Goodwill Marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Employment for People With Disabilities Remains a Challenge
ROCKVILLE, MD–Highlighted Links Goodwill Industries Int’l
Goodwill Industries has announced it is marking the 19th celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month by reaffirming its commitment to helping people with disabilities find and keep good jobs.
"Goodwill strives to set the standard for hiring practices of people with physical and mental disabilities in the public and private sectors," says George W. Kessinger, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.
The organization reports only one out of every three people with disabilities who wants to work becomes employed
"According to research, 92 percent of employees with disabilities rated average or better in job performance compared to 90 percent of employees without disabilities," Kessinger says. "Goodwill guides companies and organizations on [removed]how to create a culture[/removed] that provides appropriate accommodations for people with disabilities."
Goodwill reports most workers with disabilities require no special accommodations, while the cost to accommodate those who do need assistance is minimal or often less than employers believe. The organization also points to a 30-year DuPont study which it says revealed employees with disabilities have above-average records in attendance, job dependability, performance, and safety compared to their peers.
Bob May, a veteran with disabilities who lived homeless for more than a decade is characterized by a Goodwill news release as an employee success story. Goodwill reports May, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was hired by Goodwill to work as a custodian at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. In 2004, May lost the full use of his right leg in a work-related accident, but continued to work. May was eventually was promoted to property management coordinator, a position which makes him responsible for all janitorial equipment repairs and maintenance, which Goodwill reports saves the organization thousands of dollars each year.
"Hiring workers like Bob makes good business sense," Kessinger says. "It is time for employers to tap into this pool of committed, reliable workers and let go of misconceptions about Americans with disabilities."
Learn more about Goodwill and working with people with disabilities online at www.goodwill.org.
Source: Goodwill
