% unemployment rate in Jacksonville, but 65% unemployment rate for people with disabilities “What a shame, but what an opportunity!” -Ed Burr, 2006 Greater Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Chair, President and CEO

3. “People with disabilities are all of us” “The time is now” Katherine McCary – President, United States Business Leadership Network

4. “This is all about diversity and cultural competence” Robert Lufrano, MD, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of BC/BS of Florida

5. “This is not about charity” “We should create a climate where people can pursue their dreams…all people with disabilities should be a part of that” Jeb Bush

6. “Go back and commit to hire 1 person with a disability this year”“Make a commitment to enhance your business”“If your competitor hires one, hire 2, if they hire 2, hire 3…”Jeb Bush

7. Myths about hiring people with disabilities

8. MYTH: Hiring employees with disabilities increases workers compensation insurance rates. • FACT: Insurance rates are based solely on the relative hazards of the operation and the organization`s accident experience, not on whether workers have disabilities.

9. MYTH: Employees with disabilities have a higher absentee rate than employees without disabilities. • FACT: Studies by firms such as DuPont show that employees with disabilities are not absent any more than employees without disabilities.

10. MYTH: Persons with disabilities need to be protected from failing. • FACT: Persons with disabilities have a right to participate in the full range of human experiences including success and failure. Employers should have the same expectations of, and work requirements for, all employees.

11. MYTH: Persons with disabilities are unable to meet performance standards, thus making them a bad employment risk.

12. FACT: A DuPont conducted a survey of 811 employees with disabilities and found 90% rated average or better in job performance compared to 95% for employees without disabilities. A similar DuPont study which involved 2,745 employees with disabilities found that 92% of employees with disabilities rated average or better in job performance compared to 90% of employees without disabilities.

13. MYTH: Persons with disabilities have problems getting to work. • FACT: Persons with disabilities are capable of supplying their own transportation by choosing to walk, use a car pool, drive, take public transportation, or a cab. Their modes of transportation to work are as varied as those of other employees.

14. MYTH: Persons who are deaf make ideal employees in noisy work environments. • FACT: Loud noises of a certain vibratory nature can cause further harm to the auditory system. Persons who are deaf should be hired for all jobs that they have the skills and talents to perform. No person with a disability should be prejudged regarding employment opportunities

15. MYTH: Considerable expense is necessary to accommodate workers with disabilities. • FACT: Most workers with disabilities require no special accommodations. Studies by the President`s Committee`s Job Accommodation Network have shown that 15% of accommodations cost nothing, 51% cost between $1 and $500, 12% cost between $501 and $1,000, and 22% cost more than $1,000

16. MYTH: Employees with disabilities are more likely to have accidents on the job than employees without disabilities. • FACT: In the DuPont study, the safety records of both groups were identical.

17. Success Story Sally & Kathy Unit Attendants St Catherine Laboure Manor Employed April 1, 2001 20 hours per week Sally-$8.65 per hour Kathy-$8.49 per hour “The dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm of Sally and Kathy, who we recruited from Grove House, have been an inspiration to all the St. Catherine’s staff.” Maureen Gartland, Administrator

18. Success Story Nancy Child Care Assistant A Child’s Place Montessori School Employed since March 2002 2 hours per week $7.50 per hour “The children and people who come in contact with her (Nancy) cannot help being touched by her zest for life and contagious smile.” Lucy Anne Ramos, Director

19. Success Story Alonzo Customer Service/Trainer Pizza Hut Employed since April 2003 21 hours per week $6.90 per hour “Alonzo has been with me over three years and I find him to be dependable, hard-working, and he does his job well. He is in line for a promotion to a management position within the next two months. Alonzo has a great attitude and I enjoy working with him.” Mike Khourv, Manager

20. Success Story Frances Fraud Early Warning Representative Citibank Employed since August 2002 40 hours per week $12.37 per hour “Frances is a hard-working and dedicated employee. Her work ethic serves as a model for other Citibank employees to follow.” Cheryl Voges, Training Coordinator

21. Success Story Shannon Office Assistant Mandarin Veterinary Clinic Employed April 2002 15 hours per week $6.40 per hour “It gets so busy with the phones and checking people out…it helps to have Shannon do the filing. This position helps with the flow of work. She does a really good job.” Fuji Padgett, Office Manager

22. Success Story Ellen Assembler Adtec Digital Employed since December 2002 12-15 hours per week $8.00 per hour “We are benefiting from having her as an employee. We have noticed increased productivity through Ellen’s contributions.” Paul Roberts, Operations Manager