What are your feelings about a proactive policy to integrate the disabled more thoroughly into working life?

Question

Is it overkill, appropriate, or inadequate tokenism? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

It is definitely a positive thing. Sometimes employers just need a push to give disabled people a chance. There are some incidences in which a person's disability really prevents them from doing a certain job. However, sometimes employers are hesitant to give them a chance. For example, a wheelchair bound person can still do desk work, though not physical work.

I speak from experience, as I am hearing impaired. My only limitation is that I cannot speak on the phone well, but I can speak one-to-one very normally. I have had experiences where employers overestimated my disability and were hesitant to hire me.

Everyone deserves a chance to support themselves if possible, rather than being forced to depend on the taxes of other workers to pay their disability checks.

Answer 2

I think it depends on their level of disability. My best friend has Cerebral Palsy and she works. She can walk, but it is tough for her. A lot of companies, like fast food, grocery stores, etc. will hire people that are developmentally delayed to do things such as clean, retrieve carts, etc. Just because someone is delayed or disabled doesn't mean that they cannot work.

Answer 3

It's absolutely appropriate and long, long overdue.

We are the last minority to be recognized. Just because OUR bodies don't work that well doesn't reflect at all on OUR minds.

Answer 4

I think it's great really, these people face actual challenges that society can accomodate for. It's a better program that Affirmative Action where you hire people for no better reason than their ethnicity. Besides, if you hire someone and help them stay employed you will feel good about helping someone who needs help.