In a story out of Malaysia, the Society of the Blind held a press conference on how to interview those with visual impairments. The focus of the conference was to raise awareness for employers, employees and providing proper contact information to the relevant organizations. According to Dr. Wong Huey Siew, 1% of the public sector employment must be allocated to people with visual impairments to ensure they have equal employment opportunities.

“Many people do not know how to interact with disabled people. At an interview, it’s wrong for interviewers to keep quiet just because they have no experience in interacting with PWDs,” said Wong.

“Get to know the candidate. Some interviewers tend to focus on the interviewee’s disabilities instead of their capabilities and strengths. They should access the candidate’s skills, motivation level, past working experiences as well as ask them how they can contribute to the company,” he said in the interview at the society’s headquarters in Brickfields, KL.

Read the whole story here: Don’t turn a blind eye to them

In a related story, this was also posted:  Working beyond their limitations

The Vietnam Association of Business Enterprises of People with Disabilities, comprised of more than 300 businesses, has created more than 10,000 jobs and 70% of those have gone to people with disabilities.  In three training centers based in Hanoi, Ha Tinh and Ho Chi Minh City have provided training for more than 1,600 war invalids and people with disabilities, 80% of which have obtained stable employment.

The association has not only contributed to a number of policy decisions regarding businesses owned by people with disabilities including tax exemptions, and levies imposed on land and water surface use.  The association also holds yearly job fairs to promote gainful employment.

Read the whole VABED story here:  Vietnamese disabled businessmen create 10,000 jobs

Katherine J. Inge of the Virginia Commonwealth University has recently published a paper about supported and customized employment. The report cites a survey given to employees in community rehabilitation programs says that about 70% of the employees in these programs choose to stay. The report then asks the question “Why?”

Is it because the person is afraid of moving into community based employment programs, fear of losing friends, fear of the unknown? The report is aimed at educating those fearing moving from CRP to integrated community settings. The report also details a man named John whose passions and interests were discussed and he was placed in community employment at minimum wage rather than staying in a CRP making subminimum wage.

Choice and customized employment: A critical component

California’s First Lady, Maria Shriver, which has an initiative (Intellectually Disabled Opportunity Initiative) to find employment and provide job coaching for 20,000 Californians with developmental disabilities as well as shine lights on exemplary companies that have high employment rates of people with disabilities. Amidst an existing $15.2 billion deficit, funding for programs such as the ones outlined by the First Lady are among those on the chopping block.

The cuts will affect nonprofit organizations from further development in certain areas of autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and others.

Read the rest of the article from the Los Angeles Times

Medi-Cal’s 250% Working Disabled Program allows workers with a disability to buy into Medi-Cal health care services by paying an affordable monthly premium. The program took effect in 2000. Applicants and those enrolled can be earning up to $53,000 a year and keep full scope Medi-Cal including In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). An applicant does NOT need to be on SSI or SSDI to access this Medi-Cal program for workers.

AB 851 improves & makes the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program permanent.

AB 851 can relieve the state from larger financial burdens by increasing employment rates for people with disabilities. Make sure to ASK your Senator to vote for this very important employment bill!

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As part of a mission to reduce high unemployment rates amongst people with disabilities, Disabled Person (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) is holding second annual online job fair on October 18th, 2008.

Reserve your spot now! Call us at 760-420-1269 or register online

There is no cost to attend this fair, but donations are sought. If you can, please support this worthwhile cause by donating a car or donating online

Note: You will probably have to use the scroll bar within your browser to see the important information below. There are many logos and information for corporate sponsors at the top of each page.

Delegate Rick Weldon of Maryland introduced a bill that would give preference to businesses employing or owned by people with disabilities when awarding state contracts. The bill unanimously passed the House on Friday March 14th, 2008.

Cindy Freeman, director of workforce development at Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, Inc., said that employing people with disabilities can be largely beneficial for companies as people with disabilities often stay for many years in a job that may have a high turn-over rate.

For instance, Goodwill bids on a project and promises to have at least 75% of the workforce having a disability. In return for the high percentage of people with disabilities, Goodwill’s bid will be considered first.

Source: Frederick News Post in an article titled: Bill would help business owners with disabilities

Joe Meadours, the Executive Director of People First of California has issued a letter suspending the STAR magazine issues indefinitely. The organization is also looking for a self-advocates to help take up the slack! Read below to find out more.

This is Joe Meadours the Executive Director of People First of California. Sadly, I am writing this letter to inform you that the People First STAR Magazine for the first time since it was created, will not be published this issue. We have lost our editors and coordinators that help to make this happen.

For several years the STAR Magazine was published by People First members in the Stockton area and then moved onto the Redding area. Last year it was then to be taken over by the self advocates in the Bakersfield area who late into the year informed us that they would, unfortunately, not be able to do this. Since that time we have been looking for self advocates to take this role on. We are thankful for the self advocates of Southside Art Center who were able to help us with our last issue.

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I recently received an email asking for people with disabilities to apply for a job as a State Occupations Clerk.

Find a unique opportunity for persons with developmental and other intellectual disabilities to take a test for a state job, Office Occupations Clerk. All of this information, as well as link to the State of California application form, will soon appear on the DDS web page.

You are encouraged and requested to share this information with consumers and assist them, as desired, to file to take the examination. To our knowledge, this examination has not been given by any state department in many years. We apologize for the language in the official job bulletin, however it reflects state job specifications that were written in 1976 and, at this time, we were unable to make the changes needed and still keep on our time schedule for the exam. Be assured we understand that the language might offend some applicants, but we are hopeful they will understand and see the opportunity in participating.

Note: More information can be found in the download here: Office Occuptions Clerk.zip

Every job seeker with a disability is faced with the same decision: “Should I or shouldn’t I disclose my disability?” This decision may be framed differently depending upon whether you have a visible disability or a non-visible disability. Ultimately, the decision of whether to disclose is entirely up to you.

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